The age of vincibility: Fight for supremacy in Europe: Part1- Juventus

The RedBrothersUnited collective presents a look at the possible contenders for the fight for supremacy in Europe. This is the first article of the series tracing Juventus past, present and their odds in coming future.

Very few modern day football teams have had a journey as unpredictable as Juventus. From their Serie B demotion in 2006 because of the “Calciopoli” scandal that saw them being linked to one of the five clubs involved in match fixing, to them going unbeaten for the entire season in 2011/12, and a year later winning their record 29th Scudetto, more than any other Italian club.

The Calciopoli scandal

Following the match fixing scandal, Juventus were stripped of two league titles and also demoted to Serie B for the first time in the club’s history. The Turin side was promoted back to the first division next year, but never quite to their old ways.

Manager

The Bianconeri switched between six managers in the next five seasons, Claudio Ranieri a noteworthy mention among them, with a scrutiny of instability at hand in the team and, there forth, to the club. In the summer of 2011, the Italian giants brought back Antonio Conte, this time filling the ever-challenging managerial shoes despite having the least experience of coaching such a massive club, as compared to his formers.

With the homecoming of a previous captain, now newly-turned manager, Juventus went unbeaten for the full season, becoming the first Italian team to do so in the modern 38-game format, winning 23 along with 15 draws. This was their first recognised Serie A title in more than nine years, since 2002/03. In Conte’s second season in charge of the Bianconeri, they satisfyingly defended their league title.

Style of play and formation

The Old Lady have been settled into playing a 3-5-2 formation and are on verge of perfecting it. The coming of order and balance to their game has favourably resulted in victories for the club.

The basic 3-5-2 generally includes three centre-backs, a ball-playing midfielder, a holding midfielder and a creative midfielder – thus combining to form a three-man midfield line – along with two wing-backs providing crosses to the twin strikers up front and pushing back to cover their defensive line.

In recent times, Juventus have included possession play in their game plan, making the Old Lady more effective than previously. Italians have always been considered masterminds of tactical football and, being the most successful club in the country, Juventus truly live up to their reputation. Constant repositioning of players on the pitch to form triangles is the most important feature in keeping possession, something which they are now accustomed to.

New additions

It was visible to all that even though Juventus have been playing good, attractive football for a consistent period of time now, they still lack that firepower in the forward areas.

With the addition of Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente further supplemented by that of Carlos Tevez for a minimal fee of £10million, Conte has shown that the Turin club can accomplish wonderful things.

The two summer signings could well prove to be fruitful and might ideally fit the twin-striker system that the Bianconeri play in their 3-5-2 formation for most weeks of the season. Their pairing will see two vastly different styles of striker blending together – with the Spaniard’s physicality and the Argentine’s creativity and energy – which could make them one of the most popular pairings in Europe.

There is another plausible school of thought; to play Sebastian Giovinco and Llorente up front with Tevez in behind, filling in the ’1′ position in a 3-4-1-2 formation, which the Argentine was playing in his latter part of his career at Manchester United

Key player

Andrea Pirlo. At the age of 34, he still remains their key man and undoubtedly the player which has the biggest influence on the game. His involvement changes not only Juventus’ tactics but also the opposition’s.

It is not hidden to any for a time now that teams playing in European competition have been making their game-plans in accordance with Pirlo, the popular example of that being last year’s Champions League group-stage match versus Chelsea, in which he was man-marked by Oscar. This has been effective to some extent, yet not completely.

Scoring goals is just one way of winning a game, controlling it is another, and Pirlo is a genius in that sense; in its truest sense. When to play long passes, when to play short passes; when to slow the tempo of the game and when to shoot and make it count. Pirlo knows the perfect time to do the perfect thing on a football field.

New stars

One team’s loss is another country’s gain. This is the perfect way to describe Paul pogba and what he now means to his new club. Leaving Manchester United at the early age of 18, when he was being offered a new first-team contract, at the time looked like a lifelong mistake, but one he chose to make. He embraced it with both hands.

Since his arrival in Italy, Pogba has shaken off the opinions of his critics and cemented a place for himself in a midfield which was already star-studded with a couple of world-class players and a pure legend.

The future looks bright and healthy for this young Frenchman and he will play an integral part of Juventus’ chances in the fight for supremacy of Europe. His introduction to the side has given the Bianconeri much-needed creativity and firepower in their attacking options, which will be crucial in continental competition.

Conclusion

A heavy midfield, yet Pirlo stands key. A quick replacement is definitely required, as he will soon enter a phase when he begins to consider retirement.

Although Claudio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal and Pogba have shown enough promise, which they have delivered consistently, Pirlo exhibits a different dimension which has been crafted over the years. The final-ball specialist; Mozart, as they call him.

The Old Lady knows how important the 34-year-old has been since joining from rivals AC Milan, winning back to back Juventus player of the season awards.

Europe is unlike Serie A. They earned the Scudetto in 2011/12 with 15 draws from their 38 matches. In Europe you can not draw so many games. Juventus look a dominant force now with Tevez and Llorente adding to their frontline, and they are all set to make an impact once again in the Champions League. What are their chances depends on how is they implement their game-plan.

Interesting players, interesting formation. All odds favouring them. Conte has shaped this team beautifully.

RedBrothersUnited are Anand Sindhu, Pawan Sharma and Akshay Agarwal.