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Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri insisted that a 1-1 draw against Torino at the Allianz Stadium on Friday continued his team’s “positive streak”.
The hosts took the lead through a header from Matthijs de Ligt in the first half, but Andrea Belotti equalized just after the hour limit and Juve struggled to create any meaningful chances in response as they did not hit the target at all in the second half.
The old lady remains in fourth place in Serie A, eight points behind leading Milan, who have played one match more, and only three points ahead of Atalanta in fifth place, who have two games left.
When he spoke to DAZN after the match, Allegri seemed to be pleased with both the result and the performance.
“That, because it matters, with the point, we followed up on the positive results we’ve had in the last two to three months,” he said. “It was not easy, we were not brilliant in relation to Turin, but we played a good match.
“Paradoxically, we closed a goal into our best moment. In the first half, we had two or three situations where we could have scored, but not in the second half.
“Then we were not very clean in the second half, but I think it’s a normal road, it’s natural when you play in the league, especially when you aim to be in the top four, so a draw is not to be dismissed.
“I would say the boys played a good match in terms of commitment and intensity. They tried to win until the end, so that’s a point we take home and allow ourselves to extend the positive streak.”
4 – Juventus have drawn four of their last six derbies against Torino, played in the second half of a Serie A season (W2). Balance. #JuveToro
– OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 18, 2022
Allegri also seemed unimpressed, and booked him for diving.
The Serbian striker made a switch from Fiorentina in January in a transfer that could be worth up to € 80 million.
“He struggled because he is a very good player, but he has to learn a lot,” Allegri added. “As many players have to learn. Tonight he had to pull Bremer around the pitch and not give him any reference points, because he is very strong on direct balls and less strong when you pull him around the pitch.
“Let’s not forget that he comes from a team that has a very good season, but he played one game a week. He has played six [here], so I think it’s normal for him to grow. It amuses me because someone comes in and has to play every game.
“You have to grow, you have to get used to it, all the things you need in a great team, otherwise you can not physically manage to play a game every three days.”
Daniele Rugani was pulled out of the starting line-up ahead of the match after suffering a heat injury while Luca Pellegrini and Paolo Dybala both came out with shocks, but Allegri did not seem worried despite the upcoming Champions League round. of 16 first away matches in Villarreal on Tuesday.
“I’m not worried at all, also because during the season there are injuries and those we have, and who are in form and signed up, will play on Tuesday against Villarreal and then we will prepare for Empoli,” said he.
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