Morata repays Allegri in style
Under-fire striker helps Juve return to winning ways
JUVENTUS striker Alvaro Morata scored four minutes after coming on to seal a 2-0 win at basement side Salernitana in Serie A yesterday and ease the pressure on the stuttering Turin club.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side came in for fierce criticism over the last week after a 4-0 Champions League hammering away to Chelsea and a 1-0 defeat by Atalanta, their fifth league loss of the season, but they responded at the Stadio Arechi.
Paulo Dybala had fired the visitors in front midway through the first half but Salernitana were inches away from an equaliser when Luca Ranieri hit the post after the break.
With the home side in the ascendancy, Morata came off the bench and doubled Juve’s lead by deftly flicking home a cross in the 70th minute, before Dybala missed a penalty with the final kick of the game as he lost his footing on the wet turf.
Morata has scored just two goals in Serie A all season and was whistled by his own supporters as he left the pitch against Atalanta but Allegri had backed his striker to perform and the former Chelsea man did just that yesterday.
“Juventus has given so much to all of us and there are moments in life when it is time to give back,” Juve captain Giorgio Chiellini told DAZN.
“Now we need to stay close to this club, and we will come out of it together.
Allegri admitted this season has not been an “easy time” for his side but said yesterday’s win was about re-paying the club.
“It hasn’t been an easy time, we lost to Atalanta and could’ve scored more goals this evening,” Allegri said.
“I said Juventus have given us so much and it is time we have a sense of responsibility and give back to this club. We need to focus, because we’ve failed too many times against the smaller clubs this season.
“I told the lads, we had a lot of young players on the field today, so in these moments, they can suffer under the pressure. Fortunately, they held out well.”
“We’re trailing in the league at the moment because we dropped points too many times.
“These players have talent, but let’s not forget that only with experience, by making mistakes and learning from them, understanding when it’s time to attack or defend, that is how they develop.”
Allegri, who returned to the Turin job in May after Andrea Pirlo was dismissed following a disappointing 2020-21 campaign, called for patience.
“Naturally, we’re going to have ups and downs. I am still getting to know the players, they are getting to know me, and we play every three days,” Allegri said.