Massimiliano Allegri passionately supported referee Daniele Chiffi's decision to award Filip Kostic's controversial winner after Juventus beat Inter 1-0 on Sunday.
Kostic drilled home brilliantly to give Juve the advantage after 23 minutes at San Siro but a lengthy VAR review followed to ascertain whether the ball had hit Adrien Rabiot's arm in the build-up.
However, the goal stood and Allegri's men would not relinquish that lead as Juve triumphed for the sixth time in their last seven Serie A games to move within seven points of the Champions League places.
When questioned on the decision to allow the goal, Allegri was quick to back Chiffi and the VAR's decision to stay with the original verdict.
"Don't make me angry," the Juve head coach told DAZN after the match. "The referee's decisions must be accepted. The decisions go one way or another.
"Let's not make a lot of noise, it wasn't easy for Chiffi to referee. Let's talk about football, not referees.
"I said if VAR is objective, then it is functional, but if it becomes subjective, that is a problem. This tonight is an objective case, we have not made any controversy.
"The less we talk about referees, the more we help them."
Juve completed the double over Inter while keeping a clean sheet in both games for the first time since the 1976-77 campaign, yet Allegri wants his side to be more ruthless going forward.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, the Italian said: "The boys trained well for this. It was a good game, winning in Milan isn't easy and it raises our confidence.
"We had a good match from a technical point of view, we conceded little against a strong and technical team.
"In the second half, however, we had to close it."
Allegri went down the tunnel before the final whistle, missing a fiery ending that saw Danilo D'Ambrosio and Leandro Paredes dismissed after the final whistle for their roles in a post-match confrontation.
Asked why he decided to make an early exit, Allegri told DAZN: "They didn't need me any more at that point.
"I was getting irritated, so rather than get myself booked or sent off, I decided it was best to leave. I left it in their hands, the players knew what they were doing."
FC Dallas v Real Salt Lake: Estevez looking up ahead of RSL clash
FC Dallas coach Nico Estevez was more satisfied with the performance of his side as he looks ahead to a tough home game against Real Salt Lake.
Dallas head into Saturday’s match sitting 12th in the Western Conference, while RSL top the standings on 28 points.
A 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo in last week’s Texas derby followed on from a 2-1 win over Dallas’ other state rival, Austin FC, so they do at least head into the meeting with the West’s best team in some kind of form.
But Estevez, whose team overcame the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the U.S. Open cup in midweek, knows this is only the start.
Reflecting on the draw with the Dynamo, Estevez said: “We felt like we could win this game. We had one of the best first halves on the road this season. We just had a moment late in the first half after the water break where we dropped our level.
“Overall, the first 30 minutes were the best that we have played on the road combining good defensive work, good possessions and good plays. In the second half, we started a little bit slow but as the second half went on, we did a very good job creating chances and playing in their half, keeping the ball moving from one side to the other. The subs did a really good job coming in and provided the new energy that we needed. We wanted to win tonight, but we feel good about it.
“We need to recover really well, we need to rest. We want to improve every game.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Dallas – Jesus Ferreira
Ferreira will have been disappointed to miss out on the United States’ Copa America squad, and will now be out to prove Gregg Berhalter wrong. He has scored seven goals in 10 career MLS matches against Real Salt Lake, his most against any opponent. No player has scored more goals for either side against the other in the history of the rivalry.
Real Salt Lake – Cristian Arango
Arango (six goals, five assists) has contributed to at least one goal in six straight away matches, the longest streak in MLS since the beginning of last season. Arango is the second player since the start of the 2006 season to record 11 goal contributions in a span of six away matches (Carlos Vela – 2019).
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
RSL are unbeaten in 10 straight regular-season matches (W7 D3) for the fourth time in club history and the first since 2013-14 (16 straight). No team has had a longer unbeaten run in league play since Cincinnati went 11 straight without a loss in July-September 2022.
Dallas have won three straight home matches in all competitions for the first time since July-August 2022. Dallas had won only two of its previous 10 at home (D6 L2) prior to winning each of its last three at Toyota Stadium.
Dallas have lost only two of 24 all-time home matches against Salt Lake in all competitions (W16 D6). Dallas’ 2-1 home win over RSL last April, however, ended a five-match unbeaten run for RSL at Toyota Stadium (W1 D4).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Dallas – 36.5%
RSL – 35.9%
Draw – 27.6%
Fernandes: I want to be at Man Utd
Bruno Fernandes has reiterated his intent to stay at Manchester United amid speculation over his future.
Fernandes, who is set to captain United in the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday, has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford.
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are the European teams that have been credited with an interest in the 29-year-old.
However, Fernandes has no desire to leave.
"After this difficult season, it is my responsibility to give more. It starts with me. And it starts tomorrow. We have to give everything in this last match against City, and we have to move forward," Fernandes' told the Players Tribune.
"I love to step out at Old Trafford more than anything in the world. I don’t want to leave. This has always been my ultimate dream.
"I just want my expectations to fit with the expectations of the club. If you go talk to any fan, they will tell you the same thing. We want to compete for the league. We want to be playing Champions League football. We want to be in cup finals. That is the standard. That is what I want. That is what you all deserve.
"I just want to keep fighting. I want to be here. My family wants to be here."
Tchouameni to miss Champions League final, Euros place in doubt
Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni will miss the Champions League final due to a foot injury and could be a doubt for the Euros.
The 24-year-old, who has made 38 appearances across all competitions for the Spanish champions this season, has not played since he suffered a stress fracture during Madrid's Champions League semi-final win over Bayern Munich earlier this month.
Madrid play Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley on June 1.
And ahead of Los Blancos' final LaLiga match of the season against Real Betis on Saturday, Ancelotti confirmed the former Monaco star's injury is relatively serious.
"He's doing individual work but he's not ready for the (Champions League) final," Ancelotti told reporters.
"Let's see if he's ready for the Euros."
France coach Didier Deschamps named Tchouameni in his 25-man squad for Euro 2024, which starts on June 14.
Meanwhile, for Madrid, Saturday's match is an opportunity for fans to bid farewell to Toni Kroos, who is retiring after Euro 2024.
The 34-year-old is one of Madrid's most successful players, winning the Champions League four times during his 10-year stint with the club.
Having also won the title once with Bayern Munich, the Germany international could become only the second player after Madrid great Paco Gento to win six European crowns.
"I don't think it was a difficult decision for him. Veteran players, legends, have to choose their destiny. Toni has made that decision and it must be respected," Ancelotti said.
"We have to say goodbye to him as best we can. I respect his decision. Saying goodbye like this would be ideal. Then you have to have the courage to do it and I have a lot of respect for what he has done.
"Replacing someone like this is almost impossible, but this squad has resources in young people so that they take responsibility and follow the path set over the last 10 years."
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