GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Maurizio Sarri has insisted Cristiano Ronaldo and his Juventus team-mates are yet to return to full fitness after they turned in another disappointing display in their Coppa Italia final defeat by Napoli.
Gennaro Gattuso’s side won their sixth Italian Cup on penalties following a 0-0 draw with the Turin giants in Rome on Wednesday night.
Ronaldo was likely to be Juventus’ last penalty taker but after Paulo Dybala had his attempt saved and Danilo blasted over the bar, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could only stand and watch as Napoli won the shootout 4-2.
Speaking after the match, Juventus boss Sarri admitted the Portuguese superstar is still not up to full speed as he continues to work his way back to top gear following the coronavirus shut down.
‘He’s in the same shape as the others, like Paulo Dybala and Douglas Costa, he is lacking the sharpness to do what works best for him,’ the former Chelsea boss told RAI.
‘I didn’t say much to the players after the game. I was angry and disappointed just like them, so at these moments it’s best to stay silent.’
Sarri also laid into his squad after they produced another dismal performance in front of goal, their second goalless draw since Italian action returned earlier this month.
He added: ‘There is disappointment for the boys, for the club, for the fans, but this is a particular moment, both for the physical condition and for some important absence.
‘We made different choices than usual, pressing less high to have a better grip at a distance and we played the game with good levels of application.
‘Right now, however, we lack brilliance to make the amount of game produced dangerous and without that brilliance it becomes more difficult to beat the man, which our players are usually used to doing easily, and finding other solutions.
‘Two 0-0s are an unprecedented fact and I think it is characteristic of this period.’
It is the second trophy that Juventus has missed out on this season after also losing to Lazio in the Italian Super Cup final in December.
But Juventus remain the favourites to win a record-extending ninth straight Serie A title with a one-point lead over Lazio, and they are also still in the Champions League.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
