Juventus and Motta thinking only of Empoli and not Europe

Allegri insists his team will not take Serie A strugglers lightly and says Europa League progress is ‘in the background’

Massimiliano Allegri is refusing to look beyond Juventus’ Serie A clash with Empoli on Friday, insisting the club’s Europa League progress is “in the background”. Juve head into the game against the Tuscan side off the back of a 3-0 defeat at home to Fiorentina in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Europe’s secondary club competition.

That result means the Bianconeri face an uphill task to reach the quarter-finals, but Allegri is adamant that his side’s focus is solely on domestic matters for now.

“The Europa League is in the background,” Allegri told reporters at his pre-match press conference. “We have to think about Empoli, who are a team that has been doing well lately and are fighting to avoid relegation. We need to be focused and determined to get the three points.”

Motta also looking ahead to Empoli

Empoli coach Paolo Zanetti echoed Allegri’s sentiments, saying that his team will not be taking Juventus lightly despite their recent struggles.

“Juventus are a great team with great players,” Zanetti said. “They may have lost their last match, but they are still a very dangerous side. We need to be at our best to get something from the game.”

Empoli are currently 14th in Serie A, just three points above the relegation zone. A win against Juventus would be a major boost to their survival hopes, while a defeat could see them dragged into a relegation battle.