Maurizio Sarri in Fiery Form Ahead of Coppa Italia Final Against Former Club
By Adam Aladay
Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri has explained that he will make a few tactical tweaks to his side for the Coppa Italia final to make them more defensively resolute, and hit back at his critics of his lack of trophies in Italy.
Sarri's men played out a prosaic 0-0 draw with Milan on Friday night to progress to Wednesday night's final on away goals, missing a first-half penalty before Ante Rebic was sent off for the visitors.
Juventus will meet Napoli in the final of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday after Gennaro Gattuso's men overcame Inter 2-1 on aggregate. Speaking ahead of his side's clash with his former club, Sarri suggested he will look to take a more defensive approach - perhaps with a more fluid frontline, rather than operating with a set central striker.
“In regards of the intensity, I don’t think the physical change will change in five days,” Sarri said at a press conference, as quoted by Football Italia. “We are in a particular moment; the games will be very difficult, the same goes for the mental and tactical aspects.
“It’s all part of the abnormal period. I watched a Napoli who tried to get their opponents high up and just waited. I don’t know if it was a choice or due to the physical situation. Napoli are a side that have recently expressed themselves very well. It will not be easy.
“The positions I assign the attackers will be more defensive than attacking. We can’t play the role of a central striker. In front, there’s a great freedom to move in the attacking phase.”
The former Chelsea boss also took the opportunity to call on his players to bring that 'little extra' in order to secure as many trophies as possible, adding: “I will tell them that we played seven months and then were three months in lockdown before getting to play these games. Now, we have to bring out that little extra to take home as many trophies as possible.”
Sarri also hit back at his critics who say he has won nothing in Italy, admitting that he gets 'annoyed' by the repeated line.
“I get a bit annoyed when I hear that I didn’t win anything in Italy because I won eight promotions. That’s perhaps a small thing compared to the Champions League and the Scudetto, but it’s not easy.
“It's always an important incentive to win important trophies and there’s a desire to lift the cup. I focus on us; I’m not interested in Napoli. I’m happy that we are in the final.”