Juventus bank on Sarri’s style to end CL title drought
MAJOR OVERHAUL The 35-time Italian champions are looking for another style of football which will deliver a first European title in nearly a quarter of a century
Maurizio Sarri’s first game on the Juventus bench was an unremarkable affair—a goalless draw against Fiorentina failing to set tone before the Italian giants launch their do-or-die Champions League campaign in Spain.
The 60-year-old Sarri arrived this season as part of a major overhaul of the 35-time Italian champions, who are looking for another style of football which will deliver a first European title in nearly a quarter of a century.
The stakes are high for Juventus who have spent big to bolster their supporting cast around five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo last season, while former Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt signed this summer—stars from the two teams that knocked the Italians out of Europe the past two seasons.
Sarri’s first weeks have been blighted by his bout of pneumonia and his side still need to click into gear with their European opener against Atletico Madrid looming on Wednesday.
“It has taken time to get them into the rhythm of the game. We’re not at the top physically yet,” conceded Sarri after the match against Fiorentina.
A tough Group D awaits with Bayer Leverkusen and Lokomotiv Moscow also in wait as Juventus attempt to lift the trophy for a third time after 1985 and 1996.
Sarri’s appointment in place of Massimiliano Allegri, who delivered Juventus’s last five Serie A titles, had been a surprising choice. The former Napoli coaches’ first trophy in a 30-year managerial career was with Chelsea in last season’s Europa League. Allegri paid for failure in Europe leading the seven-time Champions League finalists to runners-up places in 2015 and 2017. But club bosses want a more attractive fast-paced eyecatching style of football in an attempt to increase their fan base outside of Italy.
As they chase their European dream, the gamble could backfire at home. Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan have served notice of their intentions to end Juventus’s eight-year reign in Italy.
Inter Milan are top of Serie A after three games with Juventus two points behind.
As at Chelsea, Sarri will need time for his methods to take hold among the new squad of players.
“We are at a stage where rotating is difficult, because we are finding our identity and our structure,” said Sarri.
Apart from Gianluigi Buffon’s return after a season at Paris Saint-Germain, most of Juventus’s signings are young. Dutch defender de Ligt, 19, arrived for €75 million along with defenders Danilo and Merih Demiral. Mid
field has been strengthened with PSG’s Adrien Rabiot and former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey.
Last season had appeared to be Juve’s best chance at ending their long wait for European success.
Ronaldo was hailed as the final piece in the jigsaw as he arrived on a €100 million deal, plus €30 million a year.