Andrea Pirlo brushed aside talk his Juventus future would be in the balance in Tuesday’s second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Porto, with the Italians trailing 2-1 heading into the must-win clash in Turin.
Pirlo’s predecessors Maurizio Sarri and Massimiliano Allegri both paid the price for the club’s failure to win Europe’s top football competition.
“If I thought my (future on the) bench depended on it I wouldn’t be here,” Pirlo told a press conference in Turin.
“For me it’s a match like other important matches. I continue to work day after day knowing mine and the club’s plan.
“Tomorrow it is decisive to move forward, but for (my) future the club will always decide based on the results.”
The pressure is on Juve great Pirlo to keep the club in the running for the trophy they last won 25 years ago.
“We know we’re under pressure, we’ll not underestimate Porto,” continued the 41-year-old.
“We know the importance and the beauty of playing the Champions League, it’s a very important match for the team, the club.When you play these games you have a different energy.”
Record Champions League goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo carries Juventus’ hopes and was rested for most of Saturday’s win over Lazio as in-form Spaniard Alvaro Morata, with six European goals this season, spearheaded the 3-1 success over the Romans.
© AFP