- Juventus were handed a 15 points deduction in the Serie A as a punishment
- The Serie A giants have now been dropped to the 11th place in the league standings
- Juve manager Allegri and midfielder Di Maria have insisted they will still finish in the top four this season
Angel Di Maria urged the Bianconeri to strive for an “exceptional” Champions League qualification and insisted that Juventus’ points reduction will not affect his future in Turin.
Sunday’s 3-3 thriller with Atalanta was saved by a goal from Danilo in the 65th minute. Juve had only lost 15 points the previous day after an investigation into their prior transfer deals.
Juve is allegedly planning to appeal the penalty, but with a 14-point deficit to fourth-place Roma, Massimiliano Allegri’s team will have a tough time finishing in the top four in Serie A.
As he reaffirmed his commitment to the Bianconeri, Di Maria expressed his hope that Allegri’s team, which was third before Friday’s decision, can pursue Italy’s top four teams and a spot in the Champions League next season.
Di Maria, who signed a one-year contract in July, said to DAZN, “It’s hard to be 20 points off the top out of the blue, but if we keep working with this mentality, we can do something remarkable.”
“Nothing is impossible here. We have always seen Juve ahead and win. The important thing is to keep working to reach fourth place.
“This moment has no impact [on my future]. My decision, I take it with my family who are happy here. The club is one of the biggest in Italy and Europe.”
Di Maria assisted Danilo for Juve’s equalizer after scoring from the penalty spot against Atalanta, but the Argentina international said Juve must learn from its mistakes when they play Monza on January 29.
Angel Di Maria scored for Juventus in the 3-3 draw with Atalanta in the Serie A clash. | PHOTO: 90 MIN |
He added: “I think we played a great game. We made some mistakes, and we need to improve.”
Despite the Bianconeri receiving a 15-point penalty in Serie A for their decision to choose Juventus over Real Madrid, Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri has no regrets.
Juve received a penalty on Friday due to an inquiry into previous transfer transactions; the club plans to fight the decision; two days later, the two teams tied 3-3 in a thrilling match.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has insisted he will stay as the team’s head coach. | PHOTO: Goal |
The Bianconeri, who were third before the points reduction, moved up to ninth due to the tie, but they are still 14 points behind fourth-place Roma in their quest for an unexpected Champions League berth.
After receiving his punishment, Allegri pledged to remain at Juventus and reaffirmed his commitment on Sunday, saying he had made the right decision by rejecting Madrid, with whom he had previously agreed to a deal in July 2021 before the Bianconeri approached him.
“I never regret my choices, when they are made at that moment, they are right,” the Juve coach told Sky Sport Italia.
“I am very happy to be at Juventus, in life, there are always difficulties that help you grow, I am happy to be part of this club, and I have no regrets.
Following the points deduction, Juve named Francesco Calvo their new chief football officer. Former president Andrea Agnelli and the rest of his board had resigned in November.
Following the latter’s appointment as CEO earlier this week, Calvo will report to him; nonetheless, Allegri does not want to be diverted by the goings-on in Turin off the field.
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