Leonardo Bonucci explains how Italy’s “first form of defence is attack” and reveals Juventus “will meet and talk” to Cristiano Ronaldo soon.
Bonucci recently overtook Alessandro Del Piero as Italy’s 10th most-capped player and will equal Inter legend Giancarlo Facchetti on 94 when the Azzurri face Bosnia-Herzegovina tomorrow.
“Reaching 94 caps like Facchetti is important for me,” he said at a Press conference.
“I’m fired up as it is to reach Zambrotta’s 98. The important thing, then, is to show, against Bosnia that Italy treat every game in the same way.
“Of course, we’ll need desire and sacrifice to show we want to stay on our path with Mancini, who gave the Italian people their enthusiasm back.
“A lot has changed from the Sweden game, the coach but also the FIGC president who’s given us a breath of fresh air.
“Mancini’s very good at making us feel like a strong team, which we hadn’t felt like since our failure to qualify for the World Cup.
“It’s also thanks to a new philosophy: the first form of defence here is attack. It had been seen just before Mancini arrived.”
Juve maintain Ronaldo has been struggling with a knee injury, yet he started and scored for Portugal during their Euro 2020 qualifier with Lithuania on Thursday.
“I like to look forward and not back. There will be time to talk, now I want to think about the national team.
“He will play with Portugal, meaning that he physically he’s better and mentally he’s great as ever.
“When we return to Turin, there will be a way to meet and talk. There are still many games where we’ll need the best Ronaldo.
“I’m convinced that his objective is to improve with respect to the past and help Juventus achieve all their objectives.”
ceebostz
695
You show Ronaldo love, you get the best of Ronaldo. Sarri's tactics are the prime reason for ronaldo's struggle. Allegri but his team around Ronaldo, showed him love and respect and we saw the outcome. Ronaldo almost took them through the champions league, had it not been the inability of players like bonucci and others juve would have eliminated Ajax and go through, perhaps all the way to the final. Now Sarri came in, subbed him off in a preseason game when Ronaldo was playing fantastically, and that continues to this date. He's trying to destroy ronaldo by breaking his confidence. It makes no sense to lavished praises on Higuain when in fact he's the one under performing. He kept Higuain decided to ill treat mandzuki a great chemistry with Ronaldo. He has Higuain sucking up spaces that Ronaldo usually operate within, and no one is looking at his system of play. The man failed at Chelsea for his stupidity and wrong playing style. He did the same damn thing to hazard and kante and Chelsea was about to sack before Angnelli hired him. It is time for folks at juve take a look at Sarri, very soon defeat will come, this team is struggling and will crumble.
hakcditu
623
Sari may be a good coach but still not discover properly the quality of CR7. CR7 is the best finishing player in the world better than Messi but his co players doesn't give pass to him and trying to score where they missed it most of the times. CR7 should not run like a horse or chase after opponent players like other players. The ball should comes to D- box area if CR7 is there as much as possible then something will come out good results..... At present in Juventus CR7 is struggling due to low average ball passes to him. Sari needs to learn from Real Madrid Coach Zidane and trust CR7 properly because CR7 is perfect in both legs, heading, chest control & even buttock etc.
Reteimprz
539
what does that even mean, talk to Ronaldo? Ronaldo is creative, he is dedicated, he is is hard working, he is awesome, and he is brilliant the only problem is that confused and disrespectful Sari.
Profnick
380
you know that CR7 situation reminds me of our own national team player (most of you don't know him) Khama Billiat, he was declared injured by his club but he came and played for the country and scored the decisive goal for us. it's true love for your nation and wanting to be apart of everything that your country is... hats off to CR7 for that
temadenpt
281
Not only is Higuain eating up spaces which Ronaldo generally thrives in... most of sarri's football consists of ground passes.. completely neutralizing the heading ability of probably the greatest header of all time.. i remember the ridiculous no of goals Ronaldo used to goal via Marcelo's and Carvajal's crosses.. 4-3-1-2 is never a system Ronaldo thrives in.. not enough freedom for him to drift in and out.. Sarri should go back 4-3-3 once Costa is completely fit
Pihadikopt
199
Look at Potugal game,all teammates look for him and cross ball.But in Juven,all teammates try to shot.They look only at the goal.I don't see any midfielders in Juv but Pianic.How many asssists Juven's Midfielders create last season and this season.All the whols Midfielders' cannot match to Ronaldo's assists.Everyone try to score.That's mistake.If Midfielders don't do their job how can forward players score goals?Midfielder should show their ability by crossing nice ball, creating assist and free space.I don't see these quality in Juventus.I wish Ronaldo to leave in summer.I will be the happiest man if he do it.
zaebopu
147
I would have took carlo ancelotti in place of sari for Juve...poor agnelli doesn't know to assemble team in organized way