In May 2006 Juventus were linked to a Serie A match fixing scandal, the result of which saw the club relegated to Serie B for the first time in their history. It was unquestionably the lowest point in the club’s history, and to make matters worse they were stripped of the two titles won in 2005 and 2006. The Calciopli scandal rocked the club, yet the Old Lady has returned and in scintillating fashion.
Juventus are the most decorated of Italian sides and opinion on them is divided; you either love them or you hate them.
After Calciopoli and relegation to Serie B, the club won promotion immediately, with players such as Buffon, Nedved and top scorer Del Piero willing to stay to bring the Old Lady back to the top. In their first seasons back they finished 3rd and 2nd and it appeared that Calciopoli had been merely a blip on the great Juve. However after sacking Claudio Ranieri the appointments of Ciro Ferrara, Alberto Zaccheronias and Luigi Delneri did not bring back success to the Old Lady and it was appearing that perhaps Calciopoli had indeed taken it’s toll on the club. That was until May 2011, when the club hired former captain Antonio Conte. And the rest they say is history.
Conte had won Serie B championships with Bari and Siena before arriving back to his old side, where he was a tough tackling midfielder for 13 seasons in Turin. He had arrived home, and with his return he brought determination and self belief to a side which had seemingly lost it’s way in the past few seasons. With the monopoly that Milan have had on the league in Juve’s absence, was this the man to take the title back to Turin?
A scripted story
The story of this season could not have been written better. A new era was ushered in with the opening of the new, 41,000 stadium, which the club president Andrea Agnelli believes will improve the club's poor finances and allow it to finance the club for the future. In a touching move, the first game took place between Juve and Notts County, the side which gave Juve the black and white stripes, thanks to John Savage in 1903 who brought shirts of County over with him in his time playing in Turin. They have worn those colours ever since.
It seemed that a new period of Juventus was underway, yet the season would not be as easy as their record indicates. The acquisition of Andrea Pirlo from Milan appeared in retrospect to be a masterstroke, yet Conte was not sure, he did not see Pirlo fitting into his 4-2-4 system of which so much success came for Bari and Siena. Yet a comprehensive 4-1 defeat of Parma in the opening game, with Pirlo very much the architect, in front of a full house in Turin, was a very impressive start to the season.
The past is not the future
The past is not the future
However, in early October 2011, the president, Agnelli made an announcement which would shock the club, not necessarily what he said, but the manner in which he said it. He announced that this would be Del Piero’s last season. It was a real shock, for the player and the fans, and it appeared Agnelli's way of showing everyone that the Agnelli family was top dog in this club and that even a player like Del Piero was not untouchable. It was quite a remarkable statement, not just because of the god like status that Del Piero has, but because Conte’s side were top of Serie A, having won all their games. As these things often do, performances were affected and the following two games resulted in draws, it appeared that Agnelli had made a fatal error in his show of muscle.
Conte too conservative?
Conte too conservative?
Although Juventus were top from the first game all the way to February, there were mumblings that although this side were undefeated, their manager was too conservative. His initial 4-2-4 was replaced with a 4-3-3 in order to accommodate Pirlo’s talents, of which he certainly blossomed in the role, covered by the willing runners of Marchisio and Vidal. However, too many draws from November to February meant that Milan overtook them in the league for the first time in the season. Questions were being asked Conte, a club legend for sure, yet there worries that he was out of his depth to manage this club.
On March 25th Juventus were seven points behind AC Milan and were about to play Inter. Although they had won their previous game against Fiorentina, in the previous seven they had won only once and drawn the rest. Criticism of Conte and his defensive mentality was beginning to pick up pace and from what seemed like destiny to win the Scudetto, was now looking like capitulation. Many were saying he was caring too much about not losing, trying to maintain his undefeated record, than trying to win games.
This game would change the fortunes of the side and of Conte and would bring back the legend Del Piero to galvanise the team. At half time against Inter it was scoreless, and Milan appeared set to extend their lead at the top. What Conte would do at half time would reignite Juve’s season and put them back on course for the title. He changed his 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2, removing Matri and bringing on Del Piero. The game changed course and Juve began to dominate, substitute Martin Caceres scored and a goal from Del Piero would seal the win, a tactical masterstroke and astute substitution’s would give Jive the three points and which would propel them on a six game winning streak, beating Napoli, Lazio and Roma along the way. This run would put them back on top again and they wouldn’t look back all season. In those eight games following Inter, Juventus dropped only two points, a draw to Lecce, thanks to a late error by Buffon, which if they had won would have brought Juve the trophy. As it was they had to wait one more game, yet they had done it. And they had done it unbeaten.
Invincibles
Juventus were at times this season simply brilliant, and importantly they did it as a team. This is perhaps Conte’s greatest achievement this season. The acquisitions of Pirlo, Vucinic, Lichsteiner, Matri and Vidal were all important players in the accomplishments of the team. Juve only conceded 20 goals this season in the league, to put it into perspective, Milan conceded 33, Man City 29, Madrid 32, Barca 29. The closest were Dortmund (25) and Bayern (22). What an achievement, less than any other team in any other league, averaging almost two a game, while keeping 21 clean sheets. The old adage of defence wins championships is very true and none so more than here. A defence of Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli and Lichstiener with Buffon behind them was as formidable as anything else out there.
Up top only one player finished with double figures, Matri, with 10 goals, meaning that their other 58 goals came from a large number of players. Juve got goals from 20 different players this season, a remarkable testament to the work of Conte in his ability to build a team, one who attacks and defends together.
Mr Juventus
Special mention must go to Del Piero, a bit part player for much of the season and with the knowledge of his impending departure, he was a big reason why Juve took the title this season. It was his goals against Milan in the semi final, against Inter in that key clash and at home to Lazio which brought the Scudetto back to Turin. And how fitting that a player who has spent 19 seasons at Juventus, would end his time there with lifting the Scudetto.
James Horncastle wrote a sublime article on the man which deserves to be read by everyone, in it he states the Del Piero is seen as the past, not the future, and that Juve must now start a new era, post Del Piero. Yet Del Piero still feels he has so much more to give, not on the bench, but from the start and this is the problem, in order for Juventus to progress, they do need to move on from Del Piero and giving him the title was the best farewell he could have received. The scenes in the final league match in Turin was something never witnessed before and he fittingly scored in the game to end in style what has been a truly remarkable career for the Old Lady. And after he scored each of his teammates gathered around him in a circle, an appreciation that this was the last time it would happen here in Turin.
Buffon declared that “in the next 150 years there will not be anyone like Del Piero. And as the cameras panned around the ground showing fans crying, Del Piero too had to fight to keep his feelings inside too, pretending to tie his shoelaces “to hide my tears.” 289 goals for Juventus, over taking Boniperti and playing the most games for the Old Lady shows how special and how important Del Piero has been for Juve, his willingness to stay with the club after their relegation shows of the love he has for the club, perhaps we in England do not realise how great this man was and there will never be another like Alessandro.
Although he did not wish to leave the club, it was surely the greatest way to depart, a season undefeated and Scudetto winners, with the possibility of the Cup this coming weekend too. Perhaps the best season in Juventus’ history, a new stadium, a fiiting farewell to a legend and a feeling of overcoming the scandals can be thought of being behind this side. The future can be positive, especially when the man in charge is Antonio Conte.
Conte, the new Lippi?
Conte may be the best manager that Juve have had since Marcello Lippi, the man who coached Conte himself in his time at Juve. Conte looks like a man who is totally comfortable in his role, the pressure of such a big job appears not to faze him. He has achieved something great this season, yet it is only the start. The foundations have been laid, but the restoration will continue over the next few months.
Juventus were fortunate that they did not have any European competition to distract the side this season, whereas Milan, Napoli, Inter and Udinese all had their own significant runs. It allowed Juve to concentrate all their efforts on the title, and the run in certainly showed that. Next season Juventus are heading back to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2009, and the demands of an extra competition will require even more squad enhancements in the summer.
What now for the Old Lady?
Pirlo was a revelation this season, yet doubts over his fitness will be an issue and Conte will have to address this position of which has been so vital for Juve. Paul Pogba has signed for the future, yet can he step up next year and play a part? What they need is someone who can score goals, there were many rumours of Sergio Aguero moving last summer before City came in and although Matri and Vucinic have been excellent, rumours of interest in Van Persie, Torres, Cavani and Suarez are not surprising; Juve will need a more clinical striker to lead the line if they want to maintain their success and become a force in Europe again. Krasic seems set to depart and a winger like Nani could perhaps be a viable target. The key for Conte is that players come in who want to play for the club, with Del Piero departing, a major part of Juventus is being removed, this will not be easy to replace and it may be a difficult transition for both the club and the player, the end of a 19 year relationship. The core of the side this season have Buffon, Pirlo, Vidal and Chiellini and it is essential that this core is maintained. Already rumours are surfacing over Man City's interest in Chiellini and Vidal could be on the radar of Real Madrid after his impressive season in Turi.
Conte may be the best manager that Juve have had since Marcello Lippi, the man who coached Conte himself in his time at Juve. Conte looks like a man who is totally comfortable in his role, the pressure of such a big job appears not to faze him. He has achieved something great this season, yet it is only the start. The foundations have been laid, but the restoration will continue over the next few months.
Juventus were fortunate that they did not have any European competition to distract the side this season, whereas Milan, Napoli, Inter and Udinese all had their own significant runs. It allowed Juve to concentrate all their efforts on the title, and the run in certainly showed that. Next season Juventus are heading back to the group stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2009, and the demands of an extra competition will require even more squad enhancements in the summer.
Pirlo was a revelation this season, yet doubts over his fitness will be an issue and Conte will have to address this position of which has been so vital for Juve. Paul Pogba has signed for the future, yet can he step up next year and play a part? What they need is someone who can score goals, there were many rumours of Sergio Aguero moving last summer before City came in and although Matri and Vucinic have been excellent, rumours of interest in Van Persie, Torres, Cavani and Suarez are not surprising; Juve will need a more clinical striker to lead the line if they want to maintain their success and become a force in Europe again. Krasic seems set to depart and a winger like Nani could perhaps be a viable target. The key for Conte is that players come in who want to play for the club, with Del Piero departing, a major part of Juventus is being removed, this will not be easy to replace and it may be a difficult transition for both the club and the player, the end of a 19 year relationship. The core of the side this season have Buffon, Pirlo, Vidal and Chiellini and it is essential that this core is maintained. Already rumours are surfacing over Man City's interest in Chiellini and Vidal could be on the radar of Real Madrid after his impressive season in Turi.
This season has been remarkable for Juve, it could not have been scripted any better and it is completely unique and unlikely to be replicated in Italian football anytime soon. This Scudetto may be the end of the hangover to the Calciolpoli scandal, although as Juve declare they have jus won their 30th title, issues still arise over that period. A dark cloud hung over Turin for a long period in 2006, the Old Lady fought back and has put herself back on top of Italian football.
Love her or hate her, you can’t help but be fascinated by the Old Lady.
The Whitehouse Address is on Twitter @The_W_Address
Love her or hate her, you can’t help but be fascinated by the Old Lady.
The Whitehouse Address is on Twitter @The_W_Address
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