The Champions League journey is finally over, and from the original goal at the beginning of the season, it has reached the minimum requirements of the round of sixteen. However, judging from the process, this way of ending is a bit disappointing, even angry.
Expected results, disappointing processes
Almost no one would believe that Juventus can make a difference in this season's Champions League. How can the Zebras, who are still struggling to save four in their own league, still have the energy to take care of the Champions League? What's more, this arena has gradually become the opposite under the influence of the European Super League, but it has to participate in it. After all, if you want to "revolution," you also need money. Entering the Champions League is the most basic guarantee of funds.
UEFA has also done its best to be "benevolent", and this year it still arranged a relatively weak opponent for you. Previously, it had been blocked out of the top eight for two consecutive years, and they were all similar opponents, but they all became the opponent's big gift package. The principle of not having done anything more than three should have been followed, and Juventus should have learned its lesson from top to bottom and struck a blow to the spirit of the twelve. But in their own home field, in the final stage of the game, send points + collapse, the Bianconeri, which has always been known for its "bloodiness", can not even occupy the side now.
You can lose, but you can't lose so badly. Think back to the heart-pounding counterattack at the Bernabeu in 2018, that game, from the pre-match wait-and-see, to the surprise at the time of the game, to the anger at the end of the game, the process is interlocked and wonderful. Although they were all eliminated, they left with their heads held high and proud this time. And this time, a penalty, a ball behind, is completely pulled down. Is this still the Juventus we know?
No wonder who was on the team four years ago? Mandzukic's quick double-stroke boosted morale, and it is not an exaggeration to call him a spiritual leader. Buffon, before Benatia stretches his feet, is the last natural barrier for the team to play. What now? Who? Chiellini was unable to start, could not convey the spirit to the players on the pitch, and Bonucci could not even enter the big list. De Ligt was still too young, and the last moment to stop the gun hole was his biggest limit. Vlahovich has long been isolated, and Morata does not seem to have too much leadership. Who else can you expect to stand up for the players at that time? Artur? Rabiot? What player was four years ago and what player is it now?
No one available? Whose pot?
Many people feel that the failure of this game is a tactical misconduct. Maybe, but I think the root cause is that there is no one available. Alegri, who had the juventus god-level on-site dispatching ability, if there was no one, naturally could not be dispatched, and could only play a set of lineups to the end.
This is not an excuse for Allegri, because of the large area of injuries, the coach is also responsible. At one point this season, Juventus' injury list could come up with another starting line-up. There are also the main players of the team, such as Chiesa, Zakaria, Chiellini, Bonucci, Dybala and so on. Leaving aside injuries in the game, a considerable part of the injuries come from training. Should this have something to do with the way coaches train? I don't know if the quarrel between Dybala and Allegri stemmed from this, after all, Dybala's delay in contract renewal also has a lot to do with his own frequent injuries.
The construction of a team is not only about the expenses of the front-end players. Logistical support construction is also very important. Whether a player has a "glass" attribute, your medical team is going to know in advance. In training, whether a certain way is suitable for each player, your medical team is going to make constructive suggestions. But in recent years, the team has always brought in players such as Ramsey, Khedira and other players who charge one hour and talk for two minutes, who is at fault? I guess it's not just Marotta and Paratic's fault. For the treatment of injured players, it is always repeated, is it not the responsibility of your medical team? Dybala is a good example.
So, the team is a whole, not just as simple as we see on the surface, it is more like a company, each department plays its own function and role, interlocking. Juventus is currently more of a top-heavy company that needs human diagnosis to solve its problems.
Who can relieve their worries? The bell had to be tied to the ringer, and Agnelli had to think about it.
(Ohashi Jun)