Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said his team will be punished if they sit back in their Champions League clash with holders Chelsea in Turin on Wednesday as he called for his side to take the game to their opponents.

Juventus has endured a difficult start to the season after failing to win any of their opening four league games for the first time in 60 years, and come into the match against Chelsea with several injuries.

They did get off to a winning start in the Champions League against Malmo two weeks ago, while Allegri's men also earned victories in their last two Serie A matches.

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The Juve coach hopes that will give his side a boost ahead of Wednesday's encounter.

"You need to apply pressure but you have to play well," Allegri told a news conference.

"You can't play 95 minutes under pressure. When you have the ball you have to breathe to build and recover immediately.

"They are strong on the counter-attack, they are strong in dead balls. It will be difficult to find gaps and we will have to be good all over the pitch.

"We will need patience, but we will have to have fun. We have improved in recent games. The emotion is natural. In front of us we have a team where if you make mistakes, you are punished."

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Without the injured Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata, Allegri said he has no other option but to deploy Moise Kean in the lone striker role.

"He (Kean) has to play and score," Allegri added. "One thing he knows how to do well is scoring. He has to improve when he has to play with the team, in terms of individual technique."

Speaking at the same news conference, defender Giorgio Chiellini insisted no extra motivation was needed ahead of such blockbuster European encounters.

"It was easy to prepare the game, the coach has told us the same thing," Chiellini said.

"These are very nice games, you can prepare them easily.

"We’ll be playing home against the European champions, it will be challenging."

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said his team will be punished if they sit back in their Champions League clash with holders Chelsea in Turin on Wednesday as he called for his side to take the game to their opponents.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said his team will be punished if they sit back in their Champions League clash with holders Chelsea in Turin on Wednesday as he called for his side to take the game to their opponents. Juventus has endured a difficult start to the season after failing to win any of their opening four league games for the first time in 60 years, and come into the match against Chelsea with several injuries. They did get off to a winning start in the Champions League against Malmo two weeks ago, while Allegri's men also earned victories in their last two Serie A matches. ALSO READ | 'We didn't deserve to lose', says Ancelotti after Real stunned by Sheriff The Juve coach hopes that will give his side a boost ahead of Wednesday's encounter. "You need to apply pressure but you have to play well," Allegri told a news conference. "You can't play 95 minutes under pressure. When you have the ball you have to breathe to build and recover immediately. "They are strong on the counter-attack, they are strong in dead balls. It will be difficult to find gaps and we will have to be good all over the pitch. "We will need patience, but we will have to have fun. We have improved in recent games. The emotion is natural. In front of us we have a team where if you make mistakes, you are punished." ALSO READ | Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka ruled out for three months with knee injury Without the injured Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata, Allegri said he has no other option but to deploy Moise Kean in the lone striker role. "He (Kean) has to play and score," Allegri added. "One thing he knows how to do well is scoring. He has to improve when he has to play with the team, in terms of individual technique." Speaking at the same news conference, defender Giorgio Chiellini insisted no extra motivation was needed ahead of such blockbuster European encounters. "It was easy to prepare the game, the coach has told us the same thing," Chiellini said. "These are very nice games, you can prepare them easily. "We’ll be playing home against the European champions, it will be challenging."

Champions League: We must take the game to Chelsea, says Juventus' Massimiliano Allegri

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was typically unruffled after his team were outplayed in their 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, saying "these things happen".

But Allegri's decisions came under scanner after his team were swept aside by the streetwise Spaniards in the second half of their round of 16 first leg, leaving their hopes of winning the competition hanging by a thread.

Unbeaten in Serie A this season, Juventus have lost three of their seven Champions League matches and now face a huge task to overturn the deficit in Turin on March 12.

In four full seasons at Juventus, Allegri has led his team to four successive league and cup doubles and two Champions League finals.

He has managed to rebuild the side following the departure of players such as Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and the talismanic pair of Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon.

In the past, Allegri has been the one giving the tactical masterclass, such as last season's round of 16 match against Tottenham Hotspur when he turned the tie around by substituting both fullbacks at the same time.

On Wednesday, however, he was outfoxed by opposite number Diego Simeone.

Having earlier emphasised the importance of an away goal, Allegri's first surprise move was when he omitted right back Joao Cancelo even though the Portuguese has become one of Juve's most impressive attacking weapons this season.

Mattia De Sciglio, chosen in his place, was defensively solid but offered little going forward.

In the second half, while Simeone made three quickfire substitutions between the 58th and 67th minutes, Allegri waited until the 73rd minute to replace Miralem Pjanic with fellow midfielder Emre Can.

The later additions of Cancelo and Federico Bernardeschi - who nearly grabbed a precious away goal when his shot was turned away by Jan Oblak - were too little, too late.

Atletico's goals - in the 78th and 83rd minutes - were both scored while those players were waiting to come on.

Allegri admitted his side were caught out.

"We played a bad second half, making the mistake of going after them," he said. "We got the approach wrong in the second half – it's that simple."

He also conjured up the odd excuse that Atletico have more experience in big matches.

"They are more used playing games of this type than us: they remained inside the game even if there were no big jolts, while we made mistakes."

The only consolation was that the return leg had to be better.

"We couldn't be any worse than in the second half, so we must have confidence for the return leg. We knew that Atletico make you play badly, and to beat them you need to stay on top," he said.

"The 2-0 can be overturned, it is useless to cry on it."

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was typically unruffled after his team were outplayed in their 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, saying "these things happen".

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri was typically unruffled after his team were outplayed in their 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, saying "these things happen". But Allegri's decisions came under scanner after his team were swept aside by the streetwise Spaniards in the second half of their round of 16 first leg, leaving their hopes of winning the competition hanging by a thread. Unbeaten in Serie A this season, Juventus have lost three of their seven Champions League matches and now face a huge task to overturn the deficit in Turin on March 12. In four full seasons at Juventus, Allegri has led his team to four successive league and cup doubles and two Champions League finals. He has managed to rebuild the side following the departure of players such as Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and the talismanic pair of Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon. In the past, Allegri has been the one giving the tactical masterclass, such as last season's round of 16 match against Tottenham Hotspur when he turned the tie around by substituting both fullbacks at the same time. On Wednesday, however, he was outfoxed by opposite number Diego Simeone. Having earlier emphasised the importance of an away goal, Allegri's first surprise move was when he omitted right back Joao Cancelo even though the Portuguese has become one of Juve's most impressive attacking weapons this season. Mattia De Sciglio, chosen in his place, was defensively solid but offered little going forward. In the second half, while Simeone made three quickfire substitutions between the 58th and 67th minutes, Allegri waited until the 73rd minute to replace Miralem Pjanic with fellow midfielder Emre Can. The later additions of Cancelo and Federico Bernardeschi - who nearly grabbed a precious away goal when his shot was turned away by Jan Oblak - were too little, too late. Atletico's goals - in the 78th and 83rd minutes - were both scored while those players were waiting to come on. Allegri admitted his side were caught out. "We played a bad second half, making the mistake of going after them," he said. "We got the approach wrong in the second half – it's that simple." He also conjured up the odd excuse that Atletico have more experience in big matches. "They are more used playing games of this type than us: they remained inside the game even if there were no big jolts, while we made mistakes." The only consolation was that the return leg had to be better. "We couldn't be any worse than in the second half, so we must have confidence for the return leg. We knew that Atletico make you play badly, and to beat them you need to stay on top," he said. "The 2-0 can be overturned, it is useless to cry on it."

Coach Allegri's decisions under spotlight after Juve swept aside

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri revealed captain Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Miralem Pjanic were both in doubt for Tuesday night`s crunch Champions League game against Olympiakos.

Juventus -- runners-up twice in the last three seasons -- head to Athens needing a win to ensure their passage to the knockout phase.&nbsp;

But Gonzalo Higuain will play after scoring the winner against Napoli at the weekend despite a broken hand.

&quot;Higuain will be on the pitch tomorrow because he is doing well both physically and mentally,&quot; said Allegri.&nbsp;

&quot;Tomorrow could be decisive. We are still evaluating Buffon and Pjanic, who is suffering from a muscle strain.&quot;

A draw or even defeat would be sufficient for the six-time defending Serie A champions unless Sporting Lisbon beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

&quot;We can`t afford to wait and see what Barcelona`s result will be,&quot; continued Allegri.&nbsp;

&quot;Either we win or we run the risk of exiting the Champions League. Tomorrow (Tuesday), our approach must be spot on. We have to be patient and take our chances to win the game.&quot;

&quot;With (Giorgio) Chiellini out, either (Daniele) Rugani or (Mattia) De Sciglio will play. (Mario) Mandzukic will be available as well.&quot;

Allegri added that it would be an important test for Argentina striker Paulo Dybala &quot;to return to his highest level&quot; and score his first Champions League goal this season to add to his 12 in Serie A.

Centre-back Andrea Barzagli added: &quot;It would be unthinkable for us not to qualify. Tomorrow`s match is essential for us, qualifying for the knockout round is our first objective of the season.

&quot;We understand the importance of the game and we know that it is not going to be easy for us -- the first match against Olympiakos at home was complicated and now we are playing in their stadium.&nbsp;

&quot;We have to be focused and careful tomorrow because it is a complicated game.&quot;

Juve play a crunch league game against Olympiakos early Wednesday morning

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri revealed captain Gianluigi Buffon and midfielder Miralem Pjanic were both in doubt for Tuesday night`s crunch Champions League game against Olympiakos. Juventus -- runners-up twice in the last three seasons -- head to Athens needing a win to ensure their passage to the knockout phase. But Gonzalo Higuain will play after scoring the winner against Napoli at the weekend despite a broken hand. "Higuain will be on the pitch tomorrow because he is doing well both physically and mentally," said Allegri. "Tomorrow could be decisive. We are still evaluating Buffon and Pjanic, who is suffering from a muscle strain." A draw or even defeat would be sufficient for the six-time defending Serie A champions unless Sporting Lisbon beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou. "We can`t afford to wait and see what Barcelona`s result will be," continued Allegri. "Either we win or we run the risk of exiting the Champions League. Tomorrow (Tuesday), our approach must be spot on. We have to be patient and take our chances to win the game." "With (Giorgio) Chiellini out, either (Daniele) Rugani or (Mattia) De Sciglio will play. (Mario) Mandzukic will be available as well." Allegri added that it would be an important test for Argentina striker Paulo Dybala "to return to his highest level" and score his first Champions League goal this season to add to his 12 in Serie A. Centre-back Andrea Barzagli added: "It would be unthinkable for us not to qualify. Tomorrow`s match is essential for us, qualifying for the knockout round is our first objective of the season. "We understand the importance of the game and we know that it is not going to be easy for us -- the first match against Olympiakos at home was complicated and now we are playing in their stadium. "We have to be focused and careful tomorrow because it is a complicated game."

Buffon, Pjanic doubts for Juventus in Champions League

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Champions League: We must take the game to Chelsea, says Juventus' Massimiliano Allegri

Coach Allegri's decisions under spotlight after Juve swept aside

Buffon, Pjanic doubts for Juventus in Champions League