Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri was pleased to see his ultra attacking formation pay off during the Old Lady’s 2-0 over Lazio.
Allegri employed a 4-2-3-1 formation which saw striker Mario Mandzukic line up as a winger with Paolo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain also featuring further forward. Sunday’s match was the first time all three forwards have played together this season, and Allegri admitted the change in formation was bold but reasonable.
“?“I am not much of a theorist, but every now and then I come up with a mad idea and try it on the pitch,” Allegri said to Sky Italia, as quoted by “?Goal.
#JUVE XI: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Asamoah; Khedira, Pjanic; Cuadrado, Dybala, Mandzukic; Higuain. #JuveLazio
“During the week I had not even thought about it, but after a training session the next morning I thought, ‘I have to change something’.
“I had said in the press conference on Saturday that it was an option, but nobody expected me to actually do it!
“I don’t have to make anyone happy. The important thing is to be sure what you are doing.”
Mandzukic’s position as a winger certainly raised a few eyebrows before kickoff but Allegri praised the Croatian’s performance, commending his work ethic.
“Mandzukic has gone back in time because he played in that role when he was much younger. He also has a never-ending engine and wasn’t even tired at full-time. He did very well defending and in terms of technique.
“The system is certainly one option we can use. Everyone was involved and played a great game as a team.
“Even with so many attacking players, we allowed little or nothing to Lazio. We made a few mistakes and could have had many more goals.”
Juventus are four points clear of second place Roma, who play later on Sunday evening.
.@OfficialAllegri hails his side’s response in #JuveLazio ? https://t.co/Xai3BJC2wt pic.twitter.com/P27gOp21DK
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