Juventus must focus on top-four finish than Serie A title – Massimiliano Allegri

Massimiliano Allegri has urged his Juventus side to shift their focus away from the top of the Serie A table as they prepare to travel to bottom club Salernitana on Sunday.

Inter Milan’s win over Verona on Saturday saw them stretch their lead back to five points, but Allegri is in no doubt where his priorities lie for the rest of the campaign.

Allegri told a press conference: “First of all it is fundamental to maintain the gap to fifth in the standings. Our first objective must be to qualify for the next Champions League.”

The squad for #SalernitanaJuve pic.twitter.com/th6KItRvJJ

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) January 6, 2024

Juventus head into the game unbeaten in 13 Serie A games and will start as strong favourites against a side whom they swept aside 6-1 last Thursday in the Coppa Italia.

Allegri confirmed that Hans Nicolussi Caviglia will feature for the trip to Salerno, but Andrea Cambiaso is ruled out with a fever, and the game has come too early for Moise Kean who is yet to return to full training.

Despite Thursday’s cup mauling, the hosts will head into the game in good heart having snapped a run of six games without a win with a priceless 1-0 victory at Verona last week.

Allegri is adamant his side must rely on their team spirit to see them through a game with potentially more problems than the recent statistics suggest.

“Playing in Salerno is never easy and we will find it difficult because they want to cancel out the result of Thursday’s match,” said Allegri.

“We must continue to work as we are doing, without getting excited and without ever letting our guard down.

“The match the other evening shouldn’t make us get excited, but push us to continue working well because it’s important to think about one match at a time, without projecting ourselves too far ahead.

“Right now the thing that matters most is the group. We have to put the ego aside and put the group at the centre, because this group is doing something splendid.”