Juventus have suffered through a miserable season. They were embarrassed in the Round of 16 of the Champions League, kicked out of the competition in the first round of the knockout stages for a second straight year. And their Champions League hopes will go right down to the wire this weekend against Bologna after head-to-head losses with Atalanta and Milan.
Yet for all of Juve’s issues in Andrea Pirlo’s difficult first season at the helm – the horrible midfield, the injuries to Paulo Dybala, complete lack of a left side at times – the Bianconeri will emerge from the 2020-2021 season with two trophies, including the prestigious Coppa Italia.
And it is the way they won the Coppa Italia that stands out the most. Not only did Juventus finally defeat Atalanta and avenge their recent Serie A loss to La Dea, but they also played downright brilliant football. Pirlo’s Juventus actually looked like the kind of outfit he ideally wants to see, as they were intense, aggressive, and spellbinding on the ball in the second half.
It meant a lot to see two talented young forwards, Federico Chiesa and Dejan Kulusevski, come through with the goals for the Bianconeri in this win. Because it was only fitting in a win that gives Juventini some hope for the future, the two big hopes of the future were the ones who came up big offensively. That’s not to mention Matthijs de Ligt, who showed the heart of a warrior in playing through pain after saving the game with a defensive intervention. But, well, that’s nothing new from the Dutchman.
Juventus showed they are far from dead
En route to the Coppa Italia, Juventus defeated Inter Milan across two legs. You know, the eventual champions of Serie A. And before Juve exacted more revenge on Atalanta in the final, they beat Inter Milan in the second Derby d’Italia of Serie A.
Over the past three matches since the debacle against Milan, Juve have shown great heart. Most importantly, they showed great quality at the Mapei Stadium against La Dea, offering a clear example of the potentially thrilling attacking football Juve can play under Pirlo.
For Pirlo, the Coppa Italia triumph was a statement of competence. But it may have been an even strong statement from a Juventus squad that has been woefully inconsistent and sometimes absolutely lethargic in 2020-2021. This was a statement of vibrant life from the Old Lady – a superpower of European football that had seen itself fall into a laughingstock to start 2021.
Juve are very much alive. They may have suffered this season, but they are still capable of playing better football than anyone else in this country. You can rest assure Juve will be back next season. Hopefully, with renewed vigor and more consistency, so that these kinds of performances from the Bianconeri will be commonplace.