May 23 (Reuters) – Juventus still hope to qualify for Europe and are determined to prove on the pitch that their recent Serie A points deficit is another hurdle to overcome.
Juve dropped from second to seventh in Serie A, outside the European qualification places, after a new ruling by the Italian football court on Monday in a case centered on their transfer dealings.
„It’s a difficult moment for Juventus on and off the pitch,” John Elkann, CEO of Exer, the holding company of Italy’s Agnelli family that controls Juventus, told reporters after the event at Milan’s Bocconi University on Tuesday.
“(But) Juve always faced adversity and grew stronger in adversity.
„Today I spoke with coach Massimiliano Allegri. He feels strongly the responsibility of our history and he is committed to facing the next two games to secure a place for Europe on the pitch.”
Juventus were beaten 4-1 by Empoli after learning of the new ruling late on Monday, and they host fourth-placed AC Milan on Sunday before finishing the season at Udinese on June 4.
Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari in Milan, Writing by Anita Kopilinska in Gdansk, Editing by Toby Davies
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