03 February 2018
FULL FOCUS
"It will be important to approach the game in the right way, we played a great match in Bergamo which brought us one step closer to the TIM Cup final in Rome. We can't go from a great performance there to a poor display tomorrow, there must be no dips in focus, we can't afford any slip ups.
"We must take three points tomorrow because it's still going to be a long season and we cannot lose any ground on Napoli. Everything will be decided in the last few rounds of the season when we will have matches against our direct rivals. So tomorrow we must win and attack the game from the off.
"The best team will win the Scudetto, this is not the Champions League where the luck of the draw and the team's condition at the time that you play are factors."
FOCUS ON SASSUOLO
"Sassuolo have players with good technical ability going forward, and with the signing of Babacar they've added physicality. They drew with Roma and beat Inter so this is a match that we have to start on the front foot.
"Although Berardi may not be playing at the same levels as he has previously he is still young so he has time to get there again. Things have changed now in Serie A though, whereas before a player had to play well in 100 or 150 games to be considered great, now a youngster plays for 36 minutes and he's considered a phenomenon overnight!"
TEAM CONDITION
"It will be difficult for Douglas Costa to be selected for the match but we'll see how he is today. Bernardeschi is looking more likely to make it as he only took a knock. If neither of them are fit then we'll change things up and play either someone extra in midfield, or play someone else high up the pitch, either Lichtsteiner, Sturaro or Alex Sandro.
"Higuain has always been essential for us and right now he's doing well, but I still think he can do even better. Marchisio is in good condition and now he needs to play because it's been a month since his last match. Alex Sandro is getting there and he knows he needs to improve on his game management and he's working hard to do it. Rugani is part of a group where there are strong players and I've had to make certain choices. He's played 14 games already and his time will come. I've always said that him & Romagnoli are the young Italian defenders of the future.
"Lichtsteiner is a great professional and is one of the players to have won six league titles in a row here. Now he's back on the Champions League squad list and it's important for what he is giving to the cause.
"Dybala is recovering well but in terms of being ready for the Champions League we'll still have to evaluate, it's not going to be just a one-off match against Tottenham."
