Max Allegri urges Juventus players to move on after 15-point deduction.
Juventus manager, Massimiliano Allegri has urged his team to “do their duty” on the pitch in the wake of Friday’s points deduction by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC).
The Old Ladies were docked 15 points following an investigation into the club’s past transfer dealings. This deduction puts the club’s Champions League hopes in doubt as they fell from third to tenth.
So far, the club has denied any wrong doings and confirmed that they will appeal against the decision to the Sport Guarantee Board of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).
“We have to regroup and think only of matters on the pitch,” said Allegri.
“We don’t have to think about starting again. The legal proceedings concern the club and there will be an appeal. The standings say that at the moment we have 22 points and we have to try to earn results and make up positions.
“We must continue to do our duty because the sentence is in two months’ time and we must have no regrets when the verdict comes.”
The club’s board of directors, including former president, Andrea Agnelli and vice-president, Pavel Nedved, had resigned in November amid the ongoing probe into the club’s financial manipulation.
In context, the sanction recommended to be given to Juve by the prosecution team was nine-point rather than massive 15-point deduction received.
Despite these sanctions, Allegri is convinced and insists that not all was lost for the club who face a major time crawling up the Serie A table and succeeding in the Europa league when they meet French side Nantes next month in the knockout round.
“I have learned that all situations must be transformed into opportunities,” Allegri was quoted saying.
“We have the Europa League, we have the Coppa Italia and we have 60 league points to play for.”
“I’m convinced the players will do everything to get the most out of the situation. We face a challenge and maybe we will be able to do something extraordinary, In football anything is possible.”
