ALLEGRI RESPONSIBLE FOR JUVENTUS STRUGGLES - MARCELO LIPPI

Chinese national team coach Marcello Lippi, claims Juventus's current struggles are due to changes in direction by Massimiliano Allegri.

"The aim is to raise the level of Chinese
football," the veteran boss told Radio Rai. "The
immediate goals are not impossible, but very
difficult, because it is very hard to go and play
at the World Cup.

"There was improvement in the first game but
we could not see it though, the aim of
qualification is difficult but the level is not as
low as it can seem.

"The problem is that children do not play
football in China, they do other sports, but the
quality still is greater than you think.

"When I arrived there was no aggression and
internationally you will pay for these things . "

"The transition from Guangzhou to China was
not complicated, I had already received three
offers to become Coach but I said no due to
conflict of interest.

"Now however I know the Chinese players, China can take their chances with everyone, maybe not to win but the aim is to be competitive."

Thoughts then turned to the current state of
play among the top clubs in Serie A.

"I do not know why Juventus are struggling to
play in all three competitions, but it makes for
hard work, so to speak.

"My impression is that not only Juve but also
Roma and Napoli should be working to lubricate the mechanisms.

"[Maurizio] Sarri was of course unfortunate to
lose [Gonzalo] Higuain and then [Arkadiusz] Milik through injury.

"At Juve I had fantastic years, the current
problems are due to changes of direction by
Allegri because he has switched so much, also in midfield. The integration of great champions is not natural."