Giaccherini: 'Sarriball impossible with CR7'

By Football Italia staff

Emanuele Giaccherini insists “it is impossible to play” Maurizio Sarri’s style of football at Juventus with Cristiano Ronaldo. “Mario Mandzukic would’ve been ideal.”

The Bianconeri lost the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie with Lyon and there are still precious few signs of Sarriball even after seven months.

“The club made a specific choice by bringing in a coach who bases his football on quick passing, above all seen at Napoli,” said former Juve and Napoli player Giaccherini to DAZN.

“It’s difficult to do that at Juve, above all because there’s Ronaldo, who has his own way of playing. You cannot ask him to do certain things…

“Sarri struggled because this team was built over the years to play a very different type of football. In my view, Mandzukic would’ve been ideal, but the club made other choices.”

The coach complained he cannot get his players to understand the importance of moving the ball quickly and Giaccherini can appreciate that frustration.

“Juve play at a much slower tempo, they don’t do one or two-touch football, because there was a different quality of player at Napoli.

“The Bianconeri have players who can change a game, whereas at Napoli it was more of a team effort. Juve play for Ronaldo, so it’s Sarri who has to adapt and not vice-versa.”

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