Sassuolo vs Juventus preview - Allegri admits frustrations

Posted Friday, October 17, 2014 by PA

Massimiliano Allegri has suddenly come to the realisation that everybody is against Juventus.

The former AC Milan coach has enjoyed a flawless start to life in the Juve dugout - in Serie A at least - with the Bianconeri winning all six of their opening games to claim an early three-point lead.

The most recent win came at the expense of title rivals Roma, who before their arrival in Turin also boasted a 100 per cent record, yet Italian critics have rounded on the champions for the manner of their victory.

Melodrama ruled supreme as referee Gianluca Rocchi awarded three questionable penalties, banished Roma coach Rudi Garcia from the touchline and sent off brawling players Kostas Manolas and Alvaro Morata at the death.

The match finished 3-2 in Juve's favour and, ahead of Saturday's trip to Sassuolo, Allegri admitted he was frustrated that football had been overshadowed by histrionics, a phenomenon he is struggling to come to terms with in Turin.

He told the Corriere dello Sport: "The thing that has done more harm to Italian football is that they have talked so much about the incidents and not about the game.

"Beneath it all, the technical aspects were good... it was intense. And there's just radio silence about that.

"It's not a good thing that they put the emphasis on these other things in Italy.

"Everybody says Italian football sucks, but no one does anything else but try their best.

"Everybody says Italian referees are the worst, then suddenly you find them refereeing the World Cup final.

"Italian teams go abroad and concede dubious penalties, but stay quiet.

"People were only bothered about Rocchi's decisions because it was Juventus against Roma, the same choices in a low-to-medium level game and no one would give a damn."

Juve are missing defenders Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres and midfielders Romulo and Stefano Morrone through injury while hosts Sassuolo are without goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo and defender Lorenzo Ariaudo.

Eusebio Di Francesco's Neroverdi prop up the table after drawing three and losing three of their games thus far and midfielder Francesco Magnanelli would have preferred to avoid meeting Juve at this stage of the season.

"On paper it looks like an impossible match for us," the Sassuolo captain told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

"They are the worst possible opponents we could meet at this time, but we need points and we will do everything in our power to achieve that goal."