Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has ordered his players to put all festive cheer on hold until after Saturday’s Serie A match at Frosinone.
Allegri’s side, who will be without the injured Federico Chiesa, are bidding to extend their unbeaten league run to 12 games and ramp up the pressure on their title rivals.
Victory for Juve in the lunchtime kick-off will lift them to within a point of leaders Inter Milan, who host Lecce later on Saturday.
Allegri told a press conference: “Frosinone will be a tricky away match for various reasons. It is the last match before Christmas and in the festive season week, there is always a different atmosphere on and off the pitch.
“The thing we have to do (on Saturday) is play a match with great attention and concentration.”
Allegri is wary of Frosinone, who sit 13th in Serie A after former boss Fabio Grosso led them to automatic promotion in May.
Now under Eusebio Di Francesco, Frosinone have won five times in the top flight this season and will be brimming with confidence following their shock midweek 4-0 Coppa Italia win at Napoli.
Allegri: "We still have a long way to go in the league, we are looking behind us, trying to continue winning to maintain our position and at the same time stay close to Inter, who I repeat, are the favourites this season." #FrosinoneJuve
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) December 22, 2023
Allegri added: “We face a side that has lost only one in eight home games, against Napoli, having even taken the lead on that occasion.
“Not only that, during the week they won 4-0 against Napoli and are experiencing a moment of great excitement, which is why the mental approach will be important first and foremost.
“We need to give a performance that I define as serious, the only way
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