Allegri: ‘If I leave Juventus, it is with a strong team’ | OneFootball

Max Allegri dropped the biggest hint yet that he knows Juventus will fire him even after winning the Coppa Italia against Atalanta. ‘The club has the right to make its evaluations.’

The Bianconeri had been arguably the underdogs going into this Final, having drawn each of their last five Serie A games, but an early Dusan Vlahovic goal from Andrea Cambiaso’s pass proved the difference.

They then managed to defend with relatively few problems, as Ademola Lookman and Fabio Miretti hit the woodwork, but Mattia Perin was never really tested.

Instead, Vlahovic saw another goal ruled narrowly offside and had penalty appeals, all of which contributed to infuriating the coach.

He was sent off for dissent in stoppages, tore off his jacket, tie and almost his shirt too while screaming for refereeing designator Gianluca Rocchi towards the stands.

“At Juventus, winning is all that matters. I am very happy for the lads, they did good work, made the club and the fans happy. I am very pleased with this evening, as it is never easy to win, but it is in the Juventus DNA,” Allegri told Sport Mediaset.

Allegri pushed on apparent row with Giuntoli

On the way off the field before the trophy was handed out, Allegri seemed to be telling someone – perhaps director Cristiano Giuntoli – to go away.

“Nothing happened, I was celebrating with the crowd and the players. I respect the club, I respect the men and had no problem with anyone. I just wanted to celebrate with the lads, who had an extraordinary campaign. Although we didn’t manage to fight for the Scudetto to the end, we qualified for the Champions League and won the Coppa Italia.”

Many assume that Juventus will fire Allegri at the end of the season, even though he has achieved everything that was asked of him by qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Coppa Italia.

“If I am no longer the coach of Juventus next season, seeing as everyone seems to take it for granted that I am leaving, then I leave a strong team for this club. I don’t know anything yet, I am just joking. At Juventus, winning is all that matters, then the club will make their evaluations.”

Allegri has made history as the first coach to win the Coppa Italia on five different occasions, all of them on the bench of Juventus, as Roberto Mancini and Sven-Goran Eriksson stopped at four.

It is the 15th edition for the Bianconeri, who remain by a long way the most successful club in the history of the competition, but Juve had not won any silverware in three years.

“The players deserve the credit, as they wanted this trophy. I told them beforehand they had every chance to win and they proved themselves tonight, so I am very happy for them.”

Allegri had some surprises with the starting XI, as suspended Fabio Miretti was replaced by Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, while Samuel Iling-Junior played rather than Filip Kostic.

“Nicolussi Caviglia is an intelligent lad, perhaps I could’ve used him more this season, but he always stepped up when called upon. Since March 5 when we lost to Inter, those were three tough months, difficult to deal with and after a while it feels like the ball is made of lead. We kept going, qualified for the Champions League and won the Coppa Italia, so I can only thank them.

“You start a season as a group and then become a team with time. It is not easy for some of them at a big club like Juventus, as dealing with the criticism over the last three months was a real growth experience that will do good for the future of Juve.”

Biggest hint yet Allegri is leaving Juventus

Allegri has been criticised far more than his players this season, so does he feel a sense of revenge?

“No, it’s a matter of respect, of behaviour and evaluation, and I am fortunately quite realistic about things. I am very happy to be at this glorious club, I have had eight years here, 10 if you consider the two where I stayed out. I can only thank them, as they gave me the opportunity to win many trophies.

“It is right that we celebrate tonight, but from tomorrow Juventus must work to start winning again.”

Under contract until June 2025, is Allegri going to be on the Bianconeri bench next season or not?

“The club has the right to decide whether to keep a player or a coach, whether to send him away or not. I am fortunate in my career to have played many Finals, it’s a marvellous experience, the fans on both sides were marvellous tonight and I really enjoyed it. These events are why you are in the job and I hope to experience more in my career.”

This was the 14th piece of silverware that Allegri has won in his coaching career at Milan and Juventus.

Inevitably, Allegri had to be asked about his antics in stoppages, tearing off his jacket, tie and almost his shirt.

“At that moment, we needed to shake things up a bit!”