Maurizio Sarri’s job at risk after Champions League exit


Maurizio Sarri’s  job at risk after Champions League exit

sarri

Sarri

Maurizio Sarri job as the manager of Juventus is in danger after his side surrendered to Lyon. The ‘Old Lady’ got knocked-out of the Champions League in the last-16 round as Sarri faces lot of criticism.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace led Juve to gain 2-1 win, however after a 2-2 aggregate draw, they slipped in the last-16 match on away goals.

Sarri managerial role at Turin faces uncertainty despite he led his side to the Serie A title. However, Juve’s wait for a first Champions League title since 1996 faces another set-back with Sarri at the helm.

Sarri commented on his future with the Italian side, told Sky:”I don’t think directors of a top-level club will make a decision based on one match. They are going to evaluate the whole season. I find this kind of question offensive, but not towards me, it’s offensive towards the directors.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dybala had to subbed off just minutes after his inclusion in the second half. The Argentine seemed to have aggravated his knee injury, which kept him out of the starting line-up.

Sarri on Dybala inclusion despite his injury cloud:

during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen at Juventus Arena on October 1, 2019 in Turin, Italy.

“I have a contract; I’ll respect it and I don’t expect anything. If I had come here without using Dybala, then I would’ve been asked why I hadn’t risked him. If not tonight, then when? – he justified.

“It was a risk, but Douglas Costa was out and Cuadrado had some muscular problems, he was alerting the bench that he was struggling, so we had to use the substitution slot for both Danilo and Dybala.”

Juventus are cursed in the Champions League?

“We are out of a competition where we won six out of eight games we played, we drew one and lost one. That means that in eight matches we got 19 points.

ADVERTISEMENT

“If there were a Champions League table we would be first or second. Instead, we are out. That’s why I feel incredibly sad. It makes me understand that in this competition Juventus are cursed.

“If I weren’t so bitter, I would get out of this match with a smile on my face, because I saw the lads in good shape again, they gave all they had, they fought until the end, they put their heart and soul into the match. I appreciated it.” – Sarri said.

While his side has recorded worst result in the competition since 2015-16, Sarri was delighted with his players’ actions.

Sarri feeling content about Juve’s performance against Lyon:

“I thought we put in a great performance this evening. The team has revitalised itself over the last few days, and if they weren’t devastated in their confidence by the elimination, I’d be very satisfied with their performance.

ADVERTISEMENT

“If I take away the huge disappointment at the elimination, then I am very happy with the team this evening, as they showed character and gave their all. If we hadn’t been eliminated, I’d return home happy tonight.”

Also read: Manchester City vs Real Madrid: Varane’s double howler cost Real Madrid the quarter-finals spot