Now it's official: Juve can no longer make mistakes. Napoli's victory over Catania wiped out the advantage of the bianconeri, who today must necessarily conquer Verona if they want to return to the top. Three points would therefore be fundamental, and not just for the standings. In fact, the moment is the toughest of Conte's entire management, even if the coach doesn't think so: “If I look at the standings I say no, and not even if I look at the Champions League or the Italian Cup. We came close to the final and looking back on the double challenge against Lazio we deserved something more. The results come after the performance, I'm very serene: I've never been sorry for the team, except in the second half against Sampdoria. With the boys we did an in-depth analysis on why we've been comeback 4 times in the last few matches and on the many goals conceded”.
Antonio Conte is not hiding, but is keen to make some clarifications. First of all on the expectations around his Juventus: “We have only a year and a half of working together behind us, we are building. Sometimes I read that Juve is a team that has already been made and formed, but if we have become a point of reference after such a short time it means that we are all in bad shape. We don't think about everything right away. There's a path to take, weeks ago I heard about the Treble, crazy stuff. We have to try to win back in Italy, it will be very, very difficult, and then we can think about Europe. Last year we invented the victory, but nobody has to hide behind Juve”. Then on the market, considered disappointing by the majority of Juventus fans. Everyone was waiting for the top player, but “only” Anelka arrived: “I've always been clear, from the beginning: there were no economic resources, for this reason I denied the high-sounding names. Milan has budgeted to spend 20 million plus bonuses, we may not have found the right player or conditions, or we didn't feel like committing ourselves financially even for the years to come. Aguero doesn't move, Suarez as well. Like Cavani, Jovetic and Tevez, while Drogba cost too much. We could have done better, but even worse…”. In short, a Count on the board, even towards his own leadership, albeit at the tip of the foil. No attack on the arbitration system, however, as demonstrated by the decision not to appeal. The coach, disqualified for 2 matches following the crowd that made a scene with Guida, will watch Chievo-Juventus from the grandstand: “There are regulations that must be respected. I can contest the rules, it's within my right, but I respect them. Let's go to Verona serene, let's think about the field and accept all the situations. We have to be stronger and know that there are more or less favorable moments”. This is also decidedly unfortunate from a numerical point of view: between injuries (above all Marchisio and Chiellini), disqualifications (Bonucci and Vucinic) and causes of force majeure (Asamoah in the African Cup), the formation is all to be reinvented. That's why the chances of seeing Anelka on the pitch are growing, albeit during the game. The Frenchman doesn't have 90 minutes in his legs, but he has trained regularly and could make his debut in the black and white shirt.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Chievo (5-3-2): Puggioni; Sampirisi, Dainelli, Andreolli, Cesar, Jokic; Hetemaj, L. Rigoni, Cofie; Thereau, Paloschi.
On the bench: Ujkani, Squizzi, Acerbi, Vacek, Papp, Farkas, Seymour, Spyropoulos, Guana, Hauche, Stoian.
Trainer: Eugene Corini.
Unavailable: Sardinian, Dramé, Luciano, Pellissier, Samassa (African Cup).
Disqualified: nobody.
Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon; Caceres, Brown, Barzagli; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba, Peluso; Matri, Giovinco.
On the bench: Storari, Branescu, Rugani, Isla, Padoin, De Ceglie, Giaccarini, Beltrame, Anelka, Quagliarella.
Trainer: Antonio Conte (suspended, Angelo Alessio on the bench).
Unavailable: Marchisio, Chiellini, Pepe, Bendtner, Asamoah (Africa Cup).
Disqualified: Bonucci, Vucinic, Chiellini.
Referee: Mauro Bergonzi (Genoa).
Line Assistants: Niccolai-Grilli.
Port Assistants: Rocchi-Tommasi.
Fourth official: from Luke.
