ALLEGRI GETS SECOND SHOT AT CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GLORY
CARDIFF: The unassuming nickname “Acciuga”, anchovy in Italian, has in no way hampered the coaching career of Massimiliano Allegri, who today leads Juventus against Real Madrid for their second Champions League final in three seasons.
Allegri, who got the moniker as a footballer for his lean build, has better prospects than in 2015, when he crashed 3-1 against Barcelona as Juve lost their sixth elite final from eight played.
The tactician’s first season in Turin still saw him win the Serie A league and Italian Cup. He has since set two Italian records, clinching two more domestic doubles and an unprecedented sixth title, which gives him another chance to snatch a historic treble.
In Cardiff, Juve’s odds appear to be even with those of Real, who also secured the domestic title.
The Bianconeri have had an impressive European campaign, conceding just three goals and dispatching giants Barcelona on a 3-0 aggregate in the quarter-finals.
Allegri, 49, played seven Serie A seasons, never fully blossoming as a midfielder, but has steadily improved as coach since his minor-league beginning in 2003.
“Rising through the ranks helps,” he said.
“When you start off in small clubs who have a hard time surviving you have to get by somehow, and this is important for your professional growth.”
He won a lower-division league at Sassuolo and had two good topflight seasons at Cagliari before a quantum leap to AC Milan in 2010, winning the title in his first season.
The Devils, who have since gone into a downward spiral, sacked him in January 2014, paving his way for the take over from Antonio Conte, who left in July after three straight titles with Juve.
Allegri brought tactical ductility and a cooler mood to the squad. He survived the initial scepticism, clinched the fourth title, a domestic cup that Juve had missed for 20 years and made it to his first unsuccessful elite final.
Steadfastness during bad spells is Allegri’s forte, which he displayed in his second Juventus year.
The squad started poorly and fell 11 points from the top, only to bounce back with a run of 24 wins from 25 games, sewing up the title last year with three rounds to spare.
He has often displayed a Machiavellian approach, dismissing accusations that his football can at times be far from thrilling.
“Playing good defence equals a good offensive job,” he said. “The goal is getting the result and you can get there in any possible way. You put on a show at the circus. We must win games and get points.” – dpa