Sarri reveals Juventus’ physical, mental fatigue

Juventus manager, Maurizio Sarri has spoken about his side’s physical and mental fatigue after Thursday’s shock 2-1 loss to Udinese in Serie A.

Matthijs de Ligt’s opener was rendered inconsequential by strikes from Ilija Nestorovski and Seko Fofana as the relegation-haunted side claimed a dramatic win at Dacia Arena-Stadio Fruilli.

Juventus remain six points clear with three games remaining in Serie A but Sarri bemoaned his side’s fatigue amid a busy run of fixtures, after their sixth game this month.

“In this period, we are physically and mentally tired, and it is a problem common to all,” Sarri said. “For this reason, being aggressive is something more tiring and, therefore, now what matters most is order, because the inertia of a game changes very easily.”

“It is difficult to keep it throughout the match and sometimes, like today, we lose it,” he explained.

Juve will instead get a chance to secure a ninth straight Serie A title when they host Sampdoria on Sunday. Sarri said his focus was entirely on that clash, not next month’s Champions League meeting with Lyon.

“At the moment I am not thinking about the Champions League, in my mind there is only Sampdoria and Sunday’s match,” he said. “We have to be on the ball and then we’ll think about the cup,” he concluded.