Allegri hails win over Lazio but picks out shortcomings

Posted Sunday, August 26, 2018 by PA

Massimiliano Allegri felt his Juventus side claimed an important victory over Lazio on Saturday but stressed there was much room for improvement.

Goals from Miralem Pjanic and Mario Mandzukic ensured the champions maintained their winning start in Serie A with a 2-0 success at the Juventus Stadium.

The game also marked the home debut of star summer signing Cristiano Ronaldo and Allegri is pleased how the five-time world player of the year is fitting in.

Allegri told the club’s website, www.juventus.com: “We rushed things a bit at the start. There was a risk that we could get ahead of ourselves with all the excitement among the fans around Cristiano’s home debut. We needed to show a bit more patience.

“At times our play is too frenetic and at others we go to sleep, but we need to move the ball more quickly when the opposition tire.

“That said, we will improve and I’m pleased because this is an important win in our first match against a direct rival.

“It wasn’t easy to play against Lazio given their counter-attack, but the two centre-backs did well. I’m delighted with how Ronaldo is settling in.”

Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi, whose side are still without a point after losing their opener to Napoli, admitted the visitors had fallen short.

Speaking at his post-match press conference on www.sslazio.it, Inzaghi said: “We will have to do better in the future but we will also carry out analysis.

“The team today was good on the pitch and offered a good performance but the race was decided by the great work of Pjanic.

“We must give something more because otherwise we cannot get better results.

“We cannot forget that we have faced two sides who last season collected more than 90 points, but what we offered in the first two performances of the season was not enough.”