Juventini are desperate for a response after suffering through whatever that display was at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.
Chelsea’s 4-0 thrashing of Juventus was a humbling experience for everyone involved, as the sobering reality of just how far the Old Lady have fallen became clear.
However, there’s little time to analyse the mistakes that culminated in the club’s heaviest ever Champions League defeat. An important Serie A clash with Atalanta is on the horizon, and it’s a game Juventus have to think about winning.
This team’s flaws are distinct, and it’s up to Massimiliano Allegri to disguise those shortcomings until he’s given the chance to refresh his squad. Thus far, the returning boss has adopted a typically pragmatic approach of blocking space and counter-attacking. It’s a ploy that frustrates and angers when things go astray, but triggers an overwhelming release of pleasure when executed to perfection.
On Saturday, it’d be unrealistic to expect an overhaul of Allegri’s perhaps outdated principles despite the events that unfolded at Stamford Bridge. However, within that framework, here are three things we’d love to see from the manager and Juventus against Atalanta this weekend.
1. No Alex Sandro or Adrien Rabiot
First up, these are two things we don’t want to see: a languid Frenchman nor an ageing Brazilian. Massimiliano Allegri’s team selection will be an interesting one following Tuesday’s debacle, and the manager should ring the changes.
Adrien Rabiot and Alex Sandro are two players that shouldn’t be in Saturday’s XI. The former, following his best performance of the season against Lazio, returned to his ineffective self against Chelsea. Reports suggest that a return to the 4-4-2 is in order against Atalanta, meaning Rabiot will be subject to the dreaded hybrid role should he start.
As we’ve seen time and time again this season, it’s a role he isn’t cut out for and his inability to perform any part of the function with any competence greatly hinders Juve’s attacking threat. Against Lazio, Rabiot was part of a midfield three in a 4-5-1.
Federico Bernardeschi returned to training in the week and if the Italian’s fully fit, Allegri would be wise to start him off the left. Juventus’ attacking potential was realised in the 4-2 victory over Zenit earlier this month with Bernardeschi producing an impressive performance from the hybrid role. It’s a critical function in Allegri’s system.
Then there’s Alex Sandro. The left-back spot is another pivotal position in Allegri’s asymmetric 4-4-2 as they’re tasked with providing a reliable source of width in attack, thus enabling the left-midfielder (hybrid) to drift inside and occupy spaces between the lines. It’s a role the Brazilian impressed in at the start of the season but his early exuberance has waned rapidly.
Sandro has been bereft of any assertion or thrust for weeks now, and it’s greatly inhibiting Juve in possession when the 4-4-2 is deployed. Against Chelsea, it was his defensive prowess that was questioned as Reece James ran riot down Juve’s left. The game depicted the Brazilian’s demise in almost every facet, and it’s time Luca Pellegrini earned a run in the side.
The Italian is far from the finished article but he’s dynamic and has proved his stubbornness against Napoli and Lazio this season. Fans would love to see how Pellegrini fares against Atalanta on Saturday.