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A Champion only in Europe: Even at Juventus, Ancelotti blew the league
May 1, 2015 14:00:00
COMMENT: The Real Madrid coach has an enviable record in the Champions League, but his domestic efforts are summed up by his travails in charge of the Old Lady
By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent
Carlo Ancelotti will arrive in Turin on Tuesday looking to enhance his reputation as the Champions League’s greatest ever coach. Having already won the competition twice with AC Milan, his 2013-14 success with Real Madrid underlined his ability to get the very best out of a team when the familiar anthem is ringing in players’ ears.
The Blancos had made the achievement of a 10th European crown their main and only goal for so long that several high-profile coaches had buckled under the pressure. Where they failed, Carletto succeeded.
But Madrid’s semi-final duel with Juventus will serve as a reminder of one of Ancelotti’s perceived weaker points as a coach. For while he has regularly excelled in Europe, the Italian has had far more fleeting success in domestic championships, winning as many Champions League titles as league championships in his 20 years in coaching.
And never has he failed more spectacularly than during his time as Juve boss around the turn of the century.
The Juventus job was Ancelotti’s first major role as a coach following impressive spells with Reggiana and Parma, and eight months into his reign it appeared to be a match made in heaven. The Bianconeri were unbeaten in 22 league games and had lost just once all season. They were nine points clear at the top of Serie A, and a 26th Scudetto triumph seemed to be only a matter of time.
Successive defeats to Milan and second-placed Lazio set them back but shouldn’t have been terminal, yet Ancelotti couldn’t quite revive his troops. Despite recording three straight wins, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Lazio were on a roll and smelt blood. Another defeat at Verona allowed the capital club to move within two points with one game to play.
The events of May 14, 2000 are well remembered across Italy, but particularly in Rome. With a heavy thunderstorm interrupting proceedings, Perugia and Juventus were forced to sit and wait after referee Pierluigi Collina suspended play at half-time with the score at 0-0. Over an hour later, the game restarted but Juve froze. Alessandro Calori’s goal four minutes after the resumption handed the title to Lazio and left Ancelotti having to explain his team’s collapse over the last eight weeks of the season.
Twelve months later, there was more final-day pain for Ancelotti. Juventus had gone out of the Champions League with a whimper and had allowed Roma to build a significant lead in the Scudetto race. While the Bianconeri were still in with a chance when hosting Atalanta in their season-ender, the Giallorossi needed only a point at home against Parma to win the league.
With Roma 2-0 up by half-time on their way to an eventual 3-1 win, Juventus announced to the public that Carletto would not be asked to lead them the following season. Ancelotti admitted it was a kick in the teeth that it had come out how it had but claimed he’d known the wheels were in motion for Marcello Lippi to return to the club for weeks beforehand.
Familiar sight | There can be no doubting Ancelotti's quality in big European games
Asked in 2014 by La Stampa whether he matured as a coach after those failures with Juve, Ancelotti insisted it was a record of which he remained proud. "Immature or not, we lost two Scudetti despite racking up 144 points."
It would be back at San Siro where the former Milan star would make his name as a coach once more, but even in an eight-year spell which saw a star-studded side boasting Paolo Maldini, Andrea Pirlo and Pippo Inzaghi collect two Champions League titles and a Club World Cup there would be only one Serie A title. Moreover, they would only be runners-up once too. A perennial challenger stopped challenging with Ancelotti in charge.
Silvio Berlusconi was quick to point the finger of blame after they faded away in the 2009 title race which would eventually see the end of their relationship. "The fact we have not won the Scudetto this year is solely down to Ancelotti," said the Milan president.
"With the players Milan have, we could easily have matched up to Inter. We got the tactics wrong too often. We have lots of players who are great with the ball at their feet and we should have focused on that. Instead we did the opposite."
Two titles in four years with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain followed, but it has surprised few that Ancelotti has become remembered during his time in Madrid for his success abroad rather than at home. Two steps away from back-to-back European crowns they may well be, but the Blancos have struggled to make their superiority count in La Liga.
Last season they finished outside the top two for the first time in 10 years after failing to haul in either of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. This term they conspired to throw away a healthy lead at the turn of the year and trail a dominant-looking Barca with four rounds remaining. Once more, it will be European form which determines whether Ancelotti is a success or a failure.
Victory against Juventus would give the 55-year-old the chance to extend a Champions League legacy few can dream of matching. Defeat would likely leave him without a job, and a resume showing only three league titles in 20 years may have the world’s biggest clubs thinking twice about rushing to his door.
Boateng: No point going to Barca if we don’t improve
By Rupert Fryer
May 2, 2015 09:08:08
The Germany international has warned his team-mates that a repeat of their performance in the DFB-Pokal semi-final will be disastrous
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has warned his team-mates they need not not bother making the trip to Barcelona unless they can improve on their performance against Borussia Dortmund.
Pep Guardiola’s side had claimed the league title days earlier but saw their hopes of a treble shattered after a penalty shoot-out defeat to Jurgen Klopp's men in the DFB-Pokal semi-final.
And Boateng has called for a drastic improvement from his team-mates ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
"Barcelona are one of the best teams in the world and we'll need a top performance," he told Kicker.
"If we play like we did against Dortmund then there is no need for us to even go to Barcelona.
"We were careless. We must defend and attack as a team once again. We make too many mistakes when we take the lead.
"We give the ball away too quickly, play too many long balls and are too lax.
"We had a big chance against Dortmund and I am bitter about how things worked out as it didn't have to be that way."
Bayern face a trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, where Guardiola is expected to rest a number of first-team players as his injury list continues to grow.
Robert Lewandowski suffered a broken nose in the defeat to Dortmund, while Arjen Robben was ruled out for the rest of the season with a muscle tear.
The Spain forward says his side must be proactive if they are to see off the reigning European champions and secure a place in the Champions League final
Juventus striker Fernando Llorente says his side cannot afford to sit back and defend their way past Real Madrid if they are to reach the Champions League final.
The Old Lady, who can claim their fourth consecutive Scudetto with a point at fifth-placed Sampdoria on Saturday, are on the hunt for their first European title since 1996.
And Spain international Llorente has called on his team-mates to take a proactive approach when they host the reigning European champions in Turin on Tuesday.
"We can't defend forever. We have to attack and we know how to do that," he told AS.
"People are used to winning the league but it's not easy. But the Champions League semi-final gives the season greater importance.
"It's a unique chance for us. Hopefully we can play two great games. We know that Madrid have spectacular players up front. There isn't room for the smallest of errors. You can't give them any space either, because Madrid are lethal."
Joint-top scorers in Serie A with 63 goals in 33 outings this season, Carlos Tevez has once again spearheaded the Juve attack, hitting 20 goals to leave him top of Italy’s scoring charts.
And Llorente says the Argentine's form has been an inspiration to everybody at the club.
"He's in a great run of form. He also has a character that is contagious in the dressing room. He has so much confidence that it rubs off on the rest of the team. He gives us a lot."
Juve and Madrid also met in the semi-finals in 2002-03 edition, when the Italians emerged victorious, while Madrid beat the Italian champions in the final in 1997-98 thanks to a single goal from Predrag Mijatovic.
Juventus - Real Madrid Preview: Serie A kings out to topple champions of Europe
By Nicholas McGee
May 4, 2015 07:18:43
Having sealed the domestic crown once again, Maximiliano Allegri's side now take on a resurgent Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League semi-finals
Juventus have no time to celebrate their fourth consecutive Serie A title as they host Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.
Massimiliano Allegri's men sealed the Scudetto on Saturday with a 1-0 win at Sampdoria, Arturo Vidal's goal enough to claim all three points.
But the Turin club will have to quickly refocus on Tuesday's visit of the defending European champions, who scraped into the last four courtesy of a 1-0 aggregate win over rivals Atletico Madrid.
And Allegri is under no illusions as to who the favourites are heading into the encounter.
He said: "It's not every day you get to play Real Madrid, so we have to keep our heads to reach the final. If we don't get there, it'll be expected."
The hosts are still without midfielder Paul Pogba for the clash due to a hamstring injury that has kept him on the sidelines since March.
Kwadwo Asamoah, Martin Caceres and Luca Marrone are also unavailable for Juventus as the club bids to reach the final for the first time since 2003, when they came from behind to beat Real 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Madrid, meanwhile, head into the game with the fitness of France international striker Karim Benzema still in doubt.
Benzema has missed the last five games because of a knee injury, but may be able to return to training, potentially handing a further boost to a Real team who saw Gareth Bale make his comeback at Sevilla following a calf complaint.
"Benzema we will see in the next two days," coach Carlo Ancelotti said after Saturday's 3-2 La Liga win over the Andalusians.
"Tomorrow [Sunday] we will see if he can train with the team. The good thing is that Bale played 30 minutes without any problems. We have recovered a very important player [in Bale] and it would be even better if we could get Karim back too."
Madrid and Juve have appeared in the final of Europe's premier club competition 20 times between them and have recent history in the Champions League, having met in the group stages last term.
The Spanish side won 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu before claiming a 2-2 draw in Turin, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring three goals over the two games.
And, with Ronaldo heading into a repeat of the 1998 final won by Real on the back of hat-trick versus Sevilla, a typically solid Italian defensive display will be required if Juve are to overcome the odds.
The 27-year-old attacker once again misses out through injury but Gareth Bale is included after coming through the weekend win over Sevilla unscathed
Karim Benzema will miss Real Madrid's Champions League semi-final first leg with Juventus after failing to recover in time from a knee problem.
The France international has not featured for the reigning European champions since the goalless draw in the last round with city rivals Atletico.
Benzema returned to training on Sunday to raise hopes that he could feature against Juventus, but Madrid have now announced that he is not part of Carlo Ancelotti's 20-man squad for Tuesday's trip to Turin.
The absence of the former Lyon striker means that Javier Hernandez is likely to start up front again.
The Mexico international scored the winner in the quarter-final clash with Atletico at the Santiago Bernabeu, while he has also been involved in four goals in his last three Liga outings.
There was some good news for Real, though, with Gareth Bale having been included in the travelling party after suffering no reaction to his recent calf injury following a substitute appearance against Sevilla at the weekend.
However, Germany international Sami Khedira has been left out of the squad.
The 41-year-old English referee has already overseen games involving both Champions League semi-finalists in this season's competition
Uefa has revealed Martin Atkinson will take charge of Tuesday's Champions League clash between Juventus and Real Madrid .
The English referee will be a familiar face to the two sets of players, as the 41-year-old has overseen continental clashes involving both semi-finalists this season.
Atkinson was the man in the middle for Juventus' 3-2 win over Olympiakos in Turin during the group stage, while he also officiated Madrid's 2-0 win at Schalke in the first leg of the Spanish club's last-16 tie.
The Bradford native, who has refereed a total of six games in this season's Champions League, was most recently involved in Bayern Munich's 6-1 rout of Porto in the second leg of their quarter-final.
Former English referee chief Keith Hackett branded Atkinson "incompetent" after he controversially sent off Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic for pushing Burnley's Ashley Barnes earlier this season after a potentially dangerous tackle from the latter player.
Atkinson will be assisted in Italy by Michael Mullarkey and Stephen Child.
Pirlo: Champions League win would be perfect end to Juventus career
May 4, 2015 11:44:00
The Italy international is eager to seal another continental triumph as he prepares to consider his future at the end of the season
Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo feels victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals would set up a dream scenario for what could be his farewell to the club.
The 35-year-old has again been key to Juve's continued domestic success this term - with Massimiliano Allegri's men tying up a fourth straight Scudetto at the weekend.
Pirlo's contract runs until 2016, but the Italy international has nonetheless been linked with a move away ahead of next season, meaning a European showpiece in Berlin could be his last act in a Juve shirt.
"[It would be] something incredible [to reach the final]," Pirlo told La Gazzetta dello Sport ahead of Tuesday's first leg in Turin.
"To complete my journey in Turin with the Champions League in my pocket would be the culmination of a dream.
"I will go on [playing] as long as I have the same great desire to train every day."
Juve have struggled to convert their dominance of Serie A into Champions League form during recent seasons and will be underdogs this week against the holders.
"We have matured a lot in recent years, the international experience has served the team well.
"In the three seasons with [former coach Antonio] Conte we were still missing something, maybe we were not ready, and this year we have grown, along the way, the awareness that we can have our say everywhere.
"We play good football, without fear or awe. Real Madrid are the biggest club in the world, the most prestigious, but we have a 50 per cent chance of going through."
The Spanish forward does not have any hard feelings towards his old Real Madrid boss but is determined to lead his side to the Champions League final
Juventus attacker Alvaro Morata has insisted that he does not feel any extra pressure ahead of the Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid.
The 22-year-old came through the ranks of the Madrid youth academy but failed to displace Karim Benzema as the club's first-choice striker and was consequently allowed to leave the Santiago Bernabeu for Juventus ahead of the 2014-15 campaign.
Nevertheless, Morata says he is not out to prove Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti or anyone else wrong for offloading him last summer when he meets his former team this week.
"I need to be focused. I have nothing to prove to anyone," Morata told Sky.
"I’m grateful to Ancelotti for letting me play for Madrid and in the Champions League final last season.
"But now I’m a Juventus player and have to give my all for this club."
Juventus have not won the Champions League since beating Ajax in 1995-96, but Morata remains unperturbed by the Serie A champions' lack of success in Europe in recent years.
"It doesn’t matter how long we’ve been without winning the Champions League.
"The important thing is to make the final in Berlin."
The first leg against Madrid takes place in Turin on Tuesday, with the return at the Bernabeu scheduled for May 13.
Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal told his team to put Serie A title celebrations on hold and turn their attentions to Real Madrid.
Massimiliano Allegri's men secured the league title courtesy of Vidal's first-half goal in their 1-0 win at Sampdoria on Saturday.
But the Chile international is already thinking about Juve's UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, with the first leg in Turin on Tuesday.
"I feel good and the team is playing with maturity. We'll be heading to the Bernabeu for the return leg, a stadium that gets me excited just thinking about it," Vidal said.
"I know Real Madrid are the best team in the world but we want to be in the final. It would be a dream to win the Champions League. We'll have time to celebrate at the end of the season."
Having added a 31st official league title to their trophy cabinet, Juve are aiming for a third Champions League crown.
Vidal wants to see his team keep a clean sheet at home against Real.
"By keeping a clean sheet in Turin and maybe scoring too [is how Juve can win through]," he said.
"Tomorrow we'll get down to work so that we're ready to give it our best effort."
The 47-year-old has acknowledged the Serie A champions face a difficult task to reach the semi-finals but says they must believe in their own quality
Massimiliano Allegri has demanded perfection from Juventus ahead of the Champions League semi-final tie with Real Madrid.
The Serie A champions have set their sights on their first European final since 2002-03, when they were beaten on penalties by AC Milan, but must overcome the current holders.
While Allegri realises that Juve face a tough task to see off the titleholders in the final four, he has urged his own side to have faith in their quality.
"Juventus need perfection against Real Madrid," Alegri told Corriere dello Sport.
"Madrid have improved a lot under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti. He brought a lot of international experience to the team. He won the Decima last season, while they are still in it this year too, as well as having a chance of winning the Liga title.
"There are a lot of things we should not do against Madrid. They are an extraordinary team, with a lot of technique and speed.
"I expect a great tie, with two superb matches.
"We are one step away from achieving some extraordinary and will have to go into the tie with all serenity and we have to be aware of our own strength."
Juventus last met Madrid in the group stages of last year's edition of the Champions League, when they were beaten 2-1 at the Bernabeu before recording a 2-2 draw at home.
The Real Madrid shot-stopper says that he has always looked up to his Juventus counterpart, while he also considers Andrea Pirlo a joy to watch
Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has revealed that he has always viewed Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as something of a role model.
The two iconic shot-stoppers will go head to head on Tuesday night in the first leg of a Champions League semi-final, which has unsurprisingly sparked a debate over who is the better No.1.
Casillas, 33, has admitted that he has always looked up to Buffon, who is four years the Spaniard's senior.
"Gigi is a reference point for me. Anyone of my generation who dreamt of becoming a goalkeeper had the target of emulating him," the World Cup winner told Gazzetta dello Sport.
Casillas also confessed his admiration for the 35-year-old Andrea Pirlo, another veteran who remains an integral part of the Italian champions' midfield.
"Andrea is fantastic for everything that he knows how to do with the ball," the Spain international stated. "It's a pleasure for all of us who love football to be able to watch him."
Juve have been compared to Real's opponents in the quarter-finals, Atletico, whom the Blancos defeated 1-0 on aggregate. While Casillas is expecting two tight encounters against the Italian titleholders, he feels that Massimiliano Allegri's men will take the game to the reigning European champions.
"I don't think Juve are like Atletico," he added. "They are trying to impose their football on Europe this year, just as they have done in Italy.
"I'm expecting two games with few goals but of high tension until the final minute.
"Also, while they're missing [Paul] Pogba, we're missing [Luka] Modric and [Karim] Benzema, so there's balance also in terms of the absentees."
The former Germany international has criticised the Spaniard's passionate way of coaching and feels he is wilting under the pressure
Stefan Effenberg feels Pep Guardiola is struggling to cope with the pressure of trying to win the Champions League with Bayern Munich.
The Spaniard has guided Bayern to back-to-back Bundesliga titles since joining them in the summer of 2013, but he recently acknowledged that Champions League success is a must if this season is to be considered a success.
Bayern face Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday as they aim to make it to the final in Berlin, yet Effenberg feels Guardiola is having a hard time dealing with the demands at the Bavarians, citing his intensive coaching during matches as an example that the pressure is getting to him.
"I am not a fan of Guardiola's extreme coaching during games," Effenberg told Kicker.
"You have to trust your players, you have already prepared them for a match for days.
"On top of all that, Guardiola is also getting involved in discussions with the linesmen and fourth officials.
"That only further illustrates the immense pressure he is under."
Effenberg then went on to criticise Guardiola's possession-based style of play and stressed that the ex-Barcelona coach's philosophy was exposed by Real Madrid last term.
"Bayern always have 65 to 70 per cent possession and want to be an offensive force.
"But things went wrong for them in the semi-finals against Madrid last season. Carlo Ancelotti performed a tactical masterclass and exposed Guardiola."
Former Netherlands international Willem van Hanegem is another who feels Guardiola is struggling and questioned, in particular, his decision to bring on Arjen Robben in last week's DFB-Pokal semi-final against Borussia Dortmund.
Robben lasted just 16 minutes into a comeback from an abdominal injury before limping off with a calf problem. He was later ruled out for the rest of the season, depriving Bayern of their most creative player at a key stage of the season.
Van Hanegem wrote in his Algemeen Dagblad column: "I think Barcelona are not unhappy with the absence of Arjen Robben. He is the kind of player that can create something when Bayern are stuck.
"Therefore I don't understand why Robben played against Borussia Dortmund last week. You always know that there is a high risk with Robben and that he can suffer muscular problems. But it seems to me that Guardiola has been a bit stressed the last couple of weeks
"I think that Barcelona and Real Madrid will reach the final. I understand that people would rather see two teams from a different country, but I can live with this final. The two best teams should be up there and at this moment they are Real and Barca."
Lewandowski looking good for Barcelona clash, says Boateng
By Stefan Coerts
May 4, 2015 13:27:00
The former Dortmund attacker has returned to the training pitch and seems ready to feature against the Catalans wearing a protective mask
Jerome Boateng is confident that Robert Lewandowski will be available for the first leg of Bayern Munich's Champions League semi-final tie with Barcelona on Wednesday.
The Poland international picked up a concussion, fractured jaw and broken nose in his side's DFB Pokal semi-final defeat against Borussia Dortmund last week and it seemed unlikely that he would feature at Camp Nou.
However, the 26-year-old resumed regular training on Monday wearing a mask and Boateng is hopeful that the striker will make the trip to Catalunya.
"Lewandowski made a very good impression," the centre-half said at a press conference. "We hope Robert will put in a great performance on Wednesday.
"He is very brave and hopeful he can get used to the mask before Wednesday's game.
"You can adjust your game a bit and change the way you move, approach the ball and control it when wearing a mask."
Lewanmaski? @lewy_official is back training again, wearing a mask following his facial injuries. #FCBFCB
11:54 AM - 4 May 2015
Meanwhile, Boateng admitted that whether Lewandowski is fit or not, he and his fellow defenders will need as much help as possible from those in front of them in order to try to contain Barcelona's prolific front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
"We have an exceptional storm coming toward us," he added. "We want to prevent them from getting their wheels in motion.
"It's not just the defence, we have to defend with the whole team against Barcelona."
The Morocco international is relishing the battle with Barcelona's forward line as he sets his sights on a spot in the final in Berlin
Bayern Munich defender Medhi Benatia says all respect will go out of the window when he faces Barcelona's attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
The Catalans' forward line has already netted over 100 goals in all competitions in 2014-15 and Barcelona will be hopeful they can add to their tally when they meet Bayern in the Champions League semi-finals.
Nevertheless, Benatia has made it clear that he will not be overawed by Barcelona's attacking prowess ahead of Wednesday's first leg.
"I have met Suarez before with Udinese in the Europa League, when he still played for Liverpool. I have never faced Messi and Neymar before, but there's a first time for everything," Benatia told Kicker.
"On a personal level, I respect them. But I will not show them any respect during the 90 minutes on the pitch.
"We will do everything within our power to make it to the final of the Champions League.
"Wednesday's first leg will be a great game. We are capable of getting a good result at Camp Nou and should believe in ourselves."
Bayern and Barcelona last met in the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2012-13, when the Bavarians recorded a 7-0 win on aggregate.
Vicente del Bosque wants Barcelona and Real Madrid to meet in the Champions League final despite the knock-on effect for Spain.
The Champions League final is set for June 6, little more than a week before La Roja resume their attempt to qualify for Euro 2016, with a friendly game against Costa Rica set for June 10 and a competitive trip to Belarus four days later.
Despite the inconvenience of a large number of his likely squad playing in Berlin early next month, Del Bosque is hoping the Clasico clubs go through against Bayern Munich and Juventus.
“I want a Spanish final, although this can create issues as we have two important games,” he said, AS reports.
“We have two teams in the semi-finals who have represented us well in Europe for more than a decade and to maintain our hegemony over European football.
“We’re in the semis now and all games are difficult. [Spanish clubs] have been in the semis and finals of the Champions League for the last four years and that’s not easy. We’re naturally in the Champions League and that’s great for our football.
“I have to opt for the national product [Alvaro Morata over Javier Hernandez] but I want forwards to play constantly, have greater participation and give us more security in a key position as striker, where we have more questions than other areas.”
Italy’s Nicola Rizzoli has been confirmed as the referee for the Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Rizzoli takes charge of Wednesday’s fixture having also officiated the World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, as well as Spain’s 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands.
He also took the whistle as Barca lost 3-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage of this year’s Champions League, Atletico Madrid’s win over Leverkusen and Real Madrid’s hammering of Liverpool at Anfield.
England’s Martin Atkinson has been appointed for the Juventus-Real Madrid fixture on Tuesday.
The former coach believes the Juventus duo are crucial to their hopes of progressing to the final of the Champions League at the expense of Real Madrid
Arrigo Sacchi has hailed Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez as "phenomenal" players and believes they will be crucial to Juventus in their Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid.
Juve host Madrid in Turin on Tuesday in the first leg of their last-four tie and Sacchi, a former Italy and AC Milan coach and Madrid sporting director, believes the Italian side can put the European champions under a lot of pressure, insisting Tevez and Pirlo are key.
"The Italian teams have never been easy for Madrid. If the players forget that, they could cause them some problems," he told AS. "Pirlo is a phenomenon who plays at his own pace.
"Another phenomenon is Tevez. He plays all over the field and for the team. He plays in a difficult space to defend against - in between the oppoisition defence and the midfield."
Sacchi believes Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri has done well to carry on the good work of Antonio Conte and feels he has improved the team's defence.
"He's taking advantage of the work of Conte. But now they pay more attention to the defensive side of the game.
"He will play a 5-3-2 against Madrid. Allegri doesn't have the courage to play with only two centre-backs.
"If anyone is expecting a mistake from the Juve defence, they should think again. Juve will say 'Relax, we can close it up and sooner or later Madrid will put a foot wrong'.
"Madrid are without Luka Modric, which is vital. They rely heavily on individual quality and don't always press well. When they don't have possession, they are not always good."
The two-time European Cup-winning coach also touched on the other semi-final between Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
"The two teams will play to win," he said. "Bayern did not always have consistency but now they are fine.
Pepe: Morata friendship will count for nothing against Juventus
By Luke Sheehan
May 5, 2015 08:22:58
The Portugal international has fond memories of the young attacker, but will not do his utmost to keep him quiet in Tuesday's encounter in Turin
Real Madrid defender Pepe has insisted his friendship with former team-mate Alvaro Morata will count for nothing when the Champions League holders meet Juventus in the semi-finals of the competition.
Pepe and Morata were team-mates at the Santiago Bernabeu from 2010 until last season, before the latter's switch to Italy.
The pair celebrated winning the Champions League in May in Morata's final appearance for Madrid, and together they also enjoyed one La Liga triumph, two Copa del Rey titles, and one Supercopa de Espana and will meet again in the first leg of their semi-final tie on Tuesday.
"It will be emotional for me as he made his debut with the Real Madrid first team when I was already there. I am really fond of him, also of his family," Pepe said of the Spaniard.
"He's a special boy. So I'm happy our paths will cross in such an important game. I know he appreciates Real Madrid.
"Nevertheless, once the game kicks off he'll fight for his shirt and so will I.
"Friendship and all these nice stuff are kept apart in such an important match for both Real Madrid and Juventus."
Pepe is likely to be engaged in several one-on-one battles with Morata, but Carlos Tevez is also set to give the Real defence concerns.
"Carlos Tevez is a quality player. He fights for every loose ball. He loves retrieving it. He's a fighter on the pitch.
"That's good as we'll face a team with great players.
"Not only Tevez, but also Fernando Llorente and Morata. They are great players too."
The shot stopper does not fear the Argentine and wants to shut him out like in the World Cup final, but he realises Barcelona will be a tough nut to crack
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has vowed to show Barcelona star Lionel Messi "who's boss" when they meet in the Champions League semi-finals and is desperate to keep the Argentine quiet.
The two sides meet at Camp Nou for the first leg of their last four tie, with Neuer and Messi meeting for the first time since Germany triumphed over Argentina in the World Cup finall in 2014.
The Germany international has nothing but respect for the 27-year-old, but is confident that he can keep him quiet once again.
"I have a lot of respect for Messi and for everything that he has achieved. He is very humble," Neuer told L'Equipe.
"But it's crucial to show authority when we meet on the pitch and show him who's boss. I did the same in the World Cup final and this worked out pretty well.
"We will be looking to do the same on Wednesday night. It is vital to obtain a position of dominance and instil respect.
"We have to make good use of our physical presence, our character and show a certain ruthlessness."
Bayern demolished Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals two years ago, but Neuer has stressed things are different now and expects a tough tie.
"The game against Barcelona is a final before the final. Our goal is to make it to the showpiece in Berlin.
"We dominated Barcelona in both legs in the semi-finals two years ago, but the situation has changed.
"This time, they have no injuries and Messi is back to his best, while we are misisng several key players,
"We know that we face a tough task, but I am confident we will get our chances."
The former Liverpool goalkeeper has nothing but praise for the Uruguayan forward and acknowledged he could cause the German champions trouble
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Pepe Reina has admitted that Barcelona star Luis Suarez's sublime form in recent weeks worries the Bundesliga champions ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
The Uruguay international has already netted 24 goals in 38 appearances in all competitions for the Catalans, six of which came in the Champions League, and Reina has nothing but praise for his former Liverpool team-mate, although he stressed Suarez is by no means Barca's only attacking threat.
"Suarez is the kind of player that I especially like. He’s a ‘street’ player and I mean that as a eulogy. He’s alive, he’s always on the edge, pushing, he’s a born winner," Reina was quoted as saying by The Guardian.
"In every training session at Liverpool, I wanted to be on his team, always. He always gritted his teeth, he never, ever gave up. I think that’s a huge part of the reason that he is the player he is today.
“He finishes very well. He can produce a play in very little space, doing the kind of moves that only he would even think of.
"And beyond enjoying his talents as a player, I consider myself lucky to have been able to get to know Luis as a person. It’s not just at Barcelona; I think wherever he goes he will build good relationships with his team-mates because that’s the kind of person he is, and that helps you to settle and integrate.
“But we’re talking a lot about Suarez and he’s not the only one that worries us; there are others. Messi’s not bad, either."
