Juventus deliver masterclass
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Turin club cruises into final, but Monaco’s young guns happy to make their mark in the big league
Monaco still has much to learn. Juventus was a class apart in both legs of the Champions League semifinals, with its veteran defence stifling the French league club’s much-vaunted attack. Even more, it was the 34-year-old Dani Alves who inspired the Bianconeri to reach its second final in three years.
“We are very happy because for a lot of these players it’s their first experience at this level, playing in the Champions League semifinals,” Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said. “I told the players after that I was very proud and happy.
“Many of these players are going to arrive at a very high level. Our opponent’s youngest player was (Paulo) Dybala, who is 23. Ours is 18 and we have a lot of players who are 21, 22, 23, and I think that is the difference. In a few years, this team will be 30 percent stronger.”
That 18-year-old player is Kylian Mbappe, the France forward who wasn’t even born when Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made his Serie A debut in 1995.
Mbappe, who was playing in the reserves in November, has had a spectacular season. The teenager scored again on Tuesday, netting Monaco’s consolation goal in the 2-1 loss to take his tally to 25 for the season.
“My goal against Buffon was pointless really, it’s pretty much just anecdotal,” Mbappe said.
If Monaco is a work in progress, Juventus is an example of what it can aspire to become as the Italian leaders bid for the treble.
The Italian team is likely to secure an unprecedented sixth straight Serie A title on Sunday at Roma, while it is also in the Italian Cup final.
The club failed in its treble attempt two years ago when it lost to Barcelona in the Champions League final. This time, it could be Juventus’ year, especially after it eased past the Catalan team 3-0 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.
“Second Champions League final in three years. It’s a great achievement,” Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci said. “We have grown in respect to two years ago, when we were a surprise. Now we’re a certainty.” Barcelona side that beat Juventus in 2015, the last time the Turin club contested a Champions League final.
the Old Lady’s campaign fabulously. He contributed in each of Juve’s four semifinal goals, scoring the last with an instinctive volley.
joining Juventus on a free transfer from the Catalan club, his Champions League experience — having won three titles with Barcelona — has been vital in Juve reaching the Champions league final.
(Mandzukic 33, Alves 44) beat
(Mbappe 69) out striker in previous clubs, often the target man of the free-scoring Bayern Munich side that won the 2013 Champions League.
Italian-record signing Gonzalo Higuain at Juve, Mandzukic has had to alter his style of play, filling in at left wing and often dropping back as an extra wing back to help with defensive duties
since joining Juve in 2015 but his tremendous work-rate and ability to fall back and defend have made him one of the most important members of Massimiliano
Allegri’s team.