Massimiliano Allegri admits Juve thoughts are already on next season | OneFootball

Massimiliano Allegri has admitted that Juventus are already looking ahead to next year and has revealed who will be missing for Saturday’s Derby d’Italia.

Juventus take on Inter this weekend having already wrapped up their eighth successive Serie A title.

The Bianconeri coach has insisted that his side won’t let up between now and the end of the campaign but has conceded that behind the scenes thoughts are already turning to 2019/20.

“Inter-Juventus is a wonderful match,” he said at a press conference.

“We have to come away with a result because between now and the end of the season, we have the objective of continuing to pick up points in these games, which stimulate us.

“Chiellini has returned and will play tomorrow. Instead, we’ve lost Bentancur to a muscle strain.

“In attack if Kean plays, the change will be Bernardeschi. We don’t have many alternatives but we’ll adapt.

“Bernardeschi is now forced to play as a forward, but I want to know if he can play as a central midfielder in the future.

“It’s an experiment that excites me. The other tactical variant I’d like to try is that of Cancelo, also as a ‘mezz’ala’. For the rest, Emre Can in defence is nothing new.”

The Coach was then asked about Beppe Marotta, who left the Bianconeri for Inter earlier in the season, and the topics he would discuss with Agnelli.

“I haven’t seen him since he left, so I’d like to see him again,” he added.

“We did great things together. We’re professionals, roads can divide but that doesn’t detract from the good deeds we did.

“I’ll meet Agnelli. We’ll meet to make plans and create new objectives. The most important thing is to be clear-headed and make decisions to lay the foundations for an important season.

“We need to come out better for it, planning for a season that will be difficult. The Champions League is as beautiful as a b******.

“We must arrive at the right time in the best possible condition. Injuries can be a decisive factor, but talking now is useless.

“My tenure has lasted five years and I can only speak for myself: if you don’t win the Champions League for five years, it’s not exactly a drama.

“We need to understand where we went wrong, work and have a little more luck. This year, for the first time in my five years, we got to the quarter-finals in bad shape.

“Certainly, I’m also responsible for that.”