Conte unhappy with Euro fixture pile-up
Juventus coach Antonio Conte felt that his side were fatigued during their loss at Roma and asked for consideration for clubs in European competitions.
By FOX Sports Staff
The Bianconeri were playing their third match in seven days with their mid-week Champions League win over Celtic having been preceded by their home Serie A encounter with Fiorentina.
On Saturday night, Conte saw his side besieged by a spirited Roma attack, led by a new coach in Aurelio Andreazzoli, and the visitors looked in danger of conceding further goals instead of fighting for a way back into the game.
The Italian felt that the lack of adequate rest between matches was responsible for their sub-standard showing on the night.
"I already said before the Fiorentina game that we certainly didn't like playing three games in seven days," he told reporters after the game.
"We were bound to pay for that with fatigue and one more day would've helped us to rest and reorganise. This is the only excuse I can give for today [Saturday], as we did not play as a team and when we do that anyone can beat us.
"Compliments to Roma, it was a good victory. This is a new Roma, so we didn't have much to go on in preparing for them. I wish I'd had more information, as we could've done better.
"We have regrets that there was not one more day to prepare and recover our fitness levels. I hope in future when the fixture lists are drawn up there can be a little more respect for a club that is taking Italy forward in Europe."
When informed that Serie A rivals Napoli, who can close the gap on Juve to two points with a win against Sampdoria on Sunday, are also participating in the Europa League, Conte gave an uncharacteristically strong reaction.
"We played three games in seven days, how many did Napoli play? It's easy to calculate.
"In any case, all the clubs in Europe must be given the opportunity to rest and recover when we are involved in these extra competitions."
The Neapolitans were not in action last weekend and therefore the game against Sampdoria would only be their second game within a week.
The Italian coach did go on to specify, though, that he was far from happy with the performance of his squad as they did not follow the tactics outlined for them before the game.
"Unfortunately when we don't play as a team, we don't have these individual moments to get us out of trouble," he added.
"We don't play as a team when we don't follow the sheet music and that makes everyone go off key. Everyone went their own way and it is really disappointing.
"We made two steps forward at Celtic, but one backwards today. I hope we can find that maturity that still eludes us.
"Fatigue can happen, but we have got to play as a team or we go nowhere. I won't talk about individuals. I didn't like the team, I didn't like anyone tonight [Saturday]."
Juventus were downed by a long-range shot by Roma's Francesco Totti in the 59th minute in Saturday's game.