It will be a hard act to follow for Juventus after an almost perfect 2014-15 season. The champions still remain the favourites for their fifth straight Scudetto despite the club being in transition after saying goodbye to three influential figures.
Summer Transfers
It has been a roller coaster off season for Juventus as they look to overcome the loss of three of their most invaluable assets. The departures of Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich), and Andrea Pirlo (New York City) have signalled a new era in Turin, with Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham United), Simone Pepe (Chievo Verona), and Marco Storari (Cagliari) also moving on. Spanish target man Fernando Llorente’s future is also up in the air, with the 30-year-old being linked with a host of clubs after falling out of favour last season.
There has been no shortage of arrivals either, headlined by the captures of attacking duo Paulo Dybala from Palermo for €32 million, Mario Mandzukic from Atletico Madrid for €19 million, and World Cup-winning midfielder Sami Khedira from Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Other notable additions are striker Simone Zaza from Sassuolo for €18 million, attacking midfielder Roberto Pereyra, who joined the club permanently for €14 million after being on loan from Udinese last term, promising young defender Daniele Rugani, arriving from Empoli after Juve decided to buy out the remaining half of his registration rights and Brazilian goalkeeper Neto from Fiorentina on a Bosman. Porto left-back Alex Sandro also looks set to sign pending a medical. The Brazilian is seen as the long term replacement for Patrice Evra.
Visite mediche in corso per Alex Sandro! pic.twitter.com/584xs3VgeC
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) August 20, 2015
Last Season
In what will go down as one of club’s most successful seasons in its illustrious history, Juventus completed a memorable double by winning their fourth consecutive Serie A championship by a whopping 17 points and triumphing in the Coppa Italia for the first time in 20 years by edging past Lazio in the final thanks to an extra time winner by Alessandro Matri.
The Old Lady came within a whisker of completing an unprecedented treble only to fall to Barcelona in the Champions League finale, their first appearance in the showpiece event since 2003. Alvaro Morata put Juve back on terms during the second half before Barca’s phenomenal attacking prowess proved to much to handle, eventually going down 3-1 in gallant fashion.
The route to Berlin was a memorable one, highlighted by the monumental display in knocking Real Madrid out of the competition over two manic semi-final ties thanks largely to former Madridista Morata who scored in both legs.
From back to front, the Turin giants were irresistible with Gianluigi Buffon again underlining his class in goal, ably supported by defensive pillars Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonnuci. A powerhouse midfield boasted by Vidal, Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio were dominant, with Carlos Tevez being the major beneficiary, netting 29 times in all competitions.
Manager
After a stunning debut season, Juventus supremo Massimiliano Allegri was rewarded with a one-year extension on his contract, tying him to the club until the end of 2017. It is the least the Italian deserved after he was written off by many before the beginning of last year after the tumultuous conclusion to his tenure at AC Milan. Allegri utilised a three-at-the-back system, the same formula that worked so successfully under old boss Antonio Conte.
It was not until mid-season where Allegri put his own managerial stamp on the team by reverting to a 4-3-1-2 formation. The small tweak worked wonders as Juve became a different beast, underlining his tactical flexibility and pragmatism. With the loss of key personnel and the improvement of their title challengers, this season will prove a sterner test for the Italian in trying to reinvent his new look squad.
Strengths
It is said that defences win you championships. This certainly applies to this Juve side which has an immovable defensive base. Legendary shot stopper Buffon has maintained his status as one of the premier keepers in world football, while warriors Chiellini and Bonnuci continue to defend for their lives on a weekly basis.
The battle-hardened trio have formed a strong rapport that has been the defensive backbone for both club and country for a number of years. Their leadership and resilience epitomise the club’s whole-hearted mentality. Full-backs Stephan Lichtsteiner and Evra provide the attacking width and both possess efficient end product.
Most importantly, the duo are also defensively sound, rounding off an impressive back five, not forgetting the likes of Andrea Barzagli, new boy Rugani and Martin Caceres waiting in the wings. They will be key again for the Old Lady, who will be posed more questions this season with the attacking quality added by their title rivals.
Weaknesses
Central-midfield has been a huge strength of Juve’s during its recent dominance of Italian football. The quartet of Pogba, Pirlo, Vidal and Marchisio possess all the qualities you would ask for in a midfield unit. The loss of Pirlo and Vidal leaves two gaping holes in the middle of the park for Allegri to address.
The signing of Khedira has gone some way to restrengthening their depleted stocks, but in a cruel blow, the injury prone German picked up a thigh injury in a preseason match against Marseille, ruling him out for two months, leaving the defending champions looking extremely thin in a position they were once blessed with an embarrassment of riches.
Allegri has made it no secret he in the market for a creative midfielder, and Juve have subsequently been linked to host of top class playmakers including Oscar, Isco, Mario Gotze, and Julian Draxler. The versatile Pereyra is more then capable of playing the trequartista role, but someone of world class ilk is what Juve are craving.
With two weeks left in the transfer window, it is imperative that another midfielder is signed. Whether or not they can facilitate a move for any of their top targets remains to be seen.
Key Player
The stage is set for Pogba to become the lynchpin for this Juventus side. He will wear the coveted number 10 shirt after he requested to do so, a sign of his eagerness to carry the added burden of the famous shirt, but to also thrive under extra responsibility he will have to shoulder with the exit of the indispensable Vidal and Pirlo.
His career has taken a steady upward trajectory since he joined the club in 2012, and you just feel he is ready to take the league by the scruff of the neck.
It is crazy to think he is just 22 years old, but the ceiling for the Frenchman is sky high. With France hosting Euro 2016 next summer, this season will provide extra motivation for Il Polpo to elevate his game to a new level for his club in the hope of leading Les Bleus to their third European championship on home soil.
His maturity and character belies his relatively tender years, and will hold him in good stead in being able to cope with the lofty expectations. You feel a monstrous season is in store for the colossal midfielder.
Best XI
(4-3-3): Buffon (GK); Lichtensteiner, Chiellini, Bonucci, Evra; Khedira, Pogba, Marchisio; Dybala, Mandzukic, Morata.
Prediction
It has been a precession for Juventus over the past two seasons, but with the signings made by both the Milan clubs and Roma along with the ever-present Lazio and Napoli, it suggests that this will be the most competitive Serie A season in years. It could take time for the new signings to blend into Allegri’s way of playing but the signs are promising with Dybala and Mandzukic both scoring in the Italian Super Cup victory over Lazio.
While it is a weaker team compared to last season’s version, it still possess a wealth of experience and quality with the Italian core of Buffon, Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli and Marchisio still in tact. Meanwhile, the club retained the services of Pogba, who was constantly linked with a move away.
The champions are still very much the team to beat but certainly will not have it all their own way this time around. If the hunger still burns, expect Juventus to be crowned champions once more, but they will be pushed all the way.
On the European front they could find it more difficult to repeat last season’s heroics in a rebuilding phase, but one thing we learned from last year was that you write Juve off at your own peril. Another strong showing is crucial in consolidating their standing as one of Europe’s elite. A quarter-final appearance is a realistic target.
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