Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri has insisted that he is not scared of being sacked after a challenging debut season in Turin.
Sarri, who joined from Chelsea last summer, is close to leading Juventus to yet another Serie A title, but despite their success on the field, there has been plenty of unrest from supporters who have been unimpressed with the team’s style of play.
Fans have become so accustomed to winning the league that they are now more concerned about doing it in style, and Sarri’s infamously strict regime has yet to produce the kind of excitement which turned him into a superstar with Napoli in the past.
As a result, there have been suggestions that Juventus could look elsewhere this season, with Pep Guardiola constantly mentioned as a potential target, but Sarri insisted (via Sky Sports) that talk of the sack is simply a side effect of being in a big job.
“Have you ever asked a Formula 1 driver if he is afraid of speed? No,” he said. “There are risks which come with this job, if you are afraid of these risks you shouldn’t do this job.
“So, I am living this situation with ease, knowing that this is my job, everything is good if you win, everything is bad if you lose. And the logical consequence is the criticism of the coach. It’s part and parcel of this job.”
Alongside the fan unrest, there have been concerns over the team’s recent results. Their imposing lead at the top of the table now sits at ‘just’ five points, although they can grow that to eight with a win in Monday’s crucial clash with Lazio.
Juventus have managed just two draws in their last three games, in which they have conceded a whopping nine goals, and missing out on the league title could well bring the end for Sarri’s time in Turin.
“If you do this job, you must not be afraid of anything considering all the risks that come with it,” he continued. “The team is used to fighting for the title, therefore from this point of view we should rest assured. But we are living through a moment that I think nobody ever had to live through in 110 years of football.
“So, obviously this is a period that is creating more problems to everybody apart from the matches. There are teams that are facing it more easily and teams that have more ups and downs.”
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