Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri angrily denied his side is favorite to win the Champions league following a massive outlay in the transfer market in the offseason.
In the transfer window, Juventus had a summer spending spree which included signing last season's top goalscorer Gonzalo Higuain from Napoli for 90 million euros ($99 million) in the most expensive transfer in Italian football history.
Great things were also expected of Juventus in Europe, but it opened up its campaign with a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Sevilla on Wednesday.
"I think Juventus has the same ambitions as last year and two years ago. No more, no less," Allegri said after the match. "It doesn't mean that because we had a great transfer window we are now obliged to win the Champions league, because winning the Champions league is not easy. It seems that Juventus is the only favorite for the Champions league when it's been 20 years since Juventus won the Champions league, so we need to keep our feet on the ground."
Pep appeals to fans
MANCHESTER: Boos reverberated around a far-from-full Etihad Stadium as City's players lined up for the Champions league anthem before their game against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
It was the same old story on Wednesday, with only 30,270 spectators inside the 55,000-seater Etihad for a game City won 4-0 with some irresistible attacking football. "They must forget what happened in the past," Guardiola said. "The stadium was not completely full so the only thing we can do is play good so the people at home say, 'Wow, next time I will be there.' We have to be so proud to play in this competition.”