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Allegri gets it right for Juve
MASSIMILIANO Allegri woke up yesterday blissfully free of criticism over his team selection following Juventus’ Champions League win over Manchester City which sent it into the round of 16.
Allegri’s past as a former journeyman midfielder coupled with his deadpan manner seem to make him an easy target for Italian critics, even when his team is doing well.
But on Wednesday, his decisions to field a three-man defense, to prefer Alex Sandro to Patrice Evra on the left of midfield and to start with Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala as the two-man strikeforce all paid off handsomely.
“The victory is Allegri’s,” said Gazzetta dello Sport approvingly following the 1-0 win, with Mandzukic scoring in the 18th minute.
Allegri was greeted with suspicion and even hostility by Juventus fans when he replaced Antonio Conte last season but quickly won them over as his team won a league and cup double and reached the Champions League final.
This season has proved more difficult as he has had to rebuild the team following the departures of playmaker Andrea Pirlo, box-to-box midfielder Arturo Vidal and marksman Carlos Tevez.
But having won its last three Serie A matches, Juventus is finally starting to click.
Meanwhile, midfielder Yaya Toure said that City paid the price for its lack of killer instinct in front of goal.
City has already qualified for the knockout stages but will be determined to avoid the fate of its last two campaigns when it went through only as group runner-up, drew Barcelona in the last 16 and exited early.
Wednesday’s result meant Juventus leapfrogged City to top spot in Group D and needs only a draw from it final game against Spanish side Sevilla on December 8 to go through as group winners.
City was guilty of having spurned a number of good chances and Toure also said the visitors could have clinched at least a point had they been more ruthless in front of goal.
“We had quite a lot of injuries from important players but we have to live with that,” Toure told reporters after the game.
“We have a fantastic squad and I think we were unlucky to be honest. We have to forget this game and try to bounce back in the league.”
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