MY ACCOUNT
Leonardo Bonucci scored two penalties as Juventus beat Lazio 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday and insists that it does not matter where the goals come from as long as the Bianconeri win.
The centre-back’s brace means he is now Juventus’ joint-top scorer in Serie A this term, joining Paulo Dybala on three league goals for the season, and has the highest expected goals total in the squad (4.04).
It is indicative of the Bianconeri’s struggles to score that the 34-year-old defender ranks so highly in those metrics, managing just 18 Serie A goals as a team so far – only good enough for joint-10th in the division.
Bonucci is unconcerned with where his side’s goals come from, however, with Juventus desperate for a run of good results to lift them from seventh in the league.
“We must give our all to take Juventus back to battling for every objective,” Bonucci said to DAZN. “We created a few important situations today with the strikers, such as Alvaro Morata in the first half and Moise Kean in the second.
“The important thing is to bring home the three points, it doesn’t matter who gets the goals. I believe we will bring home better results with more determination and self-belief as the season goes on.
“When you are Juve and have the start to the season we did, criticism is natural and we need to take that, but we saw that with the right spirit, we can make the difference.
“It was a fundamental victory, as it’s always tough after the break for international duty. We know with this spirit of sacrifice, the games depend on us. We really did well to limit Lazio, allow them nothing and score two goals of our own.”
Bonucci’s success from the spot prompted questions as to why he was not on penalty duty for Italy, with Jorginho sending the ball over the bar in the 90th minute of a 1-1 draw with Switzerland on November 12 that contributed to the European champions’ slide into the World Cup qualifying play-offs.
“A week ago, Jorginho was the penalty specialist and it was only right that he take it,” Bonucci continued. “If I had been asked to take the penalty, it would not have been a problem.”
Juventus travel to London to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Atalanta the following Saturday.
