Crotone vs Juventus - Allegri warns Juventus can take nothing for granted

Posted Wednesday, February 08, 2017 by PA

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has warned there can be no complacency from the Serie A leaders when they head to relegation-battlers Crotone.

Allegri's side head to Calabria looking for a third straight win to sustain a healthy cushion over Napoli and Roma.

The Rossoblu may have lost four out of their last six league games, but Allegri knows his team must expect nothing else than a stern test of their title credentials at Stadio Ezio Scida.

"Crotone might be down towards the bottom of the table, but they have rarely been blown off the park," Allegri said at a press conference, reported on the official Juventus website.

"A lot of their defeats have come at the very end of matches, such as against Milan and Inter, while they would have beaten Fiorentina away were it not for conceding an injury-time equaliser.

"This all means that they are a very well-organised and balanced outfit who are difficult to score against. They play a classic 4-4-2 formation, but it is not easy to break down.

"We know that we are in for a tough game tomorrow and we will need to be patient in order to get the victory that we want."

The Bianconeri have produced the required response since losing 2-1 at Fiorentina three weeks ago, keeping succesive clean sheets as they picked up nine points.

Allegri believes how the players respond from here on in will determine whether they can once again deliver the Scudetto back to Turin.

"Not winning tomorrow would undo all the good work of Sunday's victory against Inter. Make no mistake, this is a crucial stage of the season and the players are taking on board the responsibility," he said.

"We need to keep securing maximum points throughout the rest of the campaign if we are to lift the Scudetto at the end of the campaign.

"I have never known a team to win a league title without fighting for every ball in every minute of every game and that is what we need to make sure we do in Crotone."

The Old Lady have found a winning formula with the 4-2-3-1 system, and it is one which Allegri and his squad are now comfortable with.

"I'll be sticking with the same formation tomorrow. The only changes will be with some of the players," the Juventus boss said.

Allegri confirmed he planned to rest defender Giorgio Chiellini and that midfielder Claudio Marchisio would not travel because of a back problem.

Crotone head coach Davide Nicola saw his side lose last weekend at fellow-relegation battlers Palermo, where they had midfielder Lorenzo Crisetig sent off in the 1-0 defeat.

Nicola believes facing the Serie A leaders with everyone expecting just one result could actually allow the Rossoblu to play freedom.

"I told the guys to keep on hoping," Nicola said to reporters after being beaten by Palermo.

"Now, we think of Juventus which on paper is a prohibitive challenge, but I want to believe in the impossible."