Juventus without Pogba for Coppa Italia quarters but Vlahovic to start, says Allegri

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
More
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Juventus without Pogba for Coppa Italia quarters but Vlahovic to start, says Allegri
Pogba has yet to play a game this season
Pogba has yet to play a game this seasonReuters
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba (29) will not make his long-awaited comeback when his side host Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals on Thursday, coach Massimiliano Allegri said, but striker Dusan Vlahovic (23) is likely to start.

Both Pogba and Vlahovic are returning from lengthy injury absences and were named on the bench in Serie A on Sunday after they took part in a friendly against a Juventus reserve team earlier last week.

Vlahovic, who had not played for Juve since October, came on for Mattia De Sciglio in the 65th minute of their shock home 2-0 defeat by Monza. Pogba, who has yet to play a game this season, was an unused substitute.

"Apart from (Leonardo) Bonucci who is still out, the only one who won't be available due to a flexor soreness is Pogba," Allegri told a news conference on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately when you're out for a long time and you raise the intensity level, you get pain... Maybe in a few weeks he'll be in top condition.

"He needs his body to readjust and it will take some time, you have to navigate by sight in these situations. From here to the end we have to use him in the best possible way.

"Vlahovic will almost certainly play as a starter, for the others, I have to decide. (The game) can last 120 minutes tomorrow so the substitutions will be even more important."

Juventus, who saw a 15-point deduction for false accounting plunge them from third to 10th place in Serie A in January, need to adjust to their new reality quickly, Allegri added.

"The club will see where we can defend (ourselves), (but) it must not be an alibi or an excuse, we have to go out there and do what needs to be done," Allegri said.

"Maybe it's the first time 15 points have been taken off the table, you were third and you go back down. Now we start again, (and) we have to manage (the situation) as best we can.

"The Italian Cup game has to be done in the best way, we will do our best."

Juve resume their Serie A campaign on Tuesday at 14th-placed Salernitana.

Follow all the action from Thursday's cup quarterfinal on Flashscore.

21+ | COMPETENT REGULATOR EEEP | RISK OF ADDICTION & LOSS OF PROPERTY | KETHEA HELPLINE: 210 9237777 | PLAY RESPONSIBLY & SAFELY |

France gouvernement

Les jeux d’argent et de hasard peuvent être dangereux : pertes d’argent, conflits familiaux, addiction…

Retrouvez nos conseils sur joueurs-info-service.fr (09-74-75-13-13, appel non surtaxé)

Do you want to withdraw your consent to display betting ads?
Yes, change settings