thank GOD we have ronaldo says allegri has injury hit juventus prepare for ajax kids
Juventus can count on fit-again
superstar Cristiano Ronaldo but captain Giorgio Chiellini and forward Mario
Mandzukic will miss the crunch Champions League quarter-final, second leg clash
against Ajax in Turin, coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed on Monday.
Ronaldo, 34, will spearhead the Italian
champions' attack against the young Dutch outfit alongside Federico
Bernardeschi on Tuesday, with Allegri still to decide on a third striker to
replace Croatian Mandzukic.
Portuguese
star Ronaldo came back from injury to score a crucial away goal in last week's
1-1 draw in Amsterdam, having bagged an incredible hat-trick to rescue their
campaign in the last 16 against Atletico Madrid.
"Thank
God he's playing for us and not the opponents," Allegri told a press conference
in Turin as he outlined his selection headaches on the eve of the game.
"Cristiano
has extraordinary quality. In certain moments he becomes an unstoppable player
and you can see it on his face," said Allegri
"From
a physical point of view he's better, he's got great skill and quality and
during a match becomes a different player."
But
the Juventus coach ruled out making the five-time Ballon d'Or winner his team's
skipper in the absence of defender Chiellini.
"Ronaldo
captain? If (Paulo) Dybala plays it will be Dybala otherwise it will be
(Leonardo) Bonucci," said Allegri.
Allegri
said he had yet to decide between Argentine forward Dybala and teenager Moise
Kean, who has scored six goals in as many games.
"Mandzukic
was not called up because he had a knee problem. We need to have players in
good shape," said Allegri.
"I
still need to decide who starts in attack, it could be Dybala or Kean or
neither of them. If one of them plays, then one of Mattia de Sciglio and (Joao)
Cancelo will be left out.
"It
depends on what I decide to go with tomorrow night."
-
'Young team playing like adults' -
Winger
Douglas Costa is "not in the best physical shape" after a calf
problem and won't be able to play the whole game, but could play for half an
hour.
Midfielder
Emre Can returns from injury after missing the first leg, and sat
alongside
"I watched the game on TV, it's impressive how they play,
but we're not afraid of them and we want to play our game and win
tomorrow." said the German. "We have to go with the same attitude as
game against Atletico. For sure we won't play for 0-0."
Allegri added: "In Amsterdam we could
have, and should have done better. I expected goals to be scored I have the
same expectations for tomorrow."
Ajax
coach Erik Ten Hag conceded that Juventus were the favourites, as key
midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 21, still remains a doubt for the Dutch league
leaders with a hamstring problem.
"After
tonight's training, we will see," said Ten Hag.
"This
is the perfect challenge for us. After 1-1 in Amsterdam they are favourites.
"Being
able to beat Real Madrid was a remarkable achievement and hopefully tomorrow
we'll be able to have another memorable match," he warned.
"We
believe we can definitely compete with these giants.
"We're
a young team but play like adults, we showed it against Real Madrid."
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