What’s next after this ad
Never bury the Old Lady too quickly. At the bottom of the hole after another setback against AC Milan on October 8 (2-0), Juventus was on the edge of the precipice after only nine days. Especially since the Turinese were eliminated from the Champions League barely a month later and that Italian justice stuck its nose in the dirty laundry of the leaders of the Italian club, resulting in the resignation of the entire Council. directors including Andrea Agnelli. At that time no one imagined a return of the Bianconeri to the fore. And yet, 94 days have passed since the setback suffered at San Siro and here are Massimiliano Allegri’s men in second place in Serie A, just seven points behind Napoli. On an impressive run of eight consecutive league wins, including two important wins against Inter and Lazio, two contenders for the European places at the end of the season, Adrien Rabiot’s teammates are now ahead of most of their competitors and are once again become serious contenders in the race for qualifying places for the most prestigious of club competitions.
An impermeable defense and a clinical attack
But how can such a reversal of the situation be explained? First by a return to basics. The restoration of the mythical 3-5-2 scheme of the great Juve of the 2010s, culminating in the Champions League final in 2015, was one of the main detonators of Turin’s revival. A tactical change that allowed and still allows the Bianconeri to reign at the top of the best defenses in the Italian championship. With just seven goals conceded so far in Serie A and none since the loss to the Rossoneri, the Turinese have found the key to a defense where Brazilians Bremer and Danilo are fully thriving. So if it is true that the Piedmont club still does not shine offensively, with an average of 1.5 goals per game in particular, its defensive solidity allows it to take the three points even when the meeting seems badly embarked. The last two victories against Udinese (1-0) and Cremonese (0-1) are the perfect illustrations.
Thanks to this iron defense, Juventus also restored the Allianz Stadium as an impregnable fortress by being the best team at home with seven wins, two draws and no losses on the clock. However, to win games you still have to score goals and the Turinese were able to count on several second-rate players who asserted themselves in the absence of the executives. Starting with his attacking duo: Moise Kean and Arkadiusz Milik. The Italian and the Pole have scored 5 of Juve’s last 6 goals in the league. While waiting for the comeback of the top scorer, Dušan Vlahović (6 goals), the Kean-Milik doublet does more than ensure the interim. In particular, they managed the feat of making their team win without having a plethora of opportunities to put in their mouths. These players are symbols of the rebirth of Italy’s most successful club on the national stage.
What’s next after this ad
The executives are present
In midfield, Adrien Rabiot shines in all areas of the game. Capable of defending but also of scoring, bringing the excess in attack and planting one or two pawns on occasion, the French international (35 caps for three achievements) has been in the oven and in the mill with Juventus. Highly visible since the start of the season with the Turinese and author of three goals and two assists, the Frenchman confirmed his dazzling form by being selected for Qatar and by achieving a high-flying World Cup with the Blues. Finally, in the cage, Wojciech Szczesny still displays a fabulous level, like his Qatari World Cup with the Polish selection, despite the relatively early elimination of Białe Orły (White Eagles in French). The Old Lady can count on the return to form of these two players, at the best of times, a few weeks before the return of European competitions, to see the future more serenely. In addition to the good form of its executives, Juventus can count on a conquering state of mind which contrasts with the start of the season.
A change of mentality in the workforce, which Massimiliano Allegri also welcomes. “The boys came together and got results”the 55-year-old coach was particularly pleased after the triumph against Lazio (3-0) just before the winter break. “They won games, suffering, and we have to thank them for what they did.” Nevertheless, the Italian coach still does not want to ignite. After experiencing the worst difficulties just a few weeks ago, the bianconero technician does not want to think about the title. “For the moment, our chances in the title race have not changed”he admitted in a pre-match press conference last Saturday (1-0 victory against Udinese). “Napoli are the absolute favourites, with many points ahead. After 19, 18, 17 or 16 matches, they suffered their first defeat (1-0 against Inter). It’s normal, they are still having an extraordinary season. I repeat, they are still my favourites, then there is also Inter and AC Milan. Our goal is to stay in the top 4.”
What’s next after this ad
The infirmary is empty
This makeover, Juventus also owes it to the return of a certain Federico Chiesa. The Italian international (40 caps for 4 goals) symbolizes the good results of the Turinese all by himself. Entered four times since his return to competition after his cruciate ligament rupture, the twirling winger delivered two assists in 106 short minutes of play. Very interesting statistics for one of the only blaster profiles that the Turinese have in their effective. Angel Di Maria, the second player capable of making a difference on the wings, with Filip Kostic is also back in business. And the good news could even multiply in Piedmont in the coming weeks. After having already recovered Federico Chiesa and Angel Di Maria, the “Gobba” will very soon be able to count on the support of Paul Pogba and Dušan Vlahović, both back in training.
Reinforcements of weight since the important deadlines will very quickly be linked for the Old Lady. First in the league with two decisive confrontations against Naples and Atalanta over the next two days. Then with the Europa League, whose objective is clearly to go as far as possible to forget the poor performance in the Champions League (five defeats in six games). So many goals that now seem within the ropes of Juventus, as surprising as it may seem a few weeks ago. Despite a deleterious environment in recent months and a workforce far from being as prestigious as in the past, the Bianconeri have managed to manage the storm and can now see a clear horizon for the end of the season. To be continued.
Pub. the
update the
