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3 reasons why Juventus struggle to win the big games

By Kevin Parvizi

MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 23: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of Juventus looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 23, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
MILAN, ITALY - JANUARY 23: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of Juventus looks on prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on January 23, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images) /
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Juventus, Manuel Locatelli
Juventus, Manuel Locatelli (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

The Juventus midfield still has major issues

Juventus made a big signing to upgrade their midfield in each of the past two transfer windows. First, they went out and signed one of the best midfielders in Italy, snagging Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo in the summer. And he’s been good, though not quite as great as he was in 2020/21 with the Neroverdi. Their second signing? Denis Zakaria on a discount, and the early returns are indeed promising.

But the underlying statistics show you just how much work still needs to be done in the Juventus midfield, which includes Max Allegri getting more out of these two players who SHOULD be his clear stars in the middle of the park.

Look at the creative statistics. Weston McKennie is the only midfielder on the team with at least one key pass per game. While McKennie is a smart, competent midfielder, there is NO way he should be the leading creator on Juventus. Locatelli, with a modest four assists, is the only central midfielder with more than two.

Worse yet, Juve do not have a single midfielder with 50 passes per game. Locatelli is the leader with 46 passes per game, but he barely completes over 85% of them…despite averaging just 0.6 key passes per game. After him, the Bianconeri do not have another player in midfield with 35 passes per game!

Juve’s midfielders are better than this. Allegri is not getting the most out of his personnel. With these woeful creative statistics and distinct lack of progression and ball retention in midfield, it is no surprise that Juve struggle to score – much less win – against the best teams in their league.

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