Portuguese star says Bianconeri cannot have excuses for their ‘bad performance’ against Fiorentina at Allianz Stadium
Cristiano Ronaldo made the call to the gathering seeking “excellence” from Juventus in 2021 after their “special year” limped to the end on Tuesday night.
Juve’s unbeaten start to the Serie A season ended emphatically as they suffered a shocking 3-0 home defeat by Fiorentina in their last game before the winter break.
Andrea Pirla’s team was the second best during all 90 minutes at the Allianz Stadium, with a strike by Dušan Vlahović, an own goal by Alex Sandra and an effort by Martin Caceres, rounding off a pleasant victory for La Viola.
Bianconer’s task became more difficult after Juan Cuadrado was sent off due to a 1-0 duel, but Ronaldo insists the Italian champions cannot have excuses for a defeat that leaves them a seven-point advantage over AC Milan leader in the Serie A table.
He went on social media to reflect on the turbulent 12 months after which Juve won the ninth consecutive Scudetto in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak, and promised the team would return stronger in the new year.
“Yesterday, with poor performance and a result far from acceptable, we closed scheduled matches for 2020, a special year in many specific ways. Empty stadiums, COVID protocols, postponed matches, long breaks and a very tight calendar,” Ronaldo said on Instagram .
“But this is no excuse for anything. We know we have to give more of ourselves to play better and win more consistently. We are Juventus! And we just can’t accept anything less than excellence on the field!
“I hope this short stop will help us come back stronger and more united than ever, because the season is not over yet and in the end we believe we will celebrate once again with our typhoids.
“Trust us, trust our team as much as we trust you, and we will deliver to you!
“Fine Alla, fine!”
Juve returns to home action on January 3, with a home schedule against Udinese.
Then Pirlo’s men will draw attention to the inevitable clash against Milan’s early setters at San Siro, three days later, with the Rossoneri now the only remaining team in the top five European leagues to suffer a league defeat this time.