By Daily Sports on November 29, 2019

Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci says he wants to avoid Tottenham in the Champions League knockout stages – because of Jose Mourinho.

The Serie A champions confirmed their place at the top of Group D with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, while Spurs will finish second in Group B behind Bayern Munich.

The two sides could therefore be drawn together in the first knockout round, but the veteran defender is hoping his side’s group-winning form will have earned them an easier ride.

“I would like to avoid Tottenham,” Bonucci told reporters. “With the arrival of Mourinho, in some games he can give them something extra. But February and March are a long way off.

“In knockout games, without wanting to take anything away from [Mauricio] Pochettino, Mourinho knows how to drag something more out of his players.”

There had been discussion in recent weeks over Cristiano Ronaldo’s happiness in Turin, with the Portugal star reacting angrily to twice being substituted by manager Maurizio Sarri.

However, with Ronaldo recently confirming he had been suffering from fitness issues, Bonucci says there are no problems with him – and he also had kind words for ever-improving young defender Matthijs de Ligt.

“Everything is clarified with Ronaldo, we have talked about it,” he added. “The important thing is that when somebody isn’t in top form, there is another ready to replace him. (BBC)

•PHOTO: Leonardo Bonucci 

Source Daily Sports

Posted November 29, 2019

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