- Title: SOCCER-ITALY/JUVENTUS Juventus gears up for the Italian Super Cup in Shanghai
- Date: 6th August 2015
- Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (AUGUST 6, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VIEW OF PLAYERS ON PITCH PLAYERS IN GROUP PLAYERS RUNNING MEDIA ON THE SIDE OF THE PITCH MIDFIELDER PAUL POGBA RUNNING (DYED HAIR) PLAYERS STRETCHING STRIKER MARIO MANDZUKIC STRETCHING JUVENTUS MANAGER MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI SEATED AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) JUVENTUS MANAGER MAS
- Embargoed: 21st August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA37FHBBGFDQ12G210C4Q1QV76T
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Italian A giants Juventus prepared on Thursday (August 6) for the Italian Super Cup against Lazio in Shanghai.
Juve have won a host of trophies in recent years, including four back-to-back Serie A titles between 2012 and 2015 with Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal instrumental in the heart of the midfield.
The Serie A champions missed out on a historic treble after they were beaten 3-1 by Spanish giants Barcelona.
Massimiliano Allegri's side, who were beaten in a friendly match with Olympique de Marseille on August 1, will play face Lazio at Shanghai stadium on Sunday (August 8).
Paul Pogba will take over number 10 from Andrea Pirlo, who has left to play for New York City in the MLS.
"Pogba played one game, I think, as a forward, but I believe his role is either right or left midfielder. Maybe in the future he will end up as an attacking midfielder," Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri told reporters.
The Juventus boss said he was not worried about missing players like German international Sami Khedira who was signed from Real Madrid and was injured in a friendly against Marseille after playing for only 25 minutes.
The two other absentees are Spanish striker Alvaro Morata who was injured in training and Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini who is still suffering from a strain.
"I'm sad that (Sami) Khedira, (Giorgio) Chiellini and (Alvaro) Morata cannot play this final, but football is unpredictable, you can be more or less lucky," Alegri said.
Juve signed Croatian international Mario Mandzukic from Atletico Madrid in transfer window but lost Argentinnian Carlos Tevez who departed to Boca Juniors and Chilean Arturo Vidal who was bought by Bayern Munich.
Veteran goalkeeper and Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon said he regretted their departure.
"It doesn't feel good to lost some famous, talented players. Technically, I believe the new arrivals are really strong. They are really hardworking. But it takes time for them to get used to the new environment and gel with the team."
The new season of Serie A will kick off on August 23. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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