days and Massimiliano Allegri has welcomed Martin
Caceres back to the squad.
Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has welcomed back Martin
Caceres to the squad as his side enter a crucial run of fixtures.
The Serie A champions face Sassuolo on Wednesday, just three
days before the Turin derby, and must travel to Borussia
Monchengladbach in the Champions League next week.
Caceres was suspended by the club after reportedly crashing
his car at the end of last month, but Allegri - who lost both
Kwadwo Asamoah and Roberto Pereyra to injuries over the
weekend - says the Uruguay defender is back in contention for
the pivotal run of games.
"The upcoming four games will determine our destiny in the
Champions League and our chances of making up ground in
Serie A," said Allegri.
"I knew the risk I ran with Pereyra and unfortunately it
happened. He hasn't trained much and unfortunately pulled up
on Sunday.
"Asamoah played well but went eight months without playing.
He will be back after the international break.
"Thankfully I have the remainder of the squad at my disposal.
We play once every three days but the players have recovered,
including Caceres, who will be back."
Allegri's side beat Atalanta 2-0 on Sunday in just their third Serie
A win of the season, but while Allegri acknowledged his side are
improving, he maintains they are short of the standard required
to catch table-toppers Roma.
"Our performances have come on thanks to the improvement of
the squad's physical condition. The [international] break served
us well," he said.
"The others are the favourites. Roma, Lazio, Napoli. We have to
have the motivation ourselves. We need to change the position
and win.
"I'm happy with the squad I have available. We've had many
injuries this year, so we started a little late. But we're on the
right track.
"Sassuolo play good football, they've got plenty of pace and are
an organised outfit. We need to take the game to them.
"We're improving in terms of our approach. The team knows
when to put its foot on the gas and when to defend."
Allegri was forced to defend his use of big-money signing Paulo
Dybala last week after criticism from Palermo president
Maurizio Zamparini, and he has again given his backing to the
Argentina international.
"I don't choose players based on how much they cost. I choose
whoever is playing better," he added.
"Dybala, I say again, has good quality. He'll become a great
player but he needs time. A few weeks ago I said the same
about [Juan] Cuadrado, but he cannot play every game until
May."
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