The Weekly Take, Issue 379: A New Era in Full Swing

Close to the end of the 2024-25 season, Juventus fired then-head coach Thiago Motta in a final push for the last Champions League qualification spot. He was replaced by Igor Tudor, the Croatian who had spent just over seven seasons as a Juve player. At the time, Juve had just lost back-to-back Serie A matches by a combined 7-0 scoreline and had slipped out of the top four.

Tudor was able to turn things around; with him in the Juventus Stadium dugout, the Bianconeri lost just one of their final nine league matches and clinched a spot in this season's Champions League. Subsequently, Tudor signed a contract extension which would keep him in the position until the end of the 2027-28 season.

Though it's still very early in the 2025-26 season, the signs are clear that Tudor has had an obviously positive impact on this team as evidenced by Juve's hot start to the new season - including their recent victory over Inter Milan in a pulsating Derby d'Italia. Lloyd Kelly scored his first goal as a Juventus player after having been set up by fellow centre-back Gleison Bremer. This early lead would, however, only last until the 30th minute when Hakan Çalhanoğlu equalized for the Nerazzurri. Juve would nonetheless enter the half-time interval a goal ahead as not too long after, Kenan Yıldız drilled a shot from well outside the box into the bottom corner of the net.

Çalhanoğlu scored his and Inter's second goal about halfway through the second half - a spectacular volley from just outside the penalty area. Marcus Thuram then netted his third league goal of the season to put Inter 3-2 ahead in the 76th minute only for, of all people, his own brother Khéphren to level the match six minutes later. Finally, in the first minute of stoppage time, substitute Vasilije Adžić scored Juve's winning goal; the Montenegrin midfielder emulated Kelly in scoring his first goal for the club following Jonathan David's assist - and it could hardly have come in more climactic circumstances.

Since taking over at Juve, Tudor has taken Juve to eight wins in 12 league matches and with three in a row to start the new season, they seem to be well-positioned for a real run at a first Scudetto since the 2019-20 season. The club's five full seasons since then have been marked by inconsistency, instability, and even off-field scandals - but the signs that Tudor might be the guy who turns it around are starting to become more evident.

The phrase "club DNA" is something of a cliché by now - but even so, it's perhaps the biggest factor as to why Tudor is succeeding where Motta didn't. As mentioned, Tudor spent a big chunk of his playing career at Juve. Motta, on the other hand, never did and even played for Juve's direct rivals Inter. As such, Tudor has been able to connect with his players in a way that Motta never could - and having earned the trust of the locker room as soon as he has, the team is now in a far more conducive position to push for the league title.

From a tactical standpoint, Tudor has switched Juve's main formation to three at the back, utilizing either a 3-4-2-1 or 3-5-1-1 setup. This has in turn enhanced Juve's ability to create chances and cover space. He's also transitioned Juve away from a possession-heavy, low-tempo playstyle in favour of a more direct approach which emphasizes playing through the centre of the field. This has enabled Juve to force opponent's errors and create additional openings - and these tactical shifts were major reasons why Juve took the W against Inter.

It might actually have helped Tudor that up to now he'd never had any major achievements in any of his prior roles, thus reducing the pressure on him. However, as his and his team's stock continues to rise, that's likely to change. That will likely be the biggest test as to whether he is, in fact, the real deal - can he put it all together for an entire league campaign and not only win it all, but also perhaps even make a deep Champions League run? It's difficult to say, but their chances look better than they have in quite some time.

The Weekly Take, Issue 280: Back Out of the Wilderness

Over the past few seasons, Juventus have certainly been through the wringer. The club's decision to inexplicably fire then-head coach Maurizio Sarri at the end of the 2019-20 season despite winning a ninth consecutive Serie A title led to a downward spiral that saw the Turin club end up not even being close to title contention for the next three seasons.

Away from the field, Juve's issues have been even more dire. Last season, the club's financial violations incurred a 10-point penalty that saw the Bianconeri slip to seventh in the league. Earlier that season, the club's board of directors, including chairman Andrea Agnelli and vice-chairman Pavel Nedvěd, resigned en masse following the Plusvalenza scandal involving capital gains and false accounting violations.

It therefore came as no surprise when Juve were unable to attract any major names to the Allianz Stadium this past off-season. Juve's most notable acquisitions were Timothy Weah, who was signed for €10.3 million, as well as his fellow American Weston McKennie who returned from a loan stint at Leeds United. Understandably, expectations were somewhat tempered as the season got underway.

Even more adversity recently came Juve's way with the suspensions of midfielders Nicolò Fagioli and Paul Pogba. Fagioli received a seven-month suspension after having been found guilty of violating betting rules while Pogba has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. While neither have been among Juve's key players this season, these incidents could potentially end up destabilizing the team if not handled adequately.

However, it now appears that Juve are once again bona fide Serie A title contenders. Their 1-0 away victory against AC Milan kept them just two points behind league leaders Inter Milan. Manuel Locatelli scored the only goal of the match in the second half as Juve took advantage of a first-half red card issued to Milan centre-back Malick Thiaw following an ill-advised tackle attempt on Moise Kean.

Perhaps the primary reason behind Juve's much-improved performance thus far this season has been their tactical shift. Juve currently field a 3-5-2 formation with one of the two up front not being a classic centre-forward; usually either Kean or Federico Chiesa. This setup has afforded Juve more freedom and space up front in comparison to last season. Massimiliano Allegri's team have displayed an edge in the final third that had largely been absent for the majority of the last two to three years. Despite having less possession, Juve did far more with it than Milan did. On another day, Juve could have won by more than one goal.

Juve's depth was also clearly shown in this match. Chiesa and Dušan Vlahović both came off the bench as both had recently sustained injuries. Daniele Rugani, meanwhile, started at centre-back in place of the injured Danilo, while Andrea Cambiaso played just 35 second-half minutes. Despite these changes to their regular starting line-up, Juve didn't miss a beat as, assisted by excellent performances in midfield by Manuel Locatelli and Adrien Rabiot, the backups proved more than capable. This will undoubtedly serve Juve well as they attempt to reclaim the Scudetto. The league campaign of 38 matches can only be described as a grins, so in what will likely be a title race which will go down to the wire, every extra bit of depth helps.

If there was any element of Juve's performance against Milan which could come in for criticism, it would have to be their general decision-making after Milan were reduced to 10 men. In a post-match interview, Allegri lamented his team's over-reliance on making passes in tight channels as well as their frequent attempts to take on opposing players in one-on-one situations as these caused Juve's play to become somewhat forced and stilted. Nevertheless, the general vibes surrounding Juve right now are mostly positive - something which hasn't been the case for more than a little while now.

At this point, Juventus have to be taken seriously as potential Serie A title contenders. This is a team which evidently came into this season vastly underrated but have begun to make other teams take notice. Although Allegri himself has downplayed Juve's chances of claiming a record-extending 37th Scudetto, the way things are going, he might soon want to revisit that statement.

The Weekly Take, Issue 259: Staring Down the Abyss

There can be no question that Juventus have endured a season which could be described as just about anything apart from "ordinary". In January, Juventus received a deduction of 15 points in Serie A after having been found guilty of false accounting. Several of the club's board members, including former club president Andrea Agnelli, were also suspended owing to their respective roles in the related incidents. However, three months later, this point penalty was suspended pending a further trial. The points of which the Bianconeri had been stripped were returned to the Turin club; this caused Juve to rocket up the league table and into firm contention for a top-four spot and thus a Champions League berth.

As it would turn out, there would be another twist to come. On May 22, another charge of false accounting resulted in Juve incurring a 10-point penalty; this point deduction all but ended their chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League. Juve's hopes of making the top four were then extinguished once and for all with a 1-0 home loss to AC Milan. Olivier Giroud scored the only goal of the match. Milan's victory also ensured that it would be the Rossoneri who would join league champions Napoli as well as Lazio and Inter Milan in next season's Champions League.

Over the past three seasons, the general situation at the Allianz Stadium has progressively worsened. The "dominoes" that set Juve's decline into motion was the firing of former head coach Maurizio Sarri and the subsequent replacement of Sarri with Andrea Pirlo. In his first season in Turin, Sarri had led Juve to the league title for an unprecedented ninth consecutive season. Yet, in what can only be described as a knee-jerk move, Sarri was fired at the end of the season after an upset Champions League round of 16 loss to Lyon.

With the incompetent Pirlo in the dugout, Juve did not even come close to retaining their Scudetto. They finished fourth in 2020-21 and ended up a massive 13 points behind league champions Inter. Juve were also once again knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16. Despite winning the Coppa Italia, Pirlo was rightly dismissed at the end of the season. Juve's dismal season also led to legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from the club and stunning return to Manchester United.

Last season, Juve again finished fourth in the league; however, this time they finished 16 points behind league champions Milan and scored just 57 league goals. Paulo Dybala's 10 goals made him the club's only player to break the double-digit barrier in the league. This season, of course, has been even worse. Juventus will miss out on the Champions League for the first time since they finished seventh in the 2010-11 season. Juve are once again in seventh place with one matchday remaining; failure to overtake either Atalanta or AS Roma would mean that Juve would not even qualify for the Europa League but instead have to enter the Conference League.

It may soon get even worse for Juve. Should their point penalty be upheld, Juve will begin the 2023-24 Serie A season with -15 points, greatly hampering their chances of returning to the top four even before the season's opening kickoff. This would also make it almost impossible for Juve to attract any notable names during the upcoming off-season transfer window; at this point, it is somewhat likely that over the off-season, clubs like Napoli, Milan, and Inter will get stronger while Juve either stagnate or perhaps even continue their decline. It's not out of the question that Juve lose key players who are only interested in playing for a Champions League club.

Juventus' downfall has been as stunning as it has been swift and their decline has been becoming steeper and steeper. If Juve were to finish next season outside the top 10 in the league while once again suffering an early exit in their continental tournament, it would not even be all that surprising. Juve's path back to the top table is a long and difficult one indeed. It could be many years before they are once again a bona fide Scudetto contender.

The Weekly Take, Issue 240: Exposed as Fraudulent

Heading into their Serie A match against Napoli, Juventus had seemed to have turned the corner after a dismal start to their 2022-23 season. Eight consecutive Serie A victories saw the Bianconeri climb from eighth place in the league to second. On paper, this match against a rival club and the current league leaders appeared to be finely balanced - it seemed as though either club could have left Stadio Diego Armando Maradona with all three points.

However, Juve were immediately handed a reality check. The Turin-based club collapsed to a 5-1 loss; on top of that, such was Napoli's dominance that the final score could easily have been more one-sided. Victor Osimhen scored a brace to extend his lead at the top of Serie A's goalscoring leaderboard. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Amir Rrahmani, and Elif Elmas also scored for Luciano Spalletti's team. The result left Juve 10 points behind Napoli and with their chances of reclaiming the league title they last won three years ago all but gone.

Juve's lengthy winning streak fooled many a casual observer. Their only true high-quality victory against upper-tier opposition during that winning streak was their 3-0 win over Lazio. Even Juve's 2-0 win over Inter Milan was not particularly impressive; that victory was more of a case of "being less bad than the opponent" rather than outright outplaying them. It should also be noted that during the same period of that winning streak, Juve were knocked out of the Champions League and only made it into the Europa League over Maccabi Haifa on goal difference.

Massimiliano Allegri's team have been invariably underwhelming all season long. At first glance, this Juve squad appears to be replete with talent and not only a contender for the league title, but also a team that might threaten to make a deep Champions League run. Neither of those will happen now, in no small part due to the underperformance of players such as Weston McKennie, Moise Kean, Alex Sandro, and Fabio Miretti. While it may be true that McKennie, Kean, and Miretti are all still young, McKennie has clearly regressed from last season while it appears that Kean will never reach the level of a legitimate starter-level player at a club like Juve. When the next off-season comes around, it may be time for Juve to move on from both players as well as Alex Sandro. Miretti, meanwhile, does have intriguing potential; however, his already extensive playing time this season has shown that it may be "too much too soon". Spending next season on loan at a weaker club will be likely to do the hometown youngster a world of good.

Questions also have to be asked about Allegri himself. Could it be that he has overstayed his welcome in the Juve dugout? It definitely can't be questioned that his second stint in charge of Juve has not even come close to the level of his first between 2014 and 2019. Many Juve fans have already called for Allegri's dismissal; these calls peaked following their 2-0 loss to Maccabi in October. The club's recent winning streak somewhat quelled these sentiments, but they are likely to be renewed following this most recent crushing defeat. Was this, in fact, the final straw? It remains to be seen - but it would not be surprising if it were.

The off-field uncertainty surrounding Juve cannot be ignored. Less than two months ago, the club's entire board including then-president Andrea Agnelli resigned in the wake of issues surrounding Juve's financial statements. This may have in turn had a spillover effect onto the field, though its effects may not have been felt until now; it must be kept in mind that the incident took place during the World Cup break.

Juventus are now an embattled club in so many ways. As such, the fact that this is shaping up to be a "lost season" should not come as much of a surprise. That being said, it's one thing for a team to come up short despite giving their all in the face of adversity. It's quite another for Juve to capitulate in the manner that they did. Their prospects as of right now do not look good at all.

The Weekly Take, Issue 225: The Consequences of Two Fateful Decisions

The standout fixture of the latest Serie A matchday saw Juventus play against AS Roma at home. In a match which pitted two teams likely to challenge for top-four spots against each other, the spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw. Dušan Vlahović opened the scoring for Juve in the second minute, finding the back of the net with a free kick. Roma would later equalize by way of a second-half goal scored by Tammy Abraham.

Juve's start to this season has been rather pedestrian. This draw follows a goalless draw at home against Sampdoria in a match which should have been an opportunity for the Bianconeri to pick up an easy three points against a team which came close to relegation last season. Despite adding Paul Pogba, Bremer, and Filip Kostić to their roster during the off-season, Juve do not appear to have significantly improved. In both of the previous two seasons, Juve finished fourth and were barely able to clinch Champions League qualification. A similar result or perhaps even worse could be on the cards this season.

At the end of the 2019-20 season, no one could have foreseen the possibility of Juve being in this situation just a little over two years later. The Turin club had just won the Serie A title for the ninth consecutive season. However, in a shocking turn of events, head coach Maurizio Sarri was fired following an upset loss to Lyon in the round of 16 of the Champions League. No one saw this firing coming, especially because despite the early Champions League exit, Sarri had just led Juve to the Scudetto in just his first season on the touchlines at the Allianz Stadium.

Sarri would be replaced by Andrea Pirlo. This would turn out to be the move that arguably "nuked" Juve; Pirlo's utter incompetence in his one season in charge was almost unprecedented. He somehow managed to lead a team which was expected to win Serie A by an enormous margin to just fourth in the league. Juve only qualified for the Champions League because Cristiano Ronaldo's individual brilliance bailed Pirlo out time and again. Pirlo's abject failure in the position not only led to his firing at the end of the season; it also likely played a major role in Ronaldo's decision to return to Manchester United during the off-season of 2021.

The fallout of Sarri's firing and Pirlo's tenure continued into the 2021-22 season. Juve's total points tally of 70 was their lowest since the 2010-11 campaign when they amassed just 58 points and finished seventh in the league. In addition, Juve were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of 16 for the third consecutive season, losing 4-1 on aggregate to Villarreal.

Juve have been extremely busy in the transfer market in recent times. Even before the most recent off-season, Juve had made a major signing in Vlahović, having signed the Serbian striker for €70 million in January 2022. Since then, players such as Paulo Dybala, Matthijs de Ligt, Álvaro Morata, Giorgio Chiellini, and Dejan Kulusevski (on a loan deal) have left the club. While Juve have attempted to find suitable replacements for them, it is clear that AC and Inter Milan have since left Juve in the dust; it will likely be another year of struggle for the club which so recently had a stranglehold over Serie A.

One has to wonder how everything would have played out if Sarri had never been fired. Would Juve have won the past two league titles? Would Ronaldo still be in Turin? For that matter, might Juve have finally broken their Champions League drought dating back to 1996?

If club owner Andrea Agnelli had not hastily made those two decisions back in August 2020, we would likely be talking about Juventus in a very different light today. Instead, Juve find themselves playing catch-up - a position that, barring a major turnaround, will once again be familiar to them this season.

Every club goes through down periods from time to time; however, seldom is such a period triggered by one or two singular moments. Yet, that's exactly what has happened to Juve. When will they reclaim their spot at the pinnacle of Italian football? It could very well be years from now.

The Weekly Take, Issue 194: The Empire's Collapse Is Complete

AC Milan and Juventus both dropped crucial points in their respective quests for the Serie A title and a Champions League qualification spot with a 0-0 draw in a crucial league match. It was a match which was reflective of the final score - obvious chances were rare and both teams lacked the killer touch on the offensive end. Juve can count themselves rather fortunate to have escaped San Siro with a point after failing to register even one shot on target.

Nevertheless, the result leaves Juve in fifth place in the league, 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan but having played an additional match. This means that if the season were to end today, Juve would fail to qualify for next season's Champions League. If Juve were to remain outside the top four at season's end, it would be the first time in 11 years that the Bianconeri would miss out on Europe's leading club tournament.

Juve's collapse over the past two seasons has been stunning to witness. During the period spanning the 2011-12 and 2019-20 seasons, Juve won the Serie A title every single time, often by massive margins. They also won four Coppa Italia titles and reached the final of the Champions League in 2015 and 2017, losing to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

The point of origin of Juve's collapse can easily be pinpointed: the firing of former head coach Maurizio Sarri at the end of the 2019-20 season. Juve had just come off an upset loss at the hands of Lyon in the Champions League. In a move that few saw coming, Sarri was forced out of the club the very next day and replaced by Andrea Pirlo. This would prove to be a catastrophic move as in his one season in charge at Allianz Stadium, Pirlo would turn in one of the worst single-season coaching performances of the last decade. Despite inheriting a loaded team, Pirlo somehow managed to take Juve to a highly disappointing fourth-place finish in the league. He also presided over a last-16 Champions League exit and was deservedly fired at season's end.

The return of Massimiliano Allegri to the Juve dugout at the beginning of this season temporarily brought some optimism. However, it soon became clear that the problems at Juve extended far beyond the identity of the head coach. Juve stumbled out of the gates this season, dropping cheap points left, right, and centre. Despite topping their Champions League group, their upcoming round of 16 tie against Villarreal will by no means be straightforward.

Allegri's tactics in his second stint in charge of Juve have also been questionable on many occasions. His decision to deploy Adrien Rabiot as a winger has been a real head-scratcher, while his midfield pairings in his 4-4-2 formation which combine any duo of Weston McKennie, Manuel Locatelli, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Federico Bernardeschi are clearly not working. It can even be argued that the very fact that Allegri favours a 4-4-2 formation is suspect; this formation is considered to be outdated and obsolete by most.

Additionally, Juve made an inexcusable error in the transfer window of the previous off-season by failing to account for the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. This left them with Álvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala, and Moise Kean as their primary strikers. As was so clearly shown against Milan, Juve have unsurprisingly struggled up front all season long. With the two-thirds mark of the season approaching, the Turin club have found the net a meagre 34 times over 23 league matches. To put this figure in perspective, Juve score fewer goals per league match than do clubs such as Leicester City, Valencia, 1. FC Köln, and Eintracht Frankfurt - not exactly the most distinguished of company.

It's still too early to write the obituary on Juve's season, of course. However, the way things are going, the future does not look good for Juventus at all. This doesn't just apply to the rest of this season - it could be years before Juve are once again a genuine contender for domestic or continental titles. There seems to be no end in sight to their woes.

The powerhouse that was built over so many seasons has clearly been brought down in just one. A long, long rebuild seems likely.

The Weekly Take, Issue 158: Short-Term Failure for Long-Term Success?

Although it may initially seem paradoxical, the winners of the latest iteration of the Derby d'Italia may, in the long run, wish they had lost instead.

In a chippy encounter on Serie A's penultimate matchday which saw both teams reduced to 10 men, Juventus beat newly-crowned league champions Inter Milan 3-2. Juan Cuadrado's two goals proved to be the difference between the two teams; the Colombian winger scored the Bianconeri's winning goal from the penalty spot in the 88th minute after he had been fouled by Ivan Perišić in the penalty area.

The victory kept Juve in contention for one of the four Champions League spots. It is for precisely that reason why I believe a Juve loss would have served them better over time.

If Juve leapfrog AC Milan or Napoli during the final matchday and qualify for next season's Champions League, the chances of head coach Andrea Pirlo remaining in the position next season exponentially increase. Such a scenario would be the exact opposite of what would be best for Juve due to the abject incompetence that Pirlo has shown to date.

At the end of last season, Juve fired Maurizio Sarri after a Champions League quarterfinal loss against Lyon. The selection of Pirlo as Sarri's replacement surprised many because of Pirlo's lack of coaching experience. Pirlo had been appointed as coach of Juve's reserve team just nine days prior. Results since then have confirmed the skeptics' concerns.

With Pirlo in the dugout, Juve have failed to win Serie A for the first time since the 2010-11 season. That season, Juve had a historically dismal campaign - their worst since either 1962 when they were 13th in the league but made the European Cup quarterfinals or 1957 when they only managed to finish ninth in the league. Not surprisingly, Luigi Delneri was fired as Juve head coach at the end of the season and replaced with Antonio Conte. Conte's arrival in Turin would go on to usher in the beginning of a remarkable run of nine consecutive league titles.

During this nine-year stretch featuring Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, and Sarri in the dugout, Juve not only won the league every year; they averaged a remarkable 90 points per season while doing so. They also won four Coppa Italia titles and reached the Champions League final in 2015 and 2017. This recent record has only served to highlight just how inept Pirlo has been thus far.

Pirlo has utterly failed to adapt his tactics to suit Juve's players. This can clearly be seen in their lack of invention and creativity in the final third of the pitch; a somewhat ironic fact given that as a player, Pirlo was one of the greatest playmakers of all time. Much of Juve's play in the sharp end of the field this season can be boiled down to "give Cristiano Ronaldo the ball and hope things work". As great as Ronaldo still is even at the age of 36, there's still only so much one player can do.

Pirlo has also shown that he is a coach stuck in the past; this is shown by his selection of the 4-4-2 formation. This is a formation which has seen the game pass it by; while teams of the past have seen success with it, we now know that the 4-4-2 formation is rigid, inflexible, and often not conducive to the creation of viable goalscoring opportunities. Pirlo's insistence on this formation is also further evidence of his failure to adapt to Juve's squad; players such as Adrien Rabiot and Rodrigo Bentancur should be deployed behind the opposition midfield as part of a 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 formation. This setup would not only help Juve create more chances; it would also help them gain a larger share of possession and dictate the flow of the match.

When Juve played against Napoli last month, the consensus heading into the match was that Pirlo's job was on the line. He managed to spare himself from the axe as he led Juve to a 2-1 victory over their opponents from the south. However, as may have been the case with the Inter match, it may have been better for Juve to have lost in order to trigger the firing of Pirlo.

Regardless of Juve's final league position this season or their spot or lack thereof in next season's Champions League, Pirlo has to go as soon as this season ends. It is beyond obvious that he is completely out of his depth.

The Weekly Take, Issue 140: A Team Built for the Future

Juventus' 3-1 victory over Serie A leaders AC Milan saw the Bianconeri close the gap to their opponents to seven points. Federico Chiesa scored Juve's first two goals either side of a Davide Calabria equalizer. Substitute Weston McKennie went on to make all three points safe with a 78th-minute goal.

Although Juve still face many obstacles in their attempt to claim yet another Serie A title, there is definite cause for optimism in Turin, and not just because of this victory. Despite the fact that they might realistically finish this season empty-handed, Juve are positioned very well with regard to their future.

It will soon be time for Juve to begin the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era. The Portuguese legend will turn 36 next month; as the cliché goes, "Father Time is undefeated". Inevitably, he will soon suffer from a terminal decline in form. That being said, his supporting cast is good enough to take over once he is no longer at his best.

Juve have perhaps the most underrated midfield in world football today. Although they might not be able to boast of a genuinely world-class player in midfield right now, they can choose from a formidable selection including Chiesa, McKennie, Adrien Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Dejan Kulusevski. What's more, every one of these players except for Ramsey is aged 25 or younger. Add to that the fact that Juve are one of the few teams with enough clout to keep this young core intact for the foreseeable future, and it becomes obvious - this could serve as the foundation of a team which could really go places in the future, especially if they can turn Chiesa's loan deal from Fiorentina into a permanent one.

Of course, if Juve are to truly make a challenge for a Champions League title, they need a Ballon d'Or-level superstar who will make all the difference when the stakes are at their highest. Though they might not have such a player other than Ronaldo at the moment, they do have one who I believe will ascend to someday become a Ballon d'Or contender himself: Matthijs de Ligt. Ever since his breakout season for Ajax in 2017-18, the Dutch centre-back has quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in Serie A. At just 21, although de Ligt is still years from reaching his absolute ceiling, he has already been named to the FIFPro World11, won the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy awards, and placed in the top 10 in FIFA's The Best award rankings. Though it's still very early in his career, we could very well be witnessing the rise of one of the greatest defenders of all time.

If they keep their key players together for two to three more years while also perhaps adding another big signing next year, Juve will be an absolute force when their younger players reach their prime. Though this is probably not their year in Europe (and perhaps even domestically as well), they could be in prime position to break their quarter-century Champions League drought within the next few years.

All of that being said, however, there is one other key point which must be addressed: the man in the dugout. Since taking over as head coach at the start of the season, Andrea Pirlo has had mixed results. While Juve did finish in first place in their Champions League group, the Turin club are also in fourth place in the league even after their victory over the Rossoneri. Pirlo's tactics have not always been on point; furthermore, his reliance on the somewhat obsolete 4-4-2 formation may also be a cause for concern. As Pirlo is still in his first season in charge of Juve, there is still time for him to refine his tactical approach and further familiarize himself with the weapons he has at his disposal. However, it could easily turn out that he is simply not good enough to lead Juve to ultimate glory - only time will tell.

It may sound strange, but in this season which might see Juve miss out on the league title for the first time in a decade, the club's fans have perhaps more reason than ever before to look forward to what could be an extremely bright future.

The Weekly Take, Issue 125: Just What Is Their Future Direction?

To say that Juventus have had a turbulent off-season would be quite the understatement. Somehow, even in an off-season which was severely truncated by the Covid-19 pandemic, Juve went through more drama than most other clubs would have during an ordinary one.

Not long after the club's elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Lyon, the Turin club fired head coach Maurizio Sarri despite the fact that he had just left Juve to yet another Serie A title after fending off tough challenges from the likes of Lazio, Atalanta, and Inter Milan. Sarri would be replaced by Andrea Pirlo, the legendary midfielder who spent four years at Juventus.

The transfer window also did not go as planned for Juve. They had initially intended to sign Luis Suárez from Barcelona after it emerged that the Uruguayan was deemed surplus to requirements in Catalonia. However, before Suárez could have made the switch, he had to obtain Italian citizenship by passing an Italian exam due to rules governing the signing of players without European Union citizenship. When it turned out that the exam had been rigged, the move fell through; Suárez would end up signing for Atlético Madrid. As Juve felt that they nevertheless needed a striker, they made a last-ditch panic signing and brought in Álvaro Morata on a season-long loan deal from Atlético.

The difficulties and disruptions experienced by Juve during the past several months appear to have translated into their play. They were held to a 2-2 draw against Roma and, as has been the case on many an occasion, were saved from a loss by Cristiano Ronaldo whose two goals matched the brace scored by Roma midfielder Jordan Veretout.

It was evident throughout the match that Juve were nowhere near the level at which they are capable of playing. They seemed disjointed and discombobulated; they showed hardly any evidence of team chemistry. As has been mentioned, much of this is due to the difficult off-season which they had endured.

It should also be noted that the signings which Juve did make were likely not of sufficient benefit to the team. Their signing of Arthur from Barça was almost certainly a massive overpay at €72 million. Although this signing was part of a trade which sent Miralem Pjanić to Camp Nou, Barça sent €60 million to Juve to acquire the services of the Bosnian midfielder - a much more reasonable figure.

The Morata loan signing is also something of a head-scratcher. He has proven that at this level, he just cannot get it done. His career-highs in league goals and total goals in a season are just 15 and 20 respectively; he managed these figures for Real Madrid in the 2016-17 season. Furthermore, he has already proven that he is not suited to the style of play in Serie A; during his previous two-year stint at Juve between 2014 and 2016, he scored just 15 league goals in 63 matches. Although Morata was a signing made out of desperation more than anything else, Juve might have been better served by attempting to sign a striker like Alassane Pléa, Lucas Alario, or Gerard Moreno.

As is often the case when a new coach takes over, it could also take time for Pirlo to fully adjust to his new team and figure out the optimal tactics to be used. Since this is Pirlo's first time in such a position, his lack of experience could be exploited by opposing coaches over the course of the season; this could ultimately prove to be Juve's downfall when all is said and done.

In general, the main problem facing Juve at the moment is that they seem to have no clear direction for both their immediate future as well as the next few season. Ronaldo can't keep saving them again and again; he will be 36 in February. It's a cliché, but it's true - Father Time is undefeated. The "cliff" will come for him at some point; it could even be later this season.

It is certainly possible that they will successfully defend their Serie A title and perhaps even claim the Coppa Italia to seal the domestic double. However, based on the evidence thus far, while it's still far too early to make a complete judgment, a first Champions League title for Juve since 1996 which would also be Ronaldo's sixth appears to be an unlikely prospect at the moment.

The Weekly Take, Issue 105: Juve's Late Bloomer

Not every player emerges onto the scene with a bang. Some take their time to truly blossom and only have the best season of their career at a relatively late age. One such player added another standout performance to his breakout season; it was also one that came in a high-stakes rivalry match.

In the latest edition of the Derby d'Italia which saw Juventus and Inter Milan fighting for not only bragging rights but also a crucial victory which would aid their respective Serie A title chances, Juve emerged victorious by a 2-0 scoreline. Aaron Ramsey and Paulo Dybala scored the goals which gave the Bianconeri the win.

Ramsey had probably his best match since his off-season move to Juve from Arsenal. The Welshman not only scored the first goal but also assisted on Dybala's and was lively and active throughout the match. His performance in midfield served as the catalyst for Juve's victory which took them back to the top of Serie A. The Turin club now lead Lazio by one point.

Many had previously expected Ramsey to have a breakout season in the 2016-17 season on the heels of a series of excellent performances for Wales in their underdog run to the semifinals of Euro 2016. After leading the tournament in assists, Ramsey was named as part of the team of the tournament. However, his play for his country did not continue into the club football season; thus, he did not make the leap which many expected of him. Although he proved to be a solid contributor for Arsenal from that point until his departure in 2019, he never even came close to his level of play during Euro 2016 while playing for the Gunners.

Ramsey's departure for Juve was notable for the fact that it was a free transfer; that said, Juve were also required to pay additional costs totaling €3.7 million. In hindsight, it was a laughably low price for a player of Ramsey's level. Just to rub it in for Arsenal, Ramsey is in the midst of the best season of his career at age 29. He is now playing at his highest level since his Euro 2016 run with Wales.

One important reason why Ramsey has been able to reach the level which he has this season is the team which surrounds him. Ramsey has never had the privilege of playing with this many players on the same team who are either true superstar-level players or close to that status. Certainly, one would find it much easier to play alongside the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Miralem Pjanić, Blaise Matuidi, Paulo Dybala, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo than it would be to play with Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and Matteo Guendouzi.

Of course, simply playing with better teammates is not the only reason for Ramsey's improvement this season. His tackling and positioning on offense have noticeably improved when compared to last season, and he also seems more comfortable with the ball than he has in a long time. When combined with his already excellent off-ball movement, it can be seen why Ramsey has been such a weapon for Juve this season.

The system in which Ramsey plays at Juve also suits his style of play. Ramsey is perfectly at home within the system created by head coach Maurizio Sarri. Sarri's tactics which prioritize a high press and a quick pace of play have allowed Ramsey to play farther forward than he did at Arsenal, thus allowing him more space to operate within the final third of the pitch where he is able to do the most damage. Ramsey's strngstre are being better utilized by Sarri than they ever had been by former Arsenal head coaches Arsène Wenger and Unai Emery.

Not many players have the best season of their career at the age of 29. However, a confluence of different factors have allowed Ramsey to truly flourish at Juve and have a breakout season at this stage of his career. If Juventus are to make a successful push for the Serie A title, the Champions League title, or perhaps even both, they will need their late-blooming Welshman to continue delivering for them as he has throughout the season thus far.

The Weekly Take, Issue 102: Down to the Wire

This season's enthralling Serie A title race has taken yet another twist.

Lazio edged Inter Milan 2-1 in a crucial top-of-the-table encounter at the Stadio Olimpico allowed the Biancocelesti to overtake the Milan club in the league standings, moving up to second place. Ciro Immobile's penalty equalized for Lazio after Ashley Young had opened the scoring for the Nerazzurri just before halftime. Sergej Milinković-Savić later netted the winning goal for Lazio who are now just one point behind league leaders Juventus.

Serie A's title race this season has been truly enthralling. Juventus, Lazio, and Inter are only separated by three points after 24 matchdays. What makes this title race even more compelling is the fact that Juve have won the league every season since 2011-12. Therefore, this season provides not one, but two golden opportunities for both Lazio and Inter. Lazio have not won Serie A since the 1999-2000 season while Inter have not done so since their historic treble-winning campaign in the 2009-10 season. Thus, both these clubs not only have the opportunity to snap Juve's streak of eight consecutive Scudetti; they also would break their own title droughts by doing so.

It is interesting to note that of these three teams, only Inter made any significant moves during the recently-concluded January transfer window. Although Juventus did bring Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski for €35 million to the club, the Bianconeri immediately loaned him to Parma for the rest of the season. Juve also loaned Emre Can to Borussia Dortmund after the German midfielder lost his place in the starting 11. Lazio did not make any signings of note; neither did they lose any notable players. Inter, on the other hand, made several noteworthy changes to their squad. They signed English veteran Young from Manchester United as well as Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen from Tottenham. Inter also became the latest club to pick up frequently-loaned Chelsea winger Victor Moses on a temporary basis. Regarding departures, Inter sold Gabriel Barbosa to Flamengo and loaned Valentino Lazaro to Newcastle; although both had come to Inter as intriguing prospects, neither had quite managed to pan out at the San Siro. Barbosa had been particularly disappointing when one considers how much hype he had generated at the time of his signing for Inter.

As the final title run-in approaches, one can clearly see that each club has its advantages and disadvantages. Juve have the most star power which can be seen in players such as Matthijs de Ligt, Paulo Dybala, Giorgio Chiellini, and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Juve probably have the most difficult set of matches remaining; they still have to play against Inter, Lazio, and Roma as well as a derby match against Torino. Juve are also the only one of the three title contenders to be playing in the Champions League; thus, they will have to be the most careful with squad management.

Lazio are the only club of the three in the league title race to be no longer involved in European competition. This therefore puts them in a position allowing them to devote all of their attention to the league. However, they have by far the least experience with high-pressure title situations such as this. Thus, it would not come as a major surprise if the Roman club ended up wilting under the pressure, leaving them without their first league title in 20 years.

Inter's main advantage is that they have the best head coach of all three teams in Antonio Conte. The winner of four major league titles and three domestic cups, Conte is arguably the best tactician among all coaches in world football today. They also have probably the easiest title run-in among the title contenders. Nevertheless, although Inter made their intent to win the league evident through their many signings, there is also a possibility that these many new signings will fail to gel and derail their league title bid, their ongoing Europa League campaign, or perhaps even both.

Serie A title races with three contending teams are rare in Serie A; this is only the second time it has happened since the 2001-02 season. Regardless of whether it turns out to be the multiple-time reigning champions, the new faces, or the revived powerhouse under new coaching, whoever comes out on top will have won one of the most hard-earned Scudetti ever.

The Weekly Take, Issue 72: The Legacy Continues

In some of my previous posts, I have written about Juventus' outstanding defense, the fact that Juve have always been a club with a defense-first mentality, and their legacy of legendary defenders.

All-time greats such as Claudio Gentile, Gaetano Scirea, Gianluca Zambrotta, Giorgio Chiellini, and Leonardo Bonucci have represented the Bianconeri at the back. They have played major roles in Juve's success and development of its club identity.

Now, Juve may just have added the latest all-time defensive great to this illustrious list.

Juventus have just signed Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax for €75 million - a remarkable fee given the fact that the Dutchman is just 19 years old. However, in due time, this signing is likely to prove to be well worth the money spent.

Even at his young age, de Ligt is perhaps already the second-best centre-back in the world, only trailing his compatriot Virgil van Dijk. He is the current holder of the Golden Boy award, thus proving his immense potential and sky-high ceiling.

A product of Ajax's iconic youth academy, de Ligt has all the attributes that a defender needs in order to become one of the greats.

His tackling is arguably the best in world football today. He has no fear of aerial duels; he is comfortable in the air as well. De Ligt also has a level of defensive maturity rarely seen in a player of his age; his play might not be the most showy, but it is certainly fundamentally sound and conducive to victory. He can even be a threat on the offensive end. De Ligt is a good passer for a centre-back and has also been known to be a dangerous receiver of set-pieces.

As if all these qualities weren't already enough, de Ligt has also shown impressive leadership abilities. Evidence of this can be seen in the fact that he is the youngest captain in Ajax history. He also became the youngest player to captain a team in a Champions League match when he did so in Ajax's upset victory over Real Madrid last season, earning many plaudits in the process.

De Ligt now has the opportunity to take his game to the next level. As I earlier mentioned, Juve is a club with a long and distinguished history of defensive legends. Thus, it is one of the best clubs for a young defender to join.

De Ligt's arrival in Turin might also prove to be just what Juve need in order to land their first Champions League title since 1996.

While Juve already had an impressive starting back four last season which consisted of Chiellini, Alex Sandro, Bonucci, and João Cancelo, the man from Leiderdorp may have elevated Juventus' defense from merely being elite to arguably the best on the planet.

Of course, de Ligt is not Juve's only major signing of the current off-season. They've brought in Adrien Rabiot, Aaron Ramsey, and Luca Pellegrini, among others. However, it's obvious that de Ligt is the real game-changer among these signings.

This signing also came at an important time for Juve. With Cristiano Ronaldo now being 34 years old, he will soon be on his last legs. Thus, it was important that Juve sign a player who could potentially go on to become the next cornerstone of the team - a player great enough to lead Juve to not only multiple Serie A titles, but one or more Champions League titles as well. De Ligt might very well be that player, especially if he goes on to play for Juve for a decade or more - a distinct possibility, given all that surrounds him at the moment.

It's somewhat clichéd to say this, but it is nonetheless true: "offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships." Juve as a club have clearly taken this saying to heart over the years. A great defense is often the foundation of any great team.

Such defenses are often led by one overpowering, commanding figure, and for now and in the coming years, Juve might have obtained such a figure in Matthijs de Ligt. Although he might not have played even one game for the reigning Italian champions, based on what he has already shown, he may have made Juventus the favourites to win the Champions League this season.

The Weekly Take, Issue 60: The Emptiest of League Title Victories

It is not often the case that when a team wins a league title in one of the major football leagues, the victory ends up being hollow and largely devoid of meaning.

Yet, that is exactly what has happened to Juventus this season.

In their latest Serie A match, the Bianconeri, who have already clinched the league title, only managed a 1-1 draw against Inter Milan in the season’s last Derby d’Italia.

As is often the case with teams which no longer have any meaningful matches to play, Juve seemed to play with little spirit and desire and were outplayed by the Nerazzurri for most of the match. Only the 600th club goal of Cristiano Ronaldo’s legendary career prevented a Juve loss.

When Juve look back at how their season unfolded, they will surely regard it as a failure despite winning Serie A.

At the beginning of the season, Juve were among the teams with a genuine chance of winning a Treble. However, this would not even come close to materializing.

In January, Juve suffered a stunning 3-0 upset loss against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals. This loss to the underdogs from Bergamo meant that the Turin-based juggernaut would fail to win the cup for the first time since 2014. Coincidentally, Juve were also knocked out in the quarterfinals that year.

Juve’s Champions League exit this season was arguably an even bigger shock.

Having drawn the first leg of their quarterfinal tie against Ajax 1-1, Juve headed back to Italy in command of the tie. Although they did not win their first-leg match, they were already the heavy favourites to advance to the semifinals. The fact that they had been able to bag an away goal in Amsterdam further bolstered their position.

However, in an astonishing turn of events, the Dutch club scored a 2-1 victory in the second leg to knock Juventus out of the tournament.

When the season commenced, it was obvious that Juve were eyeing the Champions League more than any other title. This was understandable, as they had not won the tournament since 1996; the years since then had been littered with near-misses including four losses in the final. With this fact in mind, Juve spent heavily during the off-season. Players such as Emre Can, Douglas Costa, Leonardo Bonucci, and of course, Ronaldo were brought in. Juve spent the eye-popping total of €239.9 million, of which €100 million was expended to bring in Ronaldo, on player signings – a figure that most clubs could only dream of and a clear signal that they were hell-bent on bringing the continental title to Turin for the first time in 23 years. Unfortunately for Juve, even this massive outlay for Juve would prove insufficient.

What makes this even more galling for Juve is that this may have been their best chance to win it all for quite some time. Had they advanced to the semifinals, they would have been favoured to beat Tottenham. In the final, they would have played against either Barcelona or Liverpool. These are both teams against which Juve would have had a genuine chance of winning.

It is interesting to note the massive margin by which Juve won the Serie A title. With just four matchdays remaining, Juve have an insurmountable 18-point lead over second-placed Napoli. Yet, this may be part of the cause of their failings in Europe this season.

The fact that Juve have been unchallenged in the league all season long has allowed them to coast for large portions of the season. This has led to their relative lack of sharpness in the Champions League, while teams who have faced stern fights in their own domestic league, such as Tottenham and Liverpool, have been able to parlay this continued high-level, high-effort play into European competition and make deep Champions League runs.

So, as strange as it may sound, if Juve are to win next season’s Champions League, they may need Napoli, Inter Milan, and AC Milan to step up.

Juve’s feat of winning eight consecutive Serie A titles, as well as their large margin of victory this season, does deserve due credit.

However, a season that yields a league title, a Coppa Italia quarterfinal, and a Champions League quarterfinal does not even approach what Juventus would consider a successful one.

The Weekly Take, Issue 40: Another Defensive Masterpiece

The latest edition of the Derby d’Italia finished with the result many expected – a Juventus victory. Mario Mandžukić scored the only goal of the game to sink Inter Milan and extend Juve’s Serie A lead to a massive 11 points.

However, the real stars of the match were Juve’s back four, who collectively produced an outstanding defensive performance, completely neutralising the threat posed by the likes of Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perišić. João Cancelo, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, and Mattia De Sciglio simply would not allow themselves to be beaten by a scrappy Nerazzurri.

Cancelo played arguably his best game for Juventus since signing for the Bianconeri this past off-season. The Portuguese right-back tormented his former club throughout the match with two interceptions and successful tackles apiece, while also helping out on offense by setting up Mandžukić’s goal.

Having returned to Juve after spending a year at AC Milan, Bonucci has shown that he hasn’t missed a beat, and his performance this game was no exception. His steady defensive play and superior technical ability for a centre-back shone through in this game, and indeed, has done so all season long. Bonucci’s centre-back partnership with Chiellini clearly helped set the tone for Juve’s victory.

Chiellini was the clear man of the match. In a previous post, I already wrote about Giorgio Chiellini’s defensive excellence, so I won’t go into too much detail here. Nevertheless, the Pisa-born defender was in top form. Thanks to his efforts, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny was largely untroubled throughout the match. Chiellini also caused trouble at the other end, posing an aerial threat and coming close to scoring with some headers. The 34-year-old once again defied his age, looking like a man a decade younger.

Deputising for the injured Alex Sandro, De Sciglio was clearly unfazed by the magnitude of the occasion. Despite playing in just his fourth league game of the season, the former AC Milan left-back was composed and assured until the final whistle. His defensive play on Kwadwo Asamoah and Perišić was especially impressive.

Although the majority of the headlines regarding Juve this season have been about Cristiano Ronaldo, the five-time World Player of the Year has not had as much impact on Juve’s success as have his teammates at the back.

The four defenders who played against Inter, as well as Alex Sandro and backups Medhi Benatia and Andrea Barzagli, have all been absolutely terrific this season.

This Juve defense has established itself as arguably the finest in world football. Over 20 Serie A and Champions League games thus far this season, Juventus have conceded just 10 goals – the lowest figure by any team from one of the four major leagues.

Although it may not be as glamorous as offense, defense is half the game. A solid defense will set the foundation for the rest of the team to take off.

Every backline wants to develop something of an “aura” around them; a general expectation that there is no striker alive that they can’t stop. The current Juventus defense are well on their way to doing so.

Club legends Chiellini and Bonucci have already developed such a reputation, while Cancelo, Alex Sandro, and others have certainly contributed to this formidable defense.

They may not hog the headlines the way that Ronaldo, Mandžukić, and Paulo Dybala do, but without them, Juve would not even be close to the team they are now.

Unlike many other teams, Juve clearly put much emphasis on and take much pride in their defense, and it clearly shows.

It should not come as a surprise that Juventus have taken a defense-first approach; after all, this is a club that has had some of the greatest defenders of all time on its roster, such as Fabio Cannavaro, Claudio Gentile, Jürgen Kohler, Paolo Montero, Lilian Thuram, Gianluca Zambrotta, and many others.

Juventus will almost certainly win Serie A for the eighth consecutive season and remain among the favourites to clinch their third Champions League title.

While the exploits of their attacking trio will go a long way in helping them achieve this target, this team’s success begins and ends with their remarkable defense – one which no striker on the planet will look forward to facing.

The Weekly Take, Issue 6: The Great Wall of Turin

Juventus have advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals after beating Tottenham Hotspur 4-3 on aggregate. The Bianconeri won the second leg at Wembley by a score of 2-1.

Naturally, as the scorer of the winning goal, Paulo Dybala will receive the majority of the attention and command the most headlines.

However, he was not the Juventus player most responsible for their victory.

Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini had an absolute masterpiece of a game to lead the Italian club to victory.

In an utterly dominant defensive performance, he had four successful tackles, three blocks, and 13 clearances, and also won all four of his aerial duels.

His man-marking and positional play was on point all night long, and his outstanding defensive play almost completely shut down the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, and Dele Alli.

On top of that, even though last week I railed against intentional fouling, in the context of the current rules, even his yellow card was a positive play, as Alli was about to launch a dangerous counter-attack before he was ruthlessly chopped down by Chiellini.

In his 13 years at Juventus, it is unlikely that Chiellini has produced a better individual performance.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that his performance against Tottenham was one of the best individual displays in a football match that I have ever seen, whether offensive or defensive.

This is why it’s such a shame that, because of his defensive role, his immense contributions will largely be overshadowed.

Defenders will often receive much criticism if their team concedes many goals, and rightly so.

However, if the team wins, the defenders almost never get the praise they deserve – that often goes to the “glamour” positions: attacking midfielders, wingers, and, of course, centre-forwards.

Unfortunately for clubs like Juventus, who pride themselves on being a defensive powerhouse, this works against them in the eyes of the public, as their defense-first approach does not predispose them to public acclaim, regardless of the tremendous skill displayed in their defensive play.

Many people will criticise defensive-minded teams for playing “ugly football”, but this is an unfair categorisation.

Why shouldn’t a defensive approach be held in the same regard as an offensive one?

Great defense can be equally as exciting to watch as great offense.

Think of a last-ditch goal-line clearance, a fingertip save from a difficult position, or a ferocious, clattering tackle.

Are those not entertaining to watch?

Furthermore, some of the greatest football teams of all time favoured a defensive approach.

Think of teams like Italy’s 1982 World Cup-winning team, the AC Milan team that won three Champions Leagues between 1989 and 1994, and, of course, the godfather of defensive-minded teams: Helenio Herrera’s legendary Grande Inter team of the 1960s, which won two European crowns by pioneering the iconic playstyle that came to be known as “catenaccio”.

But more important than that, defense is half the game. It’s not as if it takes more skill to excel in attacking play than defensive play.

No team in their right mind would say that attack is more important than defense.

Yet, that’s how the vast majority of fans act.

The more fans heap credit upon goalscorers while at the same time ignoring defenders, the more this situation will be perpetuated.

FIFA is guilty of this too.

Not since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 has a defender been named the world’s best player.

However, dominant defensive performances like Chiellini’s against Tottenham deserve to be lauded just as much as an outstanding offensive performance.

Chiellini set the tone for a dogged, determined Juventus team as they ground down a talented but tactically-lacking Tottenham.

His play clearly got into the heads of the Tottenham players, with players such as Harry Kane missing chances they normally would have had no problems converting.

Ultimately, that’s what great defenders do. It’s not about directly preventing opposing strikers from scoring, as much as it is about sowing the seeds of doubt in their minds every time they touch the ball.

That is exactly what Giorgio Chiellini did.

It’s time to rethink what is considered “entertaining”, “beautiful”, or even the cliché of “good football”.

An approach that prioritises defense can easily be all those things and then some, as Giorgio Chiellini and Juventus have demonstrated.

It’s time for the unsung heroes of football to start getting their due.