Massimiliano Allegri seemingly wants his Juventus players to keep their feet firmly on the ground ahead of Sunday’s Derby d’Italia. The resurgent Turin giants host Serie A leaders Inter in a top-table six-pointer, looking to overturn a two-point deficit.
Juventus boast a formidable 92% unbeaten ratio after the opening 12 league rounds. Allegri’s men have won nine matches en route to earning a status as genuine title contenders. However, the former Milan manager is unwilling to let his side’s purple patch carry him away.
Playing mind games is part of the business. Speaking to the press ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster, Allegri named Inter as the frontrunners in the Scudetto race. He insists the top-four finish remains the prime target for Juventus, perhaps trying to alleviate the pressure on his team.
“The favorite? ‘Inter.’ Who says so? ‘Themselves.’ And Marotta? He’s a great communicator too,” the experienced coach said, as quoted by Calciomercato.
Juventus come into proceedings in high spirits after heading into the international break on the back of five consecutive league victories. Moreover, since losing to Sassuolo in late September, they’ve only capitulated once in seven Serie A outings.
Defensive solidity has been this team’s most prominent feature this season, with only Inter conceding fewer goals than them (seven). Juventus will rely on their water-tight backline to inspire them to a potentially season-defining win this weekend.
Even when they were up the creek without a paddle last term, Juventus defeated Inter in both league encounters ‘to nil.’ It gives them a legitimate reason to seek three points tomorrow.
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