“Against Genoa we must return to victory”. Antonio Conte didn't mince words to present today's match. In Turin (15 pm) the bianconeri will try to interrupt the negative mini-series which sees them returning from two defeats between the league and the cup, the worst roster of the Conte era. It's time to get back on track, otherwise things could get really complicated. “We have to pick up on the championship thread, draw on a lot of energy – the coach's recipe. – My players are intelligent, now they are the first to make self-criticism”. Yes, also because the sticks even came from President Agnelli. A rebuke (“We need to be more cynical, because naivety comes at a high price at European level” said the Juventus number one during the shareholders' meeting) which did not spare even Conte. “The president wanted to send a message to everyone, without exception – replied the coach. – From his words, there are those who need to understand if he's being touched directly, those who think he's not and those who are trying to get the car to turn at 3000 rpm. I don't feel absolutely touched by this speech".
Once again Conte points the finger at the media, in his opinion always ready to put him in difficulty: “There are those who say that I would be at loggerheads with the club and with Marotta, but they are only rumors to destabilize us and not let us win back. In two years we have created a small war machine, we have reduced costs and won four trophies. Doing more than this was impossible, Juve has rediscovered international appeal thanks to the work on the pitch, mine and the players'. Nobody disputes it, but it's clear that everyone expected more from this team, especially in terms of play and intensity. “From July I repeat that it will be very difficult to win again this year, after two consecutive championships – Conte's speech. – On an unconscious and psychological level, perhaps you begin to take some things for granted, and I am referring to the whole environment. I'm glad I was a forerunner of what the president remarked, my shouting 'Wolf' had already made the teams prick up their ears in August. I invite the fans to rediscover the enthusiasm of the first year and not take anything for granted. Maybe the players feel an environment for granted, they have to find hunger, verve and enthusiasm again. Today the Juventus Stadium has returned to being more like a theatre, you have to attack your opponents both on the pitch and in the stands". While waiting for the public to play his part, the coach wants to see an aggressive and gritty Juve again. To do this, we will return to the standard 3-5-2, with Buffon in goal, Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini in defense, Isla, Vidal, Pirlo, Pogba and Asamoah in midfield, Tevez, Llorente in attack. Vucinic, Quagliarella and Lichtsteiner are still out, and even Giovinco, although called up, is not at his best. On the other side there will be a Genoa regenerated by Gasperini (ex of the match given his past in the Juventus youth sector), ready to close all the spaces with a rough 4-5-1 in which, however, there will be men capable of making bad in the offensive phase (above all Lodi and Gilardino). But this Juve can no longer make discounts, otherwise who will hear Antonio Conte?
