by Massimiliano Allegri says Juventus’ primary aim is to gain 40 points and secure their place in Serie A for next season, with their 15-point deduction looking likely to undermine any hopes in the top four.
Juventus were considered one of the sides able to challenge leaders Napoli before an investigation into their historic transfer deals led to their sanction last month.
Having taken just one point from their last three league games, Juventus are now 13th in the table, 10 points ahead of the bottom three but 15 points behind Lazio in fourth.
Ahead of Tuesday’s trip to 16th-seeded Salernitana, who would beat the Bianconeri with a win, Allegri was cautious when asked about his hopes for the rest of the campaign.
“At the moment the fact is that they have taken away 15 points and we have to think about reaching 40 to save ourselves,” Allegri said.
“It’s laughable, but we have to think about this goal first and move forward step by step. Setting ourselves goals now is unthinkable.
“Now we have to reach the teams in front of us and climb slowly. Tomorrow we have to win, because in the last three league matches we have only scored one point.”
Juventus will again have to miss Paul Pogba in Salerno after a minor injury delayed his second Bianconeri debut, while Leonardo Bonucci is also sidelined after a bout of flu.
“Everyone is available except Bonucci, who has had the flu for three days, Pogba as before, and [Leandro] Paredes has a foot injury and will not be there,” he said. “Everyone else is here.”
Juve will likely need striker Dusan Vlahovic to return to top form if they are to climb the table as he continues to chase his first goal of 2023.
Vlahovic has failed to score in his two appearances since returning from the World Cup with a groin injury, with his last club goal coming at neighbors Torino’s home in mid-October.
The Serbia international thus scored each of his last eight Serie A goals in Turin (seven at the Allianz Stadium and one at the Olimpico Grande Torino), the last time he scored away from the city in a win in Cagliari last April.
Asked if the striker will start Tuesday’s game, Allegri said: “I have not made a decision yet, but I will make the estimates. Physically he is fine, he is much lighter and more dynamic than when he arrived.
“Let’s hope he scores tomorrow. Vlahovic has never been as good physically as he is now, even when he came over from Fiorentina.”
