Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri backs Cristiano Ronaldo to regain his form as 'the most incredible player of all time'

Portuguese striker has struggled to impress on the return of football in Italy

Cristiano Ronaldo looks dejected after the match as he walks past the Coppa Italia after Juventus were beaten by Napoli on penalties. Reuters

Napoli's supporters celebrate in downtown Naples. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala look dejected after the match. Reuters

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain. Reuters

Napoli's supporters celebrate in downtown Naples. AFP

Napoli fans celebrate in Naples after winning the Coppa Italia. Reuters

Napoli celebrate with the trophy. EPA

Paulo Dybala misses a penalty during the shoot-out at the Italian Cup final. EPA

Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso hugs Juventus star Paulo Dybala after the Coppa Italia Final. Getty

Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri after the defeat. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo had a tough night. Reuters

Napoli coach Gennaro Gattuso celebrates with the trophy. EPA

Napoli's Belgian forward Dries Mertens holds the trophy. AFP

Napoli's players celebrating winning the Coppa Italia. Getty

Napoli's supporters celebrate in Naples. AFP

José Maria Callejon, Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens celebrating with the trophy. Getty

Napoli's supporters celebrate on a public fountain in Naples. AFP

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo shows his frustration. Reuters

Ronaldo fights for the ball with Fabian Ruiz. Getty

Napoli's supporters celebrate in Naples. AFP

Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri has told Cristiano Ronaldo not to worry about his slow resumption to the season, insisting the Portuguese star will return to being "the most incredible player of all time".

They will play their first Serie A match in over three months against Bologna on Monday, four days after losing the Italian Cup final to Napoli.

The Serie A leaders failed to score in their two cup matches since the Italian season resumed following the coronavirus lockdown, with goalless draws against AC Milan in the semi-finals, where Ronaldo missed a penalty, and with Napoli in the final before a 4-2 defeat on penalties.

"I spoke to Cristiano again yesterday. He must not worry about trust," Sarri said.

"He must not lose confidence, as soon as he regains his brilliance he will return to being the most incredible player of all time. At the moment, physically he cannot give the maximum."

Ronaldo, 35, has scored 25 goals for Juventus in all competitions this season.

He spent the coronavirus lockdown in his native Portugal.

"We must not forget that we have arrived after being inactive for 60 days and the physical brilliance cannot be at the highest levels," said Sarri.

Ronaldo also failed to find the net in Juventus' last two matches before the lockdown, having scored in nine straight matches before that.

Juventus have just a one-point advantage over Lazio in the Serie A table, as they target a ninth consecutive Scudetto.

The 61-year-old urged his players to "turn the page" quickly having lost two finals this season, after the Italian Super Cup loss to Lazio in December.

"Losing a trophy is always painful, it hurts, it gives disappointment and bitterness, but this is the situation and we must not beat ourselves up," said the former Chelsea coach.

"We have to turn the page and think about our next games. We hope to improve quickly in the next 10 days, both in physical and mental condition."

Sarri, meanwhile, dismissed reports he had a training ground bust-up with Bosnia midfielder Miralem Pjanic.

"The story of my quarrel with him is fake news," said Sarri.

"Pjanic is one of the guys I talk to the most and, like the whole team in the last two games, he has played well in the opening minutes, dropping a bit during the game."