Allegri confident Juventus will return to form
Massimiliano Allegri called on Juventus to turn around its recent poor form when it hosts Atalanta as he expressed his disappointment at a run that has seen it fall 18 points behind Inter Milan.
Juve topped Serie A as recently as late January, but its title challenge looks all-but over after collecting just five points from its past six games.
It was beaten by defending champion Napoli last time out, with Inter now looking increasingly likely to claim its first title since 2021.
“I am not worried,” Allegri said. “If anything, I am disappointed because we did not get many points in February.
“Even at Napoli we showed some positive signs but in the end we came home with nothing. We need to turn this trend around.
“We have 11 league games left, plus two – hopefully three – Italian Cup games, we are fully in contention to reach our targets and now all our energy must be focused on those.
“It will not be a decisive game tomorrow, but still important. Now the points start to weigh that bit more and because Atalanta are also in the running for a top-four finish.
“We need to read the phases of the game in the right way and improve when we defend, because we have conceded too many goals lately.”
Weston McKennie and Moise Kean are available after injury, but Adrien Rabiot and Carlos Alcaraz are set to miss out.
Atalanta is chasing down a UEFA Champions League place of its own and is looking to get its season back on track after aheir recent five-game winning run in the league was followed up by three without a victory.
Manager Gian Piero Gasperini talked up Ademola Lookman after he put in an impressive display during the UEFA Europa League draw with Sporting Lisbon.
“Every now and then I push him to become a more complete player, he has the physical ability to do so,” he said.
“Sometimes he hides a little but he can be more of a reference point, especially this year.”
