Sampdoria coach Andrea Pirlo holds no grudge against Juventus.

Pirlo is back in Italy with Samp almost two years after being sacked by Juve.

He said, "I just have to thank them for giving me that chance. I think we could have done better in the following years but I wasn't disappointed.

"I continued to do my job, perhaps that experience as Juve coach gave me a different label.

"There was a wonderful relationship between the players and it was a satisfaction to see the various Chiesa, Kulusevski, De Ligt, Fagioli, Frabotta grow... Cristiano Ronaldo is an exemplary professional with everyone, cheerful and always smiling.

"We never had any problems either. He wanted to always play to chase all his personal records."