Juventus coach Antonio Conte to start January signings against AC Milan in Coppa Italia clash

7 Feb 2012 22:11:37

Marco Borriello, Simone Padoin and Martin Caceres all arrived in Turin last month and the Bianconeri boss believes that the trio warrant the opportunity to prove their worth

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has revealed that he will field his three most recent signings in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final clash with AC Milan on Wednesday night.

Marco Borriello, Simone Padoin and Martin Caceres all arrived in Turin last month and the Bianconeri boss believes that the trio warrant the opportunity to prove their worth at San Siro in the away leg.

“The three players who arrived in the transfer market need to play and must give us important responses just like all the others," Conte told Juve's official website.

"They’ve been brought in to bolster the squad and not just as alternatives, but valid options from every point of view.”

Conte also revealed that Marco Storari will take over from first-choice goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon between the posts.

“The Coppa Italia is Storari’s competition, there’s no doubt about that," he argued. "I’d like to praise his professionalism.

"He’s a great goalkeeper, he wants to play, but he’s making a great contribution both when he’s required to play and off the field.”

While Conte is clearly resting some first-team regulars for the game in Milan, the former Bianconeri midfielder insists that his side have every chance of bringing a lead back to Juventus Stadium.

“The game needs to be approached in the right way," he mused. "I think both ourselves and Milan want to get through and reach the final, so we’ll look to give everything we’ve got over the two legs to get there.

“As far as we’re concerned, it’s the first leg of a semi-final regardless of the opposition we’ll face.

"It’s inevitable that I would have preferred to play a weaker opponent and have a greater chance of going through.

“Instead, I’d say that both sides have an equal possibility of progressing in the competition."

Juventus, who currently lead Serie A by a solitary point from Milan, will face the Rossoneri again in the league at San Siro later this month.

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