Max Allegri deserves credit for shoring up Juventus’ defence
Juventus were characterised by a dominant defence during their recent imperious reign over Italian football that spanned almost a decade.
Between the 2011/12 and 2018/19 campaigns, they boasted the best defensive record in the division on their way to eight straight titles before their stout streak was snapped under the tutelage of Maurizio Sarri in 2019/20.
The Bianconeri, then ageing and hamstrung by Matthijs de Ligt’s acclimatisation woes, surrendered the best defensive record to Antonio Conte’s Inter before the Nerazzurri secured their first Scudetto since 2010 a year later.
During those two years, Inter, led by the majestic back three of Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij and Alessandro Bastoni, conceded 36 and 35 goals in Serie A. However, those are records that pale in comparison to the great Juve sides led by Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Gianluigi Buffon. The most the Old Lady ever conceded in a single season between 2011 and 2019 was 30 in Massimiliano Allegri’s final year as manager during his first stint.
Massimiliano Allegri deserves credit for stabilising Juventus’ defence after a woeful start to the season
An attempted shift in identity, manifested by the arrival of Sarri, coincided with a defensive demise. Although, their record improved under Andrea Pirlo last season and many expected a return to the norm following Allegri’s comeback ahead of the 2021/22 campaign…
Instead, the returning boss oversaw a historically poor start to the Serie A season as Juventus didn’t claim their first domestic clean sheet until October, seven league games into the campaign. Individual errors were contagious as goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny endured a particularly torrid start to the new season. The Polish international’s error-ridden display on Matchday 1 cost Juve two points against Udinese that set the tone for the Old Lady’s early and unexpected slump.
It wasn’t until Juve’s harrowing Halloween defeat away at Hellas Verona that things started to turn. Since that defeat, in which veteran Chiellini looked very old, Juventus have lost just once in 17 Serie A outings, keeping ten clean sheets in the process. They’ve conceded just ten times during that period, a record that can only be bettered by Real Madrid’s nine across Europe.
It’s been an impressive turnaround and Allegri’s emphasis on old-school, traditional ideals has paid dividends from a defensive perspective. Szczesny has rediscovered his best form, De Ligt has blossomed during his third season in Turin, while Allegri’s 4-4-2 block has proved mightily difficult to manipulate and penetrate.
Their pressing is sporadic and calculated, but often Juve are fine with ceding territory and control. Everybody plays their part in ensuring the defensive block isn’t compromised, and each member deserves a tremendous amount of credit considering the manager’s default approach. Very rarely do the Bianconeri dominate possession, and often their work in transition leaves much to be desired, especially in Federico Chiesa’s absence. That means their defence frequently succumbs to sustained pressure and while they’ve remained disciplined, for the most part, Dani Parejo’s goal for Villarreal in February’s 1-1 draw in the Champions League round of 16 first leg depicted just how costly one lapse could be.
Overall, it’s remarkable how Juve haven’t conceded more than they have considering just how much defending they have to do and the injuries they’ve sustained. Both Bonucci and Chiellini have missed plenty of action, with Daniele Rugani frequently called upon in 2022.
The statistics highlight that the key for Juve has been their reluctance to surrender high-quality chances, which is a testament to Allegri’s block. According to The Analyst, only Torino (14.4) has a lower open play xGA (expected goals against) than Juventus (16.1) in Serie A this season.
Most of the Bianconeri’s defensive issues this season have come from set pieces. Allegri has primarily adopted a zonal marking approach from corners, in particular, but the results have often been ugly. They’ve conceded nine (out of 25) from set-pieces this season, the fifth-worst record in the division.
Unfortunately, Allegri’s strong emphasis on defence has compromised their attacking proficiency. Juventus have been a tough watch this season, but do you think the manager gives a damn!? He’ll be thrilled with the stability he’s introduced to the Bianconeri backline after a terrible start.
They’re undoubtedly returning to their vintage selves. The only question is how far can that take them in an ever-evolving Serie A?