Milan, Feb 18 (AFP/APP): Andrea Pirlo’s Juventus have branded ‘clueless and devoid of ideas’ as their Champions League last 16 campaign stumbled midweek with a blundering 2-1 first-leg defeat at Porto.
Two quick-fire goals at the start of each half punished the Italian champions before Federico Chiesa rescued an away goal late with the second leg in Turin on March 9. “Coming onto the pitch like that without focus is unacceptable, there was too much superficiality,” former Juventus coach Fabio Capello told Sky Sport. “In the first half (Rodrigo) Bentancur’s huge mistake, in the second eight defenders were not careful against three Porto players. This cannot happen”.
For Juventus it was the fourth straight away game in a Champions League last 16 which they have failed to win. Pirlo’s side had been hit by injuries with Paulo Dybala, Leonardo Bonucci, Juan Cuadrado and Arthur all out injured. Captain Giorgio Chiellini was forced off with a muscular problem in the first half in Porto with Matthijs De Ligt ending the game limping, with Pirlo revealing that Alvaro Morato “felt faint” and had to lie down after the final whistle. “When you concede a goal like that so early on, it knocks your confidence,” said Pirlo, in his first campaign as Juventus coach.
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