Ronaldo gives Juve ‘sense of security and confidence’
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has hailed the impact Cristiano Ronaldo is having on the Italian champions.
The Portuguese became the first player to achieve 100 Uefa Champions League wins in Tuesday’s 1-0 success over Valencia that clinched their passage to the knockout rounds.
“Ronaldo gives us a sense of security and confidence,” said Allegri of the beaten finalists in two of the last four editions of the elite European competition.
“The team is essentially the same as last season. We’ve grown, become faster in playing the ball but then, of course, there is Ronaldo.
“This team is constantly improving. They’re passing and putting play together more quickly.
“Valencia have the best defence in La Liga and it’s not easy to score against them.
“We got caught on the break a couple of times, we need to be more lucid when we go looking for the second goal,” Allegri said, repeating a criticism that he routinely levels against his team.
Ronaldo, who joined Juventus last summer from Real Madrid, is targeting a sixth Champions League title to add to his four with Madrid and one with Manchester United.
The Italians are looking for their third European title and first since 1995. Last season, they exited in the quarter-finals to Ronaldo’s Real Madrid.
The 33-year-old played a key role against Valencia, providing the assist on 59 minutes which Croatian Mario Mandzukic tapped in for his third goal in as many matches.
Juventus had needed just a point to ensure qualification.
Their win combined with Manchester United’s late 1-0 win over Young Boys at Old Trafford means Valencia crash out of the competition.
Allegri’s side will now have to wait to see whether they top Group H when they play their final group game mid-December in Bern against Young Boys.
“You can see how united we are including the forwards,” said Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini.
“All three of them – Ronaldo, Mandzukic and [Paulo] Dybala, really put themselves about today. If we scrap like that, with the skill we have in the side, it makes everything much easier.
“The first goal of the season has been reached. We knew that it would be a difficult game because Valencia are a dangerous team in the spaces.
“In the first half we could do better, we got too enthusiastic, then we did well in the second [half] – the result is certainly deserved.
“We have to turn the page now – we’ll start thinking about the Champions League again in February. We must focus on Serie A because we have a tough month ahead.”
“The match was decided by great play by Cristiano,” said Valencia manager Marcelino Garcia, “but our team gave everything, showing great spirit against one of the best teams in Europe.”