Juric determined to leave tense Torino: ‘Not joyous here’

Ivan Juric insists that even if Torino qualify for Europe after beating Milan 3-1, it will not change his decision to leave. ‘There is no joy here.’

The Granata knew they needed a victory to keep their slender hopes of European qualification alive and achieved it, slicing the Rossoneri defence open with Duvan Zapata and Ivan Ilic free headers.

Ricardo Rodriguez then hit a screamer off the underside of the crossbar just 18 seconds into the second half, though Adam Masina’s futile foul on Christian Pulisic allowed Ismael Bennacer to convert a penalty for the 3-1 final result.

Toro had not put three goals past Milan in a Serie A match since April 1959.

“It was a good performance, we wanted to win, now we are up there and will try to get a victory in the last game too,” Juric told Sky Sport Italia.

“We recovered this season after a shaky start and are satisfied.”

Juric calls time on Torino career

This was the final home game of the season and also the last for Juric as coach of the Granata, because he is expected to walk away when his contract expires on June 30.

Could qualifying for Europe change his mind about this?

“No, there simply aren’t the right conditions to continue here. I like unity, but even with a fabulous season here there was non-stop controversy and criticism. I would like more joy and there isn’t joy here.

“There were protests all the time, against the President too, but it was a bit of everything. You try to change things, but after a while you realise it’s pointless. It was right for us to try to go for Europe, we had a fantastic three years.

“We had a good time together working with the players, it was all the rest that was disappointing.”

This means Torino leapfrog Napoli into ninth place and can qualify for the Conference League if they either overtake Fiorentina too, or if the Viola win the Conference League Final against Olympiacos on May 29 and therefore go into the Europa League instead.