Barzagli: Juve have missed Conte

Andrea Barzagli thinks Juventus will only get better once boss Antonio Conte returns to the touchline.

Juve have had to do without their Coach on matchdays so far this season after he was banned for allegedly failing to report an attempt to fix a Siena game while he was in charge in Tuscany.

Conte is set to return next weekend and the centre-back is ready to welcome him back with open arms.

“It is not easy to face so many games without a Coach with his temperament, someone who knows how to drag us along,” Barzagli told the Corriere dello Sport.

“[Assistants] Massimo Carrera and Angelo Alessio are good, but the Coach is something completely different.”

Juventus currently lead the standings, but they have lost two of their last four League games – the latest coming last weekend at Milan.

“We played poorly, we know that,” the Italian international added. “We’ve looked at the errors and we are ready to start again.

“Tomorrow’s opponents Torino are a tough side, well organised and they have suffered in very few games.”

Juventus will go into the derby with thoughts about next Wednesday’s Champions League tie at Shakhtar Donetsk where they need at least a draw.

“We’re hopeful, even if we know that we will be facing the toughest team in the group.”