Every word from Allegri and Locatelli ahead of Juventus’s match against Nantes

Massimiliano Allegri and Manuel Locatelli speak at the press conference on the eve of the match against Nantes.

Manuel Locatelli talking

How do you approach this match?

“The first leg result wasn’t positive for us. We’re here to win, to go through. We’re energized, we have to be careful, we need a clear-headed game and be careful for the entire 90 minutes and beyond”.

How much do you care about this match and competition?

“The Europa League is a goal for us, we’re here to go through. I saw the team charged again today.”

What shouldn’t be missing tomorrow?

“It will take intelligence, the stadium will be full, they are the best matches to play”.

Why did you only win one game in Europe?

“We didn’t have a great run in Europe. We’re aware of this, we’re here to go through and have a great race tomorrow. We’ll have to be smart and not get the wrong attitude.”

The obligation to buy Juventus has started. Are you ready to be the Juventus leader of the future?

“I felt like a Juventus player from the very first time, I was forced to but the rest is bureaucracy that isn’t up to me. Leader? I try to be an example, but there are many leaders in this team and it’s an important thing. And then I don’t have to recognize him, it’s the team that recognizes a leader”.

Massimiliano Allegri talking

Church will be missing…

“Unfortunately there won’t be tomorrow but when you stay still for ten months you know that there may be ailments that condition you”.

Could it be Di Maria and Paredes’ race?

“It doesn’t just depend on Di Maria and Paredes. The whole team must play a fair game from a technical point of view and in terms of approach, we won’t have to concede what we conceded to them in the first leg”.

How do you comment on Kombouarè’s words?

“We have to pass the first qualifying round given that in the last three years we have always come out in the last 16 in the Champions League. As for the percentages, I say that tomorrow is a final, a single match, given that away goals are no longer worth double. We play in their house and we play the pass”.

Could there be any tactical innovations without the Church?

“We can’t play with the three up front, because thinking it can last 120 minutes we need substitutions with these characteristics”.

Which Nantes player would you like to have?

“Juventus have excellent players. Nantes have Blas who is good, he’s left-footed, then the forwards will also return. It won’t be easy, winning away because it’s difficult in Europe.”

How is Quadrado?

“He’s better than in Spezia, he came from the flu and hadn’t recovered well. It’s him and De Sciglio, I think I’ll try to manage them during the match, I haven’t decided yet who will start between the two”.

Rabiot told you about the atmosphere of this stadium?

“We talked about the atmosphere that there will be at the beginning of the game, we will have to be good at letting the start of the match slide”.

A judgment on Locatelli?

“Complimenting him is easy. Net of his technical qualities, Manuel has moral qualities that make him a Juventus player, now and in the future. He has a specific DNA of those players who can spend many years at Juventus.”

Is there a different way to play in Europe?

“No, last Thursday we played a good match, we conceded on one of the two occasions conceded. And we’ll have to be good because they’re good on the counterattack.”

Are you more serious or more focused tonight?

“No, just serious, I was listening. I have the lights on and it looks like a first-degree interrogation, I have to dodge the lights. We are serene, we face the match as it should be, also knowing that it won’t be easy. We have to get ready to play for 90 minutes, let’s hope enough, that’s our goal.”