Monday, March 8, 2021 at 4:56 PM• Dominic Mostert • Last update: 17:03

Matthijs de Ligt has to let go of the return match against FC Porto in the eighth final of the Champions League. The Juventus defender has too much trouble with a calf injury. He trained individually on Monday and therefore does not seem to be available for Tuesday’s game, which is led by Björn Kuipers, but otherwise trainer Andrea Pirlo has no new personnel setbacks. Juventus lost the first game 2-1 in Portugal.

During Saturday’s league match against Lazio (3-1), the top club not only missed De Ligt, but also Giorgio Chiellini. The latter also had a calf injury, but is on the better side. “Chiellini trained with the group today and feels good”, Pirlo assured at the press conference on Monday. “I think he will be available tomorrow. De Ligt participated in the warm-up today with the group and then trained individually. Arthur is not one hundred percent fit, but could start in the base tomorrow. I hope he will get on for a while. the field can stand. ” Arthur made his comeback as a substitute against Lazio after an absence of almost a month.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is doing very well,” adds Pirlo. “These games are made for him. He can’t wait to play.” Ronaldo only played against Lazio for 22 minutes. He got some extra rest in the run-up to the important return game. “We understand that the pressure is on us and we do not shy away from it. We have the quality to make it to the next round, but we do not underestimate our opponent. Porto is a strong and solid team. But we are Juventus and we are focused. on making it to the next round. We cannot afford to make mistakes tomorrow. We have to be on the field for ninety minutes full of concentration and energy, “says Pirlo.

At the press conference, the coach is also asked if he fears that his job will hang by a thread in the event of elimination in the Champions League. Juventus are in a disappointing third place in Serie A and Pirlo knows that Massimiliano Allegri and Maurizio Sarri have been sacked from Juventus in the past after an early elimination in the Champions League. He himself does not fear for his congé. “If I thought that, I would not have been here,” Pirlo assures. “I know it is an important game, but I focus on one game at a time. The club decides about my future based on the results. I know what I want to achieve and I know what the club wants to achieve.”