Allegri overjoyed with Juventus spirit
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Article summary
A thrilled Massimiliano Allegri had nothing but praise for a Juventus side who he says deserve to be in the final while Carlo Ancelotti was left to rue Real Madrid CF's first-leg loss.
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• Massimiliano Allegri hails "extraordinary" team after defeating Madrid
• Juventus coach insists his side deserve to be in final
• Disappointed Carlo Ancelotti regrets first-leg performance
• Madrid coach insists "nothing to reproach" his players for
• Juve will face Barcelona in the final in Berlin's Olympiastadion on 6 June
Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach
It was a complex match because Real Madrid have so much quality. If you don't keep concentration for 95 minutes, they can score. The boys defended well, we grew through the game, we had a number of chances but we missed the final pass. We deserve to be in the final because we believed until the last minute. I think Álvaro Morata is becoming a major player. He has grown both physically and tactically. He is still a young kid and I don't think he has fulfilled his potential yet – he has a lot of room to develop.
At half-time I said we should stay calm and our chances would come. Our play was good in the middle of the pitch, even if we could have done better with our passing, but we managed to reach the final and it is an extraordinary result. We managed to control the game. Madrid are an extraordinary team, especially during that really intense opening ten minutes, but my players were very good.
It will be a unique match against Barcelona. It is a one-off game, two matches is more complex. I am used to playing against Barcelona, having faced them about eight times in four years [as AC Milan coach]. Beating Barça is always difficult, but the final is a one-off match. This Juve team is an extraordinary group, I am really proud of them and they really trust in themselves. I am not thinking about the treble.
Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid coach
The team fought hard, worked hard and played well. There is nothing to reproach them for tonight. We are sad as you'd expect, but we have to look forward to the next two games and we have to finish the season well. Then we'll talk.
There wasn't much missing tonight, just small details. We didn't have a lot of luck either. If I had to regret something, it was playing the first leg in a way we don't usually. But I thank my players because they worked to the maximum. The players pushed on a lot in the second half of both games – I didn't see a tired team. We had a lot of shots on goal, albeit not many on target. Maybe with a little more freshness we would have had more efficiency.
I put a lot of time into my work because I like it but I don't think it's for me to judge my work – that's up to the club. I don't have to think [about my future]. If the club are happy with what I have done these two seasons then I will stay. My future for me is decided, I would like to stay here, but I know how things are in football and the club have the right to change coach if they want.
I'm satisfied above all because I have a very good relationship with the players, and support from the club in good and bad moments alike. I see it all in a positive manner. We had the chances to score. In the closing stages of the match it was more difficult – we weren't efficient but the effort from the team was great.
In January and February we had a dip because we had significant injuries, then the team reacted well and we fought until the end. Now we must win our last two [league] games. We missed lots of opportunities, we weren't clinical enough, but we gave everything we could. Barcelona are clear favourites but anything can happen in a final.