Conte: 'My Juve did not fail'

By Football Italia staff

Antonio Conte defended his Champions League record on the Juventus bench and passed the baton to Max Allegri.

The Italy Coach had a lengthy interview with Sky Sport Italia this evening and was asked about his poor European record.

“People do expect a lot of me and always have done. For example, I only participated in the Champions League twice with Juventus. The first year we got to the final eight, which seems to be the objective for this season, then we got to the Europa League semi-final.

“Despite that, my adventures in Europe were always seen as a failure. This, in any case, motivates me to do better.

“I said I’d love to win the Champions League one day, but I never specified whether it was with Juventus or another team. I just hope it’ll happen. Right now I have other dreams to pursue and I am focused exclusively on the Nazionale.”

Allegri has been criticised since taking over from Conte, but finds himself three points clear at the top of the table.

“After three extraordinary years, comparisons are inevitable, but this is a new era and it’s only right that people look to Allegri’s Juventus.”

Conte was also asked about the comments Roma captain Francesco Totti made, that “by hook or by crook” Juventus always win.

“I am the Coach of Italy today and these situations are all seen from a very detached viewpoint. In Italy there are two teams who are much stronger than the others, so from here to the end of the season it’ll be a Scudetto duel between Juventus and Roma.

“There will be other verbal clashes, I’m sure, but the important thing is for the protagonists to send positive messages.”

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