It’s all about Andrea Pirlo in Turin right now.
The new Serie A season will kick-off in about two weeks from now and preparations are already in full swing.
Pirlo has the tough task of implementing his style to the current crop of Juve players at his disposal. With the international break coming in the mix, that task has only been made more difficult.
Some of the club’s top players are out on international duty but the Juve boss has continued training with the available players on the ground.
Pirlo is pleased with the mentality he has seen from the Juventus players in training so far. The 41-year-old knows it won’t be easy but has backed his side to ease well into the new season despite a period of transition from the Maurizio Sarri era.
“I’ve had good impressions, we started well with enthusiasm and desire to go again,” he told Juventus TV.
“After a few days, the lads left with the national teams but we continue to work with those who stayed here.”
“The lads are eager to do well, they have found a new methodology with some new exercises they have never done and therefore this already brings enthusiasm.”
“The path will be long, also because we don’t have a lot of time to work with many players who are away.”
“But we are working well with those we have available. I hope I will have transmitted some concepts we are working on already for the first day and hope to find something in the middle of the pitch.”
Juventus suffered a shock loss to Lyon in the Champions League round of 16 last term. Pirlo says the team lacked proper aggression and it is an area that must be worked on ahead of next season.
“The aggression and the desire to win the ball back after losing it, that’s something we are working on a lot,” he continued.
“Looking at the last Champions League, the teams that went all the way were the ones who were trying to recover the ball in the shortest possible time.”
“That must be a characteristic that distinguish us.”
Finally, Pirlo mentioned what the Agnelli family and every Juventus fan out there would want to hear. At Juve, winning trophies is a ‘must’ and the rookie manager is out to keep that feat going.
“We are looking forward to it. We will give all of ourselves, we will certainly have a great desire to show the fans that Juventus wants to win the tenth consecutive Scudetto and possibly reach the end of the Champions League.
“There’s a great desire and high expectations, but we are here, and we want to do our best.”