Several sources have reported that Juventus players were unexpectedly required to stay overnight at the club’s hotel preceding a crucial Coppa Italia match against Lazio. Massimiliano Allegri, the team’s coach, purportedly made this decision to maintain focus, foregoing the customary pre-match press conference scheduled for Monday.
Tonight, Juventus will face Lazio at the Allianz Stadium in Turin for the initial leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals. Following a recent 1-0 defeat to the Biancocelesti in Serie A, Allegri aims to elicit a strong response from his squad. Notably, the Coppa Italia represents Juventus’ final opportunity to secure silverware this season.
Despite assertions from the club that the overnight stay was not intended as a punitive measure, reports from outlets such as Il Corriere della Sera and Calciomercato.com suggest that the players were taken aback by the decision. Allegri purportedly sought to preempt any distractions ahead of the crucial fixture.
Allegri, hailing from Livorno, reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the demeanor of some players following the defeat to Lazio, prompting his decision to enforce an overnight stay at Continassa, the club’s training ground.
In a departure from his customary practice preceding competitive matches, the 56-year-old coach refrained from conducting a pre-match press conference, further underscoring the emphasis on concentration and preparation within the Juventus camp.