Marchisio: We can do better with Conte

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has admitted that the team can go from strength-to-strength now that Antonio Conte has returned from his ban.

The 43-year-old Coach came back from his touchline ban last weekend for the match against Palermo and the Bianconeri youth product has conceded that it was tough being without their boss.

“It is not easy to be without your Coach after winning a championship,” he told juventus.com. “Just after you've won something, that is the time you need a man to guide you.

“But we have grown up without him, and now he's back, we can do even better.”

He also commented on the team's aims for the upcoming season.

“We have achieved the first two objectives – to qualify from our Champions League group and to start well in the League.

“But now we are focused on the upcoming League games. We've got Atalanta and Cagliari to come, and although they may seem easy on paper, we have to give them the utmost respect.”

The 26-year-old concluded by remarking on who he believes will be the club's biggest rivals come May.

“Every week a different name comes forward. First it was Roma, then Napoli, then Inter. We know they will all be there or thereabouts, but we can only concentrate on ourselves.”