In sport the most challenging aspect of sustaining such dominance over a long period of time is being able to maintain that same hunger and drive year after year to achieve such high levels of excellence.
After winning three successive Serie A titles, you could forgive Juventus for lacking a little motivation after already achieving so much in recent seasons.
It would not only maintain its stronghold of Italian football, but emerge from the European wilderness to forge a magnificent run to Berlin before falling agonisingly short at the final hurdle. A season to remember for everyone involved at the club.
Preseason
The man who was the mastermind behind the domestic dominance, Antonio Conte announced his shock resignation just one day into the preseason, citing the external and internal pressures taking its toll on the Italian, catching everyone involved in Italian football off-guard.
There was widespread rumours that Conte had resigned because of a disagreement with the clubs hierarchy at a board meeting about the summer transfer policy, highlighted by the persisting speculation that star midfielder Arturo Vidal would be sold after being strongly linked with a move to Manchester United.
The following day after Conte’s shock resignation, the club announced the appointment of former AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri on a two year contract. Allegri was sacked by Milan in January 2014 due to a steady decline in the clubs results, after winning the Scudetto in his first season in charge of the Rossoneri in the 2010-11 season.
The manner of Allegri’s departure left Juve fan’s questioning whether the Italian was the right man in filling the huge void left behind by Conte. Allegri’s objectives for the upcoming season were to continue the clubs Serie A dominance as well as improving their fortunes in the Champions League after going out in the group stages last season.
“We’ll compete for the title all the way. As for Europe, we need to have a great run in the Champions League,” he said.
The Old Lady were crucially able to retain Vidal as well as adding to its already impressive squad with promising youngsters like Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, Stefano Sturaro, Roberto Pereyra, Kingsley Coman – combined with the shrewd signings of experienced duo Patrice Evra and Alessandro Matri.
The striking duo of Mirko Vucinic and Fabio Quagliarella were the notable departures as the Bianconeri still looked very much the team to beat.
Serie A and Coppa Italia
Allegri and Juventus hit the ground running, winning their first five matches while scoring 10 goals and conceding none. Carlos Tevez netted four times including the decisive goal in the 1-0 victory over rival Milan.
Juve gained an early advantaged in the title race when it beat Scudetto rivals Roma 3-2 in a spiteful and controversial encounter. Tevez added another two goals, both from the penalty spot, before defender Leonardo Bonucci decided the pulsating encounter, thrashing in a wonderful volley with just minutes remaining.
It was not until mid-October when Juve dropped points, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Sassuolo leaving Roma sitting just one point behind in the standings. A 1-0 loss to Genoa on matchday nine was the first of the season for Juve, meaning they were joined by Roma at the summit after Rudi Garcia’s men defeated Cesena 2-0.
Juventus bounced back from the slip up against the Rossoblu with convincing victories against Empoli, Parma and Lazio, before defeating rivals Torino 2-1 thanks to a dramatic Andrea Pirlo winner in arguably one of the games of the season.
Allegri began the season with the 3-5-2 system that Juventus have been accustomed with under Conte. As the season approached the midway point, the new coach tinkered with the setup, favouring playing with four at back and a christmas tree midfield which worked to great effect, providing more fluid football and making the team more flexible in its approach .
A 3-1 win at Cagliari meant Juve would end 2014 as the league leaders, holding a three point buffer over Roma. The year would end on a disappointing note, however, as the Old Lady lost the final of the Italian Super Cup to Napoli on penalties.
Following a 1-1 draw against Inter, Juventus travelled to Napoli having not won at the San Paolo in 14 years and with Roma continuing to snap at their heels. In a season defining performance, the Bianconeri finally triumphed over Partenopei 3-1, highlighted by a breath taking volley from Paul Pogba.
Juventus then opened up a five point at the top defeating Verona 4-0 and taking full advantage of another slip up from Roma as they continued their run of draws. The Giallorossi failed to capitalise on Juve stumbles to Udinese and Cesena and with 14 games remaining, the lead at the top was extended to nine points after defeating Atalanta 2-1.
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Roma and Juventus met the following matchday in a showdown that loomed as a Scudetto decider. A cracking Tevez free kick ensured Juve came away with a 1-1 draw, maintaining their nine point advantage at the top. A trio of hard fought 1-0 victories against Sassoulo, Palermo and Genoa further strengthened the Old Lady’s position at the summit.
Juve qualified for the Coppa Italia final with a crushing 3-0 win against Fiorentina in second leg of their semi-final clash, overturning a 2-1 deficit from the first leg and setting up a final against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
They were then shocked by lowly Parma 1-0, but showed their champion qualities defeating high flying Lazio 2-0 to take another huge step towards the title.
A 2-1 derby defeat to Torino meant Juve would have to wait a little longer to secure the championship, but a fourth consecutive title was secured thanks to a 1-0 win away at Sampdoria with four matches to spare.
The remaining matches would be used to rest key players with important commitments in both the Coppa Italia and the Champions League on the horizon. Juventus then claimed its first domestic double since 1995 when it squeezed past Lazio 2-1, courtesy of a Matri winner in extra time to claim the Coppa Italia trophy for the first time in 20 years.
The 3-1 win over Napoli in the final home match of the season was a fitting way to sign off on another dominant domestic campaign as the Turin giants were presented with a record 31st Scudetto crown, ending 17 points clear of their nearest rival Roma.
Player of the Season – Carlos Tevez
Juve had many fine contributors this season. Buffon, Bonnuci, Chiellini, Vidal, Andrea Pirlo, Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Morata were all crucial to the Old Lady’s success, but it was Tevez, who scored 20 Serie A goals and 29 in all competitions, that was the catalyst behind the Bianconeri’s charge towards its first domestic double in two decades.
The Argentine scored some astounding goals, highlighted by his mesmerising solo effort against Parma, and was also there at the vital moments against Milan, Inter, Roma, Lazio, Dortmund and Real Madrid in what were important league and European fixtures that defined Juve’s season.
Champions League
Juventus was drawn in Group A along side Atletico Madrid, Olympiacos, and Malmo, a group that the Bianconeri would have beeen confident of progressing from into the knock out stages.
A 2-0 victory against Malmo on matchday one was followed by back to back away defeats to Atletico and Olympiacos as the Old Lady’s chances of advancing to the round of 16 were hanging by a thread. They had to come from behind to beat Olympiacos 3-2 on matchday four, enabling the Turin outfit to draw level on points with the Greek champions.
A 2-0 victory away at Malmo meant only a point from its final match against Atletico was required to secure their passage to the next round. A 0-0 draw against the Spanish powerhouse was enough to seal their name in the pot for the knockout stages.
Juventus was drawn against Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16 in a replay of the 1997 final. A convincing 5-1 aggregate win meant the Italian champions would face surprise packet AS Monaco in the quarter finals. An Arturo Vidal penalty in the first leg proved to be the difference as Juve edged the tie 1-0 to qualify for its first semi final’s appearance since 2003.
Drawn against Real Madrid, the Old Lady went into the tie as the underdogs, but defied the odds to take a narrow 2-1 advantage to the Bernabeu for the second leg. In dramatic fashion it was former Madrid youth product Morata that came back to haunt his former club scoring the crucial equalising goal after falling behind to a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.
The 1-1 result meant Juventus won the tie 3-2 on aggregate and won their way into final against Barcelona in Berlin, a chance for the Bianconeri to win their third Champions League title and the opportunity to complete a famous treble.
In a cruel blow, centre-back Giorgio Chiellini was ruled out of the final with a calf injury. An absolutely integral part of Juve’s miserly defence, he would be sorely missed against a free scoring Barcelona outfit.
Juve was behind the eight ball immediately, conceding after just four minutes, and if it were not for Gianluigi Buffon, it could of been more. Allegri’s men have shown unwavering spirit and belief throughout this campaign and sure enough they would equalise through Morata breathing new life into the final.
Barca were able to wrestle back the initiative and regained the lead through Luis Suarez before a late Neymar strike sealed a deserved 3-1 win for the Blaugrana. A heartbreaking loss in the final can not hide what a glorious campaign this has been for Juventus, and for Allegri in particular, who was written off by many before the season had even began.
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