Montero on Juventus trident and tearful concerns

Paolo Montero explains why he has chosen to revamp Juventus into a 3-4-3 formation and hopes ‘a tear won’t come to my eyes’ against Monza.

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Milan–Salernitana on the LIVEBLOG.

This is the second and final match as interim manager for Montero, who took over after Max Allegri was fired in the wake of the Coppa Italia triumph against Atalanta.

His debut was a comeback from 3-0 down to hold Bologna 3-3 at the Stadio Dall’Ara, but this evening he unleashes the 3-4-3 formation from the start.

“The decision was made based on evaluating the squad, who was in best shape and this formation fit,” Montero told DAZN.

Montero scraps Allegri’s Juventus

There is also a start for midfielder Nicolò Fagioli, whose eight-month ban for gambling expired last week and he made his return as a substitute in the Bologna thriller.

“We saw him do well in training, he had a good impact in Bologna, so we decided to start him today.”

Fagioli has surprisingly also been called up by Luciano Spalletti for the preliminary EURO 2024 Italy squad.

Monza coach Raffaele Palladino was at Juventus along with Montero, although it is a stretch to call them teammates.

“He arrived from the Primavera team in the squad many times, I tried to spend as much time as possible with them, because I know they would struggle when making that step up and being in a new locker room.”

This is the first home game for Montero as Juventus interim coach and he admits this could be an emotional occasion.

“I’ve been in this locker room I think only four times, two or three on the pitch. I hope a tear won’t come to my eyes.”