Allegri: 'Juve deserved qualification'

By Football Italia staff

Max Allegri explains how Juventus turned Tottenham Hotspur around at Wembley. “I think our qualification was deserved over two legs.”

The first leg ended 2-2 in Turin after Juve had gone 2-0 up, but the comeback was from the Bianconeri in London, winning 2-1 after a Hon Seung-Min opener.

“The lads and club deserve compliments for what they’ve been doing over the last few years,” the Coach told Mediaset Premium.

“It was a prestigious victory at a stadium like Wembley. We waited for the right time, showed patience and won the game. Over the two legs, I think our qualification was deserved.

“We struggled in the first half, above all by losing the ball and they were deadly in those situations. We kept splitting the team in two with misplaced passes, but after the break were more balanced, compact and kept it tight. The lads achieved something impressive.”

The game was transformed when Blaise Matuidi and Medhi Benatia made way for Kwadwo Asamoah and Stephan Lichtsteiner.

“I made changes because we needed players with different characteristics, as Asamoah is extraordinary in his passing and has been really underestimated throughout his career.

“Lichtsteiner did well working with Khedira, we were tired on the flanks and needed some more pace and width. Tottenham hit the post in the final minute, but Harry Kane was offside.

“Higuain had been out for two weeks, Dybala only really returned on Saturday, so we need to get the others back to full fitness.

“Now we have a couple of games coming up in Serie A that will be crucial.”

Allegri shrugged off compliments for his tactical masterstroke.

“The players win the games. I occasionally do some damage and try to make up for it, but I am proud to train this group.”

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