Allegri’s return makes Juve the team to beat again
As thousands lined the streets of Rome on the day after Italy’s win in the Euro 2020 final to applaud their returning heroes, it was tempting not to recall the “Triumphus” (Roman Triumph) once held by the Emperors of Ancient Rome on their return from a successful foreign campaign.
With both state president Sergio Mattarella and prime minister Mario Draghi holding enthusiastic state receptions for the team, it was absolutely clear that no one was underestimating the importance of the moment. Socially, culturally, economically and, of course in strict football terms, this was a terrific post-COVID triumph that Italy badly needed.
Starved of meaningful international success for the last 11 years (since Jose Mourinho’s Inter won the 2010 Champions League), once dominant Italian football has had to eat industrial quantities of humble pie in a world dominated by the economic power of the Premier League. Then, too, in Italy (and elsewhere) this Euro 2020 success was inevitably seen as much more than a football match, rather as a victory for the European Union over Brexit Britain – even if that obviously makes no football sense.
As we prepare for the new Serie A season, we have to acknowledge that Euro 2020 represented a huge morale boost for both Italian football in general and for Serie A in particular. Just look at
What to say of the new season? Surprise, surprise, no side goes into it looking stronger than Juventus
some of the Euro stats: only players from one club – English champions Manchester City – featured in more games at the finals than those from Juventus, the powerhouse of Italian football.
Of course, those numbers are significantly boosted by the fact that we had an Italy v England final, but it is still good news for Serie A. As is the consideration that little Atalanta had nine players at the finals, with five of them getting on the scoresheet – namely Miranchuk (Russia), Gosens (Germany), Pasalic (Croatia), Maehle (Denmark) and Pessina (Italy).
If Mancini’s Italy represents the new face of the Azzurri, then Atalanta represent the new face of Serie A today. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side play an intense and high-tempo attacking game that, at times, has much in common with Mancini’s Italy.
What to say of the new season? Surprise, surprise, no side goes into it looking stronger than Juventus. With Massimiliano Allegri back as coach after a two-year break, Cristiano Ronaldo
staying, Federico Chiesa and Italy captain, Giorgio Chiellini, “gassed up” from their Euro 2020 win, and Paolo Dybala feeling that he has something to prove, Juventus start the new season as favourites to resume their almost decade-long dominance of Serie A.
On top of all that, it is not impossible that Juventus will strengthen their midfield with the acquisition of Euro 2020 hero Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo. Also, undaunted by the failure of the European Super League project, in July, Juventus announced a €400m ($476m) capital increase.
Obviously, reigning champions Inter will pose a serious challenge to the Old Lady. However, the departure of key figures in last season’s winning side, namely coach Antonio Conte and wing-back Achraf Hakimi (Paris SaintGermain for €68m), does not bode well.
New coach Simone Inzaghi inherits a very strong squad containing attacking duo Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez, plus Marcelo Brozovic, Stefan de Vrij and Milan Skriniar, not to mention Euro 2020 winners Nicolo Barella and Alessandro Bastoni as well as new signing, Hakan Calhanoglu, a free transfer from Milan.
[Antonio] Conte left [Inter] just days after winning the title, reportedly because the club’s Chinese owners, Suning, need to run a very tight ship this year...Will more players be sold?
However, his predecessor Conte left the club just days after winning the title, reportedly because the club’s Chinese owners, Suning, need to run a very tight ship this year after a €3.9bn loss for the year 2020.
Will more players be sold?
In the absence of Inter, who is left as a serious challenger? Is it too fanciful to think that Atalanta, thirdplace finishers in the last three seasons, could be contenders? Will last season’s runners-up, Milan, still featuring the evergreen 39-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic and led by Stefano Pioli, climb one extra wrung up the ladder? Will Napoli, now coached by Luciano Spalletti and led by (currently injured) all-time top scorer, Dries Mertens, finally realise the promise of recent seasons?
On top of all that, in a Serie A that has seen 11 coaching changes, there is the return of “Special One” Jose Mourinho. Greeted with street murals and wild excitement by Roma fans, Mourinho was presented to the media on a hot July morning at Rome Town Hall, overlooking the ancient Roman Forum. Asked why he had returned to Italy, he quoted the Emperor Marcus Aurelius whose statue stands just around the corner: “Nulla viene dal
nulla” – nothing comes from nothing and nothing returns to nothing.
If nothing else, it looks like the quality of manager press conferences around here is destined to improve in the new season.