Allegri defends Juventus performance at Parma: We weren't soft

The Old Lady needed a late goal from Alvaro Morata to triumph at the Ennio Tardini but the Bianconeri boss has dismissed accusations that his side lacked aggression.


Massimiliano Allegri dismissed the suggestion that Juventus displayed a soft underbelly in Wednesday's Copa Italia win at Parma.

The Bianconeri boss rested a number of key players for the quarter-final tie at the Ennio Tardini and it showed, with the Serie A leaders struggling to cope with the home side's physicality and only progressing to the last four thanks to an 89th-minute strike from substitute Alvaro Morata.

It was put to Allegri after the game that his troops had not been up for the fight but he felt that they reacted admirably to a spirited performance from Roberto Donadoni's Serie A strugglers.

"We were not soft," he told reporters. "It was just that Parma were very aggressive. They gave us a hard time but I thought that the guys played a good game.

"It's never easy to win a game like this but we showed great maturity and Morata exploited one of the few opportunities we had."

Indeed, Allegri was pleased with the way in which some of his fringe players stood up to the challenge in Parma.

"Those who have played less gave me the proof that when called into action, they can ensure a certain level of performance," he added. "That makes me very happy. 

"[Simone] Pepe, [Kingsley] Coman, [Angelo] Ogbonna and [Simone] Padoin were all good.

"[Fernando] Llorente was also good but he needed someone closer to him, so when Morata came on, things went better, as he is good at creating space and finding his team-mates."

Juventus, who are seven points clear at the top of Serie A, will now face either Roma or Fiorentina in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia.