Juventus must crush the fear that has dogged them of late if they are to progress, new boss Alberto Zaccheroni said ahead of his first match in charge against his former club Lazio on Sunday.
The Turin giants sacked Ciro Ferrara and hired Zaccheroni on Friday, a day after they lost 2-1 at Inter Milan to exit the Italian Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Ferrara’s dismissal had been expected as Juventus have dropped to sixth in Serie A, 16 points behind leaders Inter, having already been knocked out of the Champions League in December.
“We have the duty to take the match to the opposition, always and everywhere,” the former AC Milan and Inter coach told a press conference on Saturday.
“Tomorrow night I expect the players to get rid of the fear that has conditioned them in many recent games.”
Zaccheroni is confident he knows how to turn the side’s fortunes around to achieve his “minimum target” of qualifying for next season’s Champions League, although he will be careful not to rush things.
“I have an idea about how to win, I have to convince the players to share it,” he said. “A collective way of thinking is important – it’s what will enable us to do well.
“I’ve thrown myself immediately into working on the team and the opposition. I want to put things back in order, not create confusion.”
Zaccheroni will be without a host of injured players on Sunday, as well as keeper Gianluigi Buffon and full back Fabio Grosso, who are suspended.
