Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri dismissed talk that his future would depend on the result of Friday’s Champions League last 16, second leg match against Lyon in Turin.
Juve trail the
Ligue 1 side following their 1-0 defeat in France six months ago before the
coronavirus lockdown.
“I don’t think my
future is riding on this game,” said Sarri as Juventus look to keep their hopes
of a first European title since 1996 on track.
“Thinking this way
you make the club directors look like amateurs.
“I think I’m dealing
with high level directors. They will decide whether to continue or to change.
But it doesn’t depend on a single game.”
Juventus won a
ninth league title in a row but have shown a dip in form after the coronavirus
lockdown with just two wins in their last eight matches.
“We are happy to
have won possibly the most difficult Serie A in history,” continued Sarri with
matches played without fans in the Allianz Stadium.
“The away match was
played with fans and the return without. That’s how it is,” said Sarri.
“A Champions League
match without the public will not be pleasant.
“But the important
thing is to get to Portugal and play the final eight as it would mean joining
the world’s elite.”
Argentina forward
Paulo Dybala remains uncertain with a thigh injury but Cristiano Ronaldo has
been training “with intensity and strength,” said Sarri.
“We will try to
recover Dybala up until tomorrow morning. At the moment he’s still training
with the medical staff,” added the former Chelsea coach.
“Ronaldo is
training in the right manner, yesterday he scored an excellent goal in
training.
“He played many
games in a short time, he rested a little and now he has trained with intensity
and strength.”