Massimo Mauro says Juventus has to reach Europa League semifinal | OneFootball

Massimo Mauro has spoken about Juventus’ Europa League draw, and he expects them and AC Milan to at least reach the semi-finals of the competition this season.

Juve were on course to play in the Champions League and delivered some fine performances in the league, putting them on a strong run ahead of the final weeks of the season.

However, that soon changed as they entered a poor run of form, which eventually led to them failing to finish inside the top four and missing out on a place in the Champions League.

AC Milan suffered an almost identical fall, as they were also tipped to make the top four and were doing just fine in that regard, but they soon lost their momentum.

Italy has two of the top clubs in the competition, and both are expected to go deep if they do not win the tournament. Juve, therefore, will have no excuse.

Mauro sets target for Italian clubs

Their fans expect that to be the case, but they are not alone, with Mauro telling reporters via Tuttomercatoweb:

“They must, but that’s precisely the danger: the minimum objective should be the semifinals. However, the imperative of not being able to make mistakes is a burden, the pressure can take its toll, and getting that far remains extremely complicated: for a Champions League spot, it’s always better to aim for at least fourth place in the league rather than lifting the Europa League trophy.”

Juventus face Europa League pressure

Mauro believes reaching the semi finals should be the minimum target for both Juventus and AC Milan, although he recognises the pressure that comes with such expectations.

Juventus will be determined to make the most of their opportunity after missing out on Champions League qualification. Their performances will now be closely followed as they attempt to go as far as possible in the competition.

The comments also highlight the importance of the league, with Mauro arguing that securing a Champions League place through the domestic competition is a more reliable objective than depending on a Europa League triumph.

For Juve, the challenge will be to maintain consistency and handle the pressure that comes with being regarded as one of the strongest teams in the competition. Their supporters will expect a serious challenge, and Mauro believes they have enough quality to reach the latter stages.

AC Milan will face similar expectations, giving Italian football two major contenders in the competition. Both clubs will hope their experience and quality can help them progress deep into the tournament.