Old Lady will rise from the ashes
> Process of mental recovery awaits Juve but their trademark grit should help them remain in the elite league of champions
JUVENTUS ADDED a seventh dark dot on their map of Champions League finals last Saturday in Cardiff, where powerhouse Real Madrid hammered them 4-1 to lift a recordextending 12th trophy.
It was the Bianconeri’s heaviest defeat in their nine finals and left them chasing a trophy they last lifted, for the second time, in 1996.
Juve’s prospects were good going into the game unbeaten with just three goals conceded in the campaign and having won domestic league and cup for a second successive season.
But they managed to match Real only in the first half, levelling from Mario Mandzukic and then failing to keep the switch of pace from the Spanish champions.
What a downfall! titled the daily newspaper Corriere dello Sport on Sunday, while La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote “Higuain and Dybala disappeared – What a black-out for BBC,” noting the poor showing of Argentinian strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala as the famed defence trio Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini failed to contain ace Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portugal star opened the scoring on the first telling attack of the Spanish champions and struck again for 3-1 to tally his 12 goal in the event, virtually securing his fifth Golden Ball.
Juve goalkeeping captain Gianluigi Buffon, at 39 a valid candidate for the award in case of victory, spoke of “massive disappointment” after losing his third final.
“In the first half our approach was spot on and we had Real on the ropes,” Buffon said.
“We put a lot of running in but we weren’t always clever with it and couldn’t take the lead.”
Juve, as it often happens, reaped less than what they sowed due to their lack of precision, which proved fatal against the ruthless Spaniards.
Game stats showed five shots on target for Real, just one more than Juve, but Keylor Navas had to make one telling dive to deny Miralem Pjanic, while Buffon saw the opponents’ shot fly clinically into the corners, with help from team-mate Sami Khedira’s deflection as Casemiro fired for 21.
“You need someone like that who scores the goals,” said Real midfielder Toni Kroos of Ronaldo, a reminder of what football is about that Juve often seem to ignore as they focus on tactics.
Coach Massimiliano Allegri tried to limit the psychological damage of the defeat and promised he will stay on at Juve to keep pursuing the trophy.
“We played a beautiful first half but Real accelerated in the second and we became static,” was the tactician’s analysis.
Providing prompt moral support was crucial also for president Andrea Agnelli, who talked to his players on the pitch ahead of the award ceremony.
“It’s my task to assess the season and we’re very proud of what we’ve done this year,” Agnelli said.
“We’re proud because we’ve grown over the last seven years and we’re now up there with the best in Europe.
“I hugged all the lads tonight. Next year we must be even more determined. Anyone who thinks we’ll be lacking in motivation had better think again.
“Our pride will motivate us to keep growing, day after day, year after year.” – dpa