Juventus mentor Max Allegri hailed his players after their staggering Champions League thrashing of Atletico Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo hit a hat-trick to see Juve win 3-0 today around evening time and thrashing Atletico 3-2 on total.
Allegri stated: “The lads put in a great performance. They had technique, precision, aggression and it’s what we had planned for the first leg, but I thought about it and made some changes. We didn’t spread the play enough,” the coach told Sky Sport Italia.
“Everyone had been waiting for so long for this game, there was the possibility of a neurotic performance, so I told the lads to stay calm and keep their balance, otherwise we’d run a big risk.”
Leonardo Spinazzola was an unexpected pick for his Champions League debut, supplanting suspended Alex Sandro and harmed Mattia De Sciglio.
“Spinazzola had an excellent game on the left, Federico Bernardeschi did really well too. It’s a step forward for Bernardeschi and I am well aware of how good he is. We needed a great performance to go through and we did it.”
Emre Can was all over, man-marking Alvaro Morata, in midfield, notwithstanding moving to appropriate back after Spinazzola was substituted.
“Even in the first leg, we had Bentancur in a fairly similar position to Emre Can. Tonight Emre Can could build out from the back and play in midfield, allowing Spinazzola and Cancelo to let loose on the flanks.
“I had said the chance Lemar missed at the end of the first leg was a decisive moment, the one that would allow us to qualify. I feared the same when we failed to score in the first leg against Real Madrid.”
