A furious Massimiliano Allegri lost his cool after the Juventus manager's style of play was questioned by a reporter on Thursday night.
Allegri spoke to the press after his team's uninspiring 1-1 home draw against Nantes in the Europa League. The Italian giants, who were recently docked 15 Serie A points by the Italian football federation, were the pre-match favourites for the play-off clash.
Juventus took the lead in the first leg through Dusan Vlahovic's 13th-minute goal, but Ludovic Blas' equaliser in the second half salvaged a draw for an unfancied Nantes side. The two teams meet again in France in six days' time, with a spot in the last 16 at stake.
Allegri was not too happy after Thursday night's game and took his frustration out on a Sky in Italy reporter after it was suggested he set up his team for a 1-0 win. "I never said I wanted Juve to win 1-0, you drive me crazy with this rubbish," he snapped.
"It’s this cliche that I want my teams to win 1-0, but that is not accurate. It’s simple, look at all the statistics of my teams, I always had the best defence and the second best attack. You cannot escape from the statistics. Look at Milan and Juventus, that is my record.
"My teams always scored 70-80 goals per season. You lot chat about nothing, I talk about numbers, that is the problem. I know you have to sit there and talk about nothing to fill time, but I don’t. You imagined this, created the story and then keep spreading it.
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"You see things abstract, I see what is concrete. You’ve got all the statistics, look at them.
"In football, there is just one thing that counts: winning games. It doesn’t matter if it is 1-0 or 5-0. Nonetheless, the fact remains my teams always had the best defence and second best attack."
Allegri is enduring a tough time in charge of Juventus. The Italian was initially appointed by the Turin club in July 2014 and enjoyed success over the next five years, as they won 11 trophies - including five Serie A titles - and reached two Champions League finals.
Allegri stepped down from his position in May 2019 but returned two years later after a difficult spell without him. His second spell isn't going as well as hoped, with Juventus sitting ninth in Serie A - 12 points behind Roma in fourth - following their points deduction.
Juventus were docked 15 points for alleged financial irregularities and false accounting last month. They are expected to appeal the verdict, which has sent them plummeting down the table and left Allegri with a difficult challenge of qualifying for Europe next term.
Juventus have also been hampered by the loss of star signing Paul Pogba. The France international hasn't played since re-joining the Italian giants from Premier League side Manchester United last summer, although it is hoped he is close to a return to fitness.
