Sassuolo vs Juventus - Allegri believes Paulo Dybala has to get used to his new role
Posted Tuesday, October 27, 2015 by PA
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri believes that summer signing Paulo Dybala possesses quality but admits ahead of his team's visit to Sassuolo on Wednesday that he has room for improvement.
Dybala, who joined Juve this summer from Palermo on a permanent transfer, scored his fourth league goal of the season in his side's 2-0 win over Atalanta on Sunday.
The Argentina forward also set up Mario Mandzukic for Juve's second.
"Dybala has to grow technically and physically but no one doubts his quality," Allegri said to Gazzetta dello Sport. "He is playing in a different role to what he was accustomed to at Palermo and he has to get used to it.
"Dybala was a leader at Palermo and we cannot pretend that he is one here just yet."
The South American enjoyed an impressive 2014-15 campaign with Palermo, scoring 10 goals and setting up 12 more in 35 league starts.
"He is only 21 and he has great quality," Allegri said. "At Palermo, he played as a forward and here he has less space to move.
"But I'm certain he will become a champion."
Dybala is expected to start alongside Alvaro Morata in Juve's attack at the Citta del Tricolore stadium.
Juve are looking to win two games in a row in Serie A for the first time this season.
The defending champions won just one of their opening six Serie A games but Sunday's victory lifted the Bianconeri to 12th in the standings, eight points adrift of league leaders Roma.
"We played a great game against Atalanta and for the third match in a row, we didn't concede a goal which is important," Allegri said. "I'm satisfied as we are playing as a group and we are improving."
Juve, who host Torino in Saturday's city derby, will be without midfielder pair Roberto Pereyra and Kwadwo Asamoah.
Both players sustained muscular injuries at the weekend and face spells on the sidelines.
Moreover, Martin Caceres is still unavailable with an ankle injury.
Unlike Juve, Sassuolo went unbeaten in their opening six games before losing 1-0 at Empoli earlier this month.
Sassuolo then lost 2-1 at AC Milan on Sunday to drop to sixth in the standings.
Eusebio Di Francesco's side has not lost at home since a 3-0 defeat to Roma in April while Juve have won just once on the road this season.
The hosts will be without goalkeeper Andrea Consigli, who was sent off against Milan.
Gianluca Pegolo will replace Consigli in goal.
Domenico Berardi, who has scored in Sassuolo's last two games, will lead his team's attack.
Berardi was co-owned by Juve until this summer and the Turin giants retain the option of re-signing him at the end of the campaign.
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