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Juventus: Old Juve’s August 2021 Player of the Month

By James Cormack

REGGIO EMILIA, ITALY, MAY 19:Paulo Dybala (L) and Juan Cuadrado (R) of FC Juventus celebrate at the end of the Italian Cup football final match between Atalanta and FC Juventus at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on May 19, 2021. Juventus won 2-1 to conquer the trophy for the 14th time. About 4,300 spectators, 20% of the Mapei Stadium's capacity, are allowed to attend the match, at the end of a season in which matches were banned to the public, except for a short period at its start, when only 1,000 people could enter stadiums, before that the second strong wave of the Covid-19 pandemic persuaded Italian authorities to impose new restrictions to fight the spread of the coronavirus. (Photo by Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
REGGIO EMILIA, ITALY, MAY 19:Paulo Dybala (L) and Juan Cuadrado (R) of FC Juventus celebrate at the end of the Italian Cup football final match between Atalanta and FC Juventus at Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia, Italy, on May 19, 2021. Juventus won 2-1 to conquer the trophy for the 14th time. About 4,300 spectators, 20% of the Mapei Stadium's capacity, are allowed to attend the match, at the end of a season in which matches were banned to the public, except for a short period at its start, when only 1,000 people could enter stadiums, before that the second strong wave of the Covid-19 pandemic persuaded Italian authorities to impose new restrictions to fight the spread of the coronavirus. (Photo by Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /
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We’re back, ladies and gentlemen! After starting our Player of the Month series here at Old Juve midway through the 2020/21 season, we’re ready to dish out a full campaign of POTM awards.

August saw the Bianconeri play just two Serie A fixtures before the first international break of 2021/22, meaning we’ve had to use our player ratings from Juventus’ 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy as part of the club’s pre-season schedule to ensure this award is a valid one.

Remember, an average rating is calculated using the ratings the Old Juve team dished out during the month’s fixtures.

So, who’ll claim Old Juve’s first Player of the Month award of 2021/22 following half a campaign of Federico Chiesa domination? Let’s find out.

3rd. Juan Cuadrado (Average Rating – 6.5)

Juan Cuadrado has started the season further upfield. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Juan Cuadrado has started the season further upfield. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Last season’s Mr Consistent has started from where he left off as he earned a respectable average rating of 6.5 for his starts in August.

The Colombian has been deployed in a more advanced position to start the season after spending the past two years primarily as a right-back. Allegri, the man who oversaw his initial switch to full-back, however, seemingly views the veteran as a winger in the current iteration of the Bianconeri where his speed and threat in transition can manifest to greater effect.

Cuadrado’s fine performance in the 2-2 draw with Udinese on Matchday 1, during which he scored a wonderfully-taken goal, has helped him to third spot in this month’s award.

2nd. Rodrigo Bentancur (Average Rating – 6.83)

Rodrigo Bentancur has returned to a more familiar box-to-box function. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Rodrigo Bentancur has returned to a more familiar box-to-box function. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Rodrigo Bentancur has started his make or break campaign in fine touch, as Allegri’s returned him to a more suitable box-to-box function.

While the Uruguayan struggled somewhat in the shock Empoli defeat, his Serie A season got off to a fast start as he set up Paulo Dybala for the opener in Udine. His first-half performance in the 2-2 draw was great and the sort of display Juventini will be praying for on a consistent basis throughout 2021/22.

Bentancur was also Juventus’ best performer in the wretched Joan Gamper Trophy defeat.

1st. Paulo Dybala (Average Rating – 8.0)

Paulo Dybala starred on Matchday 1. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Paulo Dybala starred on Matchday 1. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

It could only be Paulo Dybala. The man who’s donned the captain’s armband in August.

While La Joya missed much of pre-season due to a minor injury, the Argentine began the Serie A season in tremendous touch. His first-half showcase against Udinese was vintage Dybala; a performance full of guile, craft and poise. Dybala, from his favoured second striker role, scored the game’s opener with a smart first-time finish and set up Cuadrado for the second with an ambitious switch of play.

It’s a shame Juventus’ lack of a focal point stifled the stand-in skipper against Empoli, as Dybala failed to seize the momentum gathered from his showpiece on Matchday 1. Nevertheless, that magical opening 45 minutes of the season is enough to see La Joya crowned Old Juve’s Player of the Month for August 2021.

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