Pirlo vows to bring back joy

Paulo Dybala will remain at Juventus but fellow Argentinian Gonzalo Higuain will not, new coach Andrea Pirlo revealed on Tuesday, as he vowed to bring joy back to the Italian champions' game.

Pirlo took over this month after Maurizio Sarri was sacked after just one season following the club's Champions League last 16 exit to Lyon.

Despite his lack of coaching experience 41-year-old Pirlo warned: "I think I'm in the right place at the right time. I want to bring back to Juventus some of that enthusiasm that has been lacking recently."

Dybala, 26, will remain at the heart of the Juventus attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, but 32-year-old Higuain's time in Turin is over.

"He was a great champion, a great player but the cycle is over," Pirlo told his first press conference in Turin. "We looked each other in the eyes, we talked and we made this decision. I admire him a lot, but we have decided that the paths will separate."

Pirlo continued: "Dybala has never been on the market. For me he is an important player. As soon as he returns, he will be part of the project.

"I didn't have time to think," admitted Pirlo about taking the job. "It was all very fast, I threw myself into it, but if I made this choice it is because I am convinced that I am in the right place at the right time."

Pirlo said that the tactical model was not fixed -- "we can play both four and three at the back" -- but the main objective was to play "with joy".

"To bring enthusiasm you have to work, talk to the players, make them participate and make them understand our new way of playing.  I work on the pitch, but there has to be a lot of human and psychological relationships."