Juventus coach Allegri aiming higher still

Juventus upset the odds repeatedly last season as they battled their way to the UEFA Champions League final, and although Massimiliano Allegri's side lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the final, the coach remains proud of their achievement. In fact he is hoping for even better in 2015/16.

UEFA.com: How do you look back on Juventus's journey to last season's UEFA Champions League final?

Massimiliano Allegri: It was a great feat, it was extraordinary, as no one thought Juventus would be finalists. We improved with every match and our confidence grew too. We had some difficult moments, as is normal in the UEFA Champions League, but we deserved to reach the final and played an excellent match against a great Barcelona team.

It was a big season for us, because while it is good to win your national league, Europe shows you how good your team really are – so that final will be an important memory for me. I still hope to win the UEFA Champions League one day, though!

UEFA.com: Things did not look good after Juventus lost 1-0 at Olympiacos on matchday three.

Allegri: In the group stage there are always difficulties. We were playing catch-up after our defeat in Athens, but we improved and gained confidence. Our goal was to improve on the previous season when we didn't get through the group, so reaching the last 16 was the least we wanted. We managed that and then did better than expected. It was big achievement for us and for the club, because with a first final in 12 years Juventus gained a lot of visibility all over the world.

UEFA.com: In the final, Gianluigi Buffon passed the ball more often than four of his outfield team-mates. Has the goalkeeper's role changed in recent years?

Allegri: It has changed a lot – sometimes he is an additional player who can start moves from the back. However, I think it is important for the team to play an attacking, pressing style in order to keep the ball in the opponents' half as much as possible.

UEFA.com: Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tévez and Arturo Vidal all left Juventus this summer; how hard are they to replace?

Allegri: It is always difficult to repeat a season like the one we had, so we all decided it was time for a change. In any case, Tévez wanted to go back to Argentina, Vidal wanted to go to Bayern and Pirlo decided to try his luck in the United States. Now we have some talented young players, but we need to work and develop, both individually and as a team. Every season, every year is difficult, but the important thing is trying to improve every day.

UEFA.com: Mario Mandžukić is now leading the line for Juventus. What do you expect of him and your young Argentinian signing Paulo Dybala?

Allegri: Mandžukić has scored for every team he's played for, so I believe he'll do great things this year. Dybala is young but he did well at Palermo and has great ability. He needs to improve and learn to fit in with our other strikers, but along with [fellow forwards] Álvaro Morata and Simone Zaza he can be an important player. Mandžukić should be an example for our attackers; because they're younger, he has more responsibility.

UEFA.com: Paul Pogba should be a key player this term. How highly do you rate him?

Allegri: His mission is to improve on last season. He's 22 and he has a lot of room for improvement. He has taken on the challenge of wearing the No10 shirt but he has the quality to live up to it. He's currently one of the best midfielders around, but he can become the very best.

UEFA.com: Juventus have got Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Mönchenglabach in the group stage. How do you feel about that?

Allegri: It is a difficult group but we have what it takes to do well. We need to make the most of our home matches, knowing we're up against some serious opponents like Manchester City and Sevilla, who have won the UEFA Europa League twice. Our first game is at City and we will try to get points out of that, but it is going to be tough. City are contenders to top this group – and win the UEFA Champions League too. No disrespect to Mönchenglabach, but I think City, Sevilla and ourselves have the best chance of going through. Our goal for the season is to win Serie A – even if we haven't started well – and the Coppa Italia, and to have an excellent UEFA Champions League campaign.