Allegri: 'Juve want Champions League'

By Football Italia staff

Max Allegri confirms that with Cristiano Ronaldo in the side, Juventus “have even more ambition to win the Champions League.”

CR7 made his debut in this evening’s traditional pre-season in-house friendly between Juve and their youth team at Villar Perosa and found the back of the net within eight minutes.

He was in a starting XI with Paulo Dybala, Douglas Costa, Emre Can, Federico Bernardeschi, Leonardo Bonucci and Alex Sandro.

“On paper a team is important, but above all what happens on the field matters. The club has improved the squad over the summer, but we must play well and win games, otherwise none of that counts,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.

“We have even more ambition than in previous years to win and that includes the Champions League. The proof was given by the lads in this game, as they took it seriously. It’s a matter of intelligence and mentality.

“It’s only natural after the arrival of players like Ronaldo, Emre Can, Bonucci and Leonardo Spinazzola that there is excitement and dreams, but we have to make the quality count with our team performances on the pitch.

“Naturally, we have a higher ambition of winning the Champions League than in previous years, just as we want the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup.

“Ronaldo has above all brought experience at international level and acts as extra motivation for the younger lads to aim higher. You don’t win five Ballon d’Or trophies for nothing and you can see how hard he works to get there.

“However, Real Madrid have won four of the last five editions of the Champions League and they did that through hard work. We’ve got to work too and this is the first time I’ve really seen the whole squad play together.”

This summer also saw the return of centre-back Bonucci after his one-year spell at Milan.

“Leo is an important player with experience and he increased the quality level of the defence.”

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