With both teams reduced to 10 men, Juventus held on for a win against rivals Napoli to go 16 points clear atop Serie A.
Massimiliano Allegri will meet with Juventus president Andrea Agnelli next week to discuss whether he will still be in charge next season, but his future as coach of Juventus does not hinge on how they fare in the Champions League.
Juve lost 2-0 in their round-of-16 first leg game against Atletico Madrid 10 days ago and failure to turn the tie around in Turin on March 12 would leave them with only Serie A to play for this term, having already been eliminated from the Coppa Italia by Atalanta.
Last summer’s arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo was a sign of the club’s ambition to win the Champions League after appearing in two finals in the past four years, but sporting director Fabio Paratici insists that failure to make the quarterfinals would not automatically mean Allegri must go.
“That’s an urban myth,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “The meeting we had with the coach after Madrid was nothing different to what we have every day and our face-to-face meetings are not necessarily negative.
“In fact, they are always very positive. I, [vice-president Pavel] Nedved and the president Agnelli are always talking with Allegri about Juventus and football in general. His future does not depend on the Champions League or the Scudetto, but it is dependent on a project.
“After the Atletico game, he will speak with the president and, together, they will see what route to take.”
Allegri confirmed that he would like to continue as Juve coach, having won four straight league and cup doubles, although he admits the decision may not ultimately be his.
“As far as my future’s concerned, when the president wants to, we’ll talk about this year and next year,” he told Sky. “I’m happy to stay at Juve, but it takes two to agree on continuing. Maybe I say yes and they say no, or vice-versa. We’ll see. There’s still time.”
Juve opened up a 16-point advantage over second-placed Napoli with a 2-1 win in Naples on Sunday night, to close in on an eighth consecutive Serie A title.
They host Udinese on Friday night before welcoming Atletico to the Allianz Stadium next Tuesday, after which Allegri and Agnelli will discuss his future.
The former AC Milan coach has in the past been linked with a move to England, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all considered possible destinations, while Inter Milan — who appointed former Juve sporting director Beppe Marotta after he was released by the Bianconeri late last year — have been linked with a move for the 51-year-old in the summer.
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