Socrates

Serie A - 12^ Giornata Andata - 8-11-2015 (ore 15:00) EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - Domenica, 8 novembre 2015 - ore 15:00 Stadio Carlo Castellani, Empoli Arbitro: Davide Massa Confronti ufficiali 20 - 18 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 14 - 13 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 3 - 3 (Serie A) Vittorie Empoli 3 - 2 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Goals Juventus 44 - 38 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) Goals Empoli 14 - 9 (Serie A) - 5 (Coppa Italia) Empoli - Juventus Serie A a Empoli Confronti ufficiali 9 Vittorie Juventus 5 (L'ultima il 01.11.2014, 0-2) Pareggi 2 (L'ultimo il 19.03.2008, 0-0) Vittorie Empoli 2 (L'ultima il 03.04.1999, 1-0) Goals Juventus 13 Goals Empoli 5 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro l'Empoli a Empoli 4 presenze Buffon Gianluigi 4 Camoranesi Mauro German 4 Del Piero Alessandro 4 Nedved Pavel 4 Tacchinardi Alessio 3 Conte Antonio 3 Iuliano Mark 3 Pessotto Gianluca 3 Trezeguet David 2 Amoruso Nicola 5 goals Trezeguet David 2 Del Piero Alessandro 1 Brio Sergio 1 Camoranesi Mauro German 1 Morata Alvaro 1 Pecchia Fabio 1 Pirlo Andrea 1 Vieira Patrick Ultimi confronti diretti 31.08.2003 - Serie A - Juventus-Empoli 5-1 25.01.2004 - Serie A - Empoli-Juventus 3-3 11.09.2005 - Serie A - Empoli-Juventus 0-4 22.01.2006 - Serie A - Juventus-Empoli 2-1 31.10.2007 - Serie A - Juventus-Empoli 3-0 06.12.2007 - Coppa Italia - Empoli-Juventus 2-1 15.01.2008 - Coppa Italia - Juventus-Empoli 5-3 19.03.2008 - Serie A - Empoli-Juventus 0-0 01.11.2014 - Serie A - Empoli-Juventus 0-2 04.04.2015 - Serie A - Juventus-Empoli 2-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 7 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Empoli 1 - Goals Juventus 27 - Goals Empoli 10 da juworld.net http://www.goal.com/it/tables/serie-a/13

EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 12 Sunday, November 8th, 2015 - 3:00 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Davide Massa EMPOLI V JUVENTUS MATCH PREVIEW http://www.juvefc.com/empoli-v-juventus-match-preview-and-scouting/? Nov 6, 2015 Juventus Juventus come off two precious results, but the team play has not really improved. The moments when the squad look really dominant are rare and there are always periods of time when it is lackadaisical, sits too deep and concedes some chances. They played a good first half in the Derby, but Torino were clearly way more motivated after the intermission, they scored the equalizer and only a miracle by Gianluigi Buffon denied them the double. Juventus then re-took control of the game and eventually won it at the buzzer, but it is concerning that a fifteen-minute pause almost cost them the game. Borussia Moenchengladbach were more aggressive than Juventus to start the midweek game, they simply looked sharper in the first half and deservedly took the lead. Luckily enough, we still have great footballers who can make plays out the blue and we tied. Just as Juventus finally started performing really well at the beginning of the second half, Hernanes made that silly tackle that cost us a likely win. Juventus need to play with more energy for the whole ninety minutes, taking the foot off the pedal only after closing the game and have to stop shooting themselves in the foot. They should not be content with just hanging in games, they should be fiercer and go for the jugular right from the start. Stephan Lichsteiner has returned and we are all very happy that things turn out for the best after that scary situation. His return marks the end of the fluid 3-5-2/4-3-3 that was a pretty clever way to field all the best players at the same time, but we never played too well with it and we knew it was only a stopgap. However, we are in mid November and we still do not know what the most suitable tactic is: this is less than ideal. I know Massimiliano Allegri loves the three-man midfield, he wrote his essay to get the coaching license on this topic, but when one of our big three midfielders is missing, he should try a plain and simple 4-4-2 with Alex Sandro as left winger, maybe just as an in-game adjustment. I think it would help Alvaro Morata, who is not a fan of his work rate as winger, and Mario Mandzukic, who would receive more crosses. Kwadwo Asamoah and Roberto Pereyra remain out with hamstring ailments: they are expected to be back after the break. Sami Khedira has trained with the group on Friday but he will not be risked if he is not 100 percent. Stefano Sturaro or Mario Lemina would take his spot if he can not play: Sturaro is probably a little higher in the pecking order. There is a chance Paul Pogba is rested, but I think it will depend on the availability of the German world champion: I do not think the coach will reiterate the mistake made at Sassuolo, where he trotted out an inexperienced midfield. Lichsteiner should be able to start, however Martin Caceres is fit and could replace him. One between Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini should be given a day off, with Andrea Barzagli starting. The battle between Alex Sandro and Patrice Evra on the left is wide open. Allegri will choose between 4-3-1-2 with Hernanes, his pet formation that was used from the start in the last two games, or 4-3-3 with Juan Cuadrado and Morata wide. It seems that Mario Mandzukic would have better chance of starting with the second lineup, while Morata and Paulo Dybala would pair up in the first one. The doubt is really between Cuadrado and Dybala: Allegri likes to have one game-changer come off the bench. Probable lineup 4-3-1-2: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Sturaro, Marchisio, Pogba; Hernanes, Mandzukic, Morata. Injuries: Pereyra (hamstring), Asamoah (hamstring). Suspended: None Empoli Empoli have been feistier than most anticipated. They lost a ton this summer as Maurizio Sarri, Mirko Valdifiori and Daniele Rugani left, but somehow they have been able to cope, while most expected them to sink. The credit goes to the new coach Marco Giampaolo, who really fell from grace three-four years ago and was gravitating in the lower leagues, who put aside his beliefs and his tactics to choose the path of continuity. They are not as pleasant in terms of style as they were last season, but they should be good enough to avoid the drop and this should not be taken for granted as they have a really young roster. They have collected 14 points in 11 games and they are in the middle of the pack: considering that they have lost their mastermind and two of their three best players, this is a big success. We will see if they will able to sustain it or if the other low table teams will catch up. They still have some problems here and there. For instance, they have yet to find the ideal replacement for Valdifiori: Assane Dioussé has been a surprise, he plays with a lot of confidence and has good technical means, but he has struggled and made big mistakes in the last few games. Raffaele Maiello, who should start in this one, is a steady player with some experience, but in his previous seasons in Serie B he has never really played as deep-lying playmaker. Ronaldo, who was probably their designated player for that role when they decided to cash in on Valdifiori, has not been able to crack starting lineup. As they often do, they have given playing time to some youngster and they are starting to flourish. Leandro Paredes was a mysterious object in Rome, but he has now found his niche as box-to-box midfielder and has a lot of quality. Rade Krunic has been a decent replacement when Riccardo Saponara was suspended and they are grooming him very nicely for the future, as their star seems destined to leave at the end of the season; they have also used him in a two-trequartista look to add creativity in the attack. Marcel Buchel brings the muscles and is very useful now that their veteran starter Daniele Croce is out with a calf injury. Buchel is a slightly favourite to start over Paredes. Empoli will be proactive and play possession football, because they are not particularly accustomed, or good, at defending. Juventus will have to pay attention to Saponara, who has simply been en fuego with four goals and three assists in eight games, and in general to Empoli’s rapid play in the attack. Juventus can not come out flat in this game but it would be costly. Probable lineup 4-3-1-2: Skorupski; Laurini, Tonelli, Costa, Mario Rui; Zielinski, Maiello, Buchel; Saponara; Maccarone, Pucciarelli. Injuries: Croce (calf), Mchedlidze (hamstring), Cosic. Suspended: None Formation http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Alex Sandro: ‘Fee not important’ http://www.football-italia.net/75423/alex-sandro-%E2%80%98fee-not-important%E2%80%99? Nov 6, 2015 Juventus’ Alex Sandro says ‘I don’t care how much I cost’ and that ‘it’s an honour to train with Patrice Evra.’ The left-back arrived at the Old Lady for €26m from Porto in the summer, but has made only five league appearances so far. However, the Brazilian isn’t worried about the fee and spoke of his admiration for the Bianconeri’s veterans. "The words of Buffon, Evra and the more experienced players are very encouraging for all of us,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “They are very important both on and off the field. “I don’t care about how much I cost, I’m working to improve day by day, both in defence and in attack. I’m still developing. “Juve always play to win and we always try to improve game after game. “Roberto Carlos sees himself in me? It’s a real honour that he spoke so highly of me. “I hope to put his words into practice. I've been a fan of Evra since he played in Manchester - for me it is an honour to train with him."

Paul Pogba: I want to win Ballon d'Or and Champions League at Juventus http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2701258/paul-pogba-i-want-ballon-dor-champions-league-with-juve? Nov 6, 2015 Paul Pogba says he wants to "win everything" with Juventus and prove to the world that he is worthy of his No. 10 shirt. After making an admittedly sub-standard start to the season, Pogba, 22, is now hitting form again, providing a superb pass for Stephan Lichtsteiner's equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League draw with Borussia Monchengladbach -- a result which leaves Juve within touching distance of reaching the last 16 of the competition. The France international, who has been linked with a big-money move to Barcelona next summer, still harbours high ambitions with the Turin club, where he hopes to realise his dreams and pay them back for the faith they have shown in him. "I want to win the Ballon d'Or, the Champions League and the World Cup," he said during a question and answer session on Juventus TV. "I want to win everything. "Juve are the club who really showed belief in me as a youngster and helped me develop into the player I am today. It was here where I scored my first goal as a professional and was given the opportunity to prove myself in competitive action every week, so for that reason Juventus will always be close to my heart." Pogba received the iconic No. 10 shirt at his request in the summer and it was claimed this added responsibility might have been hampering him. He insists he knows what it means to wear such an important number for the club, however, and intends to do it justice. "Knowing how much significance the number bears at this great club, it's an honour," he said. "To wear the same shirt as legendary players such as Michel Platini, Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Del Piero is a real privilege. "From the moment I arrived here, I've given everything I have to offer. That's just me, I always want to give 100 percent and no less. Whenever I cross the white line I want to learn, improve and give my all. So I guess I'd say that the level of effort I put into my game is always the same whether I'm on a great run or not." Juve can move a step closer to one of Pogba's objectives when they face Manchester City in the Champions League on Nov. 25. They need just two draws from their remaining two group games to follow City into the last 16, but a win at home to the Premier League side would secure their place with a match to spare. "We go out to win every match we play," Pogba said. "As for Manchester City specifically, the most important thing is to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. If that means drawing in a couple of weeks then so be it, but our first priority is always to leave the field as winners."

Why Paul Pogba Will Spend 2 More Seasons at Juventus http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2584824-why-paul-pogba-will-spend-2-more-seasons-at-juventus? Nov 6, 2015 If any combination of footballer and agent have successfully executed their presumed plan for world domination, Paul Pogba and Mino Raiola warrant gold medals of some distinction. At one point surplus to the Manchester United first team under Sir Alex Ferguson, the French midfielder has blossomed into arguably the world's best under-23 player. While his client hones himself at Juventus, Raiola has used the rapid ascension expertly. No longer an out-and-out prospect but now a legitimate world-class option, Pogba's value has skyrocketed over the past three seasons. This has meant a larger profile and, in turn, copious rumours about his leaving Italy for pastures deemed greener. The 22-year-old, though, sees Juventus as a green pasture. They gave him an opportunity at a massive club—whereas United failed—and have been more than accommodating in terms of matches, minutes and money (all while employing a venerable list of midfield talent). Pogba, rightly so, feels a sense of loyalty to the Old Lady, as he recently discussed with Juventus' official broadcasting network (via Football Italia): Juve are the first team where I started to play. They are the team who allowed me to go to the [France] national team, the team where I scored my first goal, so now they are the club of my heart. They let me prove myself in football, and had the confidence in me to put me on the pitch. How much do I love Juve out of 10? 10! Since I've been here, I have always given my best for the club, for the shirt, for everything. I play at 100 percent, always. Loyalty is often mentioned but scarcely found. As a general rule: One is not loyal, nor beholden, to an entity—rather paycheques. Most loyalty evaporates like fog when the sun breaks once money is removed, but we cannot discount the minute percentage of relationships that display true allegiance. Pogba's connection to "the club of his heart" cannot be easily broken, and only the Frenchman can answer how much money per week is enough for him to leave Juventus—but his agent has an idea about the transfer fee. Raiola, as reported by the Sun's Carl Long, told reporters: "There were three big clubs with [£60 million] on the table, or a little more including add-ons, which took the total to [£70.6 million]. But a deal was not concluded because Pogba didn’t want to leave and Juventus wanted him to stay for at least another year." Summer 2016 seems the natural conclusion to this episode, but assumptions can be misleading. Next summer's transfer window, however, will be invariably muddled by the European Championship. France host the tournament, meaning Pogba's plate should be full. Transfers are likely to happen early, though, which will set the table for chaos. The three clubs Long's piece hints were chasing the young central midfielder are Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea; Raiola excluded Barcelona from proceedings, asserting the Catalan giants buying Pogba has "no chance." All have the finical wherewithal to capture the 22-year-old, and should he become available, the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich or even Manchester United cannot be discounted either. Raiola is waiting for the ideal time to move his prized asset, and Pogba apparently wants to further repay the debt he feels to Juventus for his career. Next summer might be too early for both wishes to be fulfilled. Summer 2017 would give Pogba five years in Turin, a healthy portion for any career, and ample time to weigh each potential next step without the added burden/pressure of carrying a nation's hopes on his shoulders. In the end, he might find leaving Juventus makes no sense and decide to stay longer, or discover a club that further matches his ambitions.

France Coach Has Faith In Juventus Star http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/france-coach-has-faith-in-juventus-star/? Nov 6, 2015 Speaking ahead of a set of friendlies against rivals Germany and England, France coach Didier Deschamps had nothing but sympathetic words for France and Juventus star Paul Pogba. After a summer of upheaval for the Bianconeri, Pogba has become the central cog for the reigning Serie A champions, a role in which critics say he has not yet lived up to but Deschamps has urged fans and critics alike to give the young Frenchman more time. “Pogba is playing once every three or four days,” the former Juventus player and coach began. “He has had good matches and others not as good, but he has not played terribly. “When he is at his best, he is able to create something special out of nothing.” Deschamps made a point to emphasize the fact that Pogba is still only 22 and will improve over time. “Pogba is still young, ups and downs are normal for a player of his age,” Deschamps continued. “I know what he is capable of and I know what is going on at Juventus, with so many departures and arrivals over the summer. “He does have to adapt, but no one questions his potential. “I’m here to help him improve.”

Borussia Monchengladbach Fans Issue Apology To Juventus Stopper Buffon http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/borussia-monchengladbach-fans-issue-apology-to-juventus-stopper-buffon/? Nov 6, 2015 Borussia Monchengladbach fans have issued an apology to Juventus’ veteran stopper Gianluigi Buffon for treating the Italian badly after their recent Champions League clash at Borussia Park. As soon as the game concluded as 1-1, Buffon made his way to the Monchengladbach fans to exchange his gloves for a scarf. But a host of fans of Andre Schubert’s side snatched his gloves, leaving Buffon empty-handed. As per CalcioNews24, Monchengladbach fans have apologized for the incident at Borussia Park, saying: “We weren’t aware of the sympathy that Buffon has for our club and the behaviour of the fans can’t be understood” “Buffon is a nice person and we hope to have a good memory for Borussia.” Buffon proved vital for Juve to hold onto a draw, making some crucial stops after new signing Hernanes was sent off.

EMPOLI - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 12 Sunday, November 8th, 2015 - 3:00 PM Carlo Castellani Stadium, Empoli Referee: Davide Massa Maccarone: ‘Rugani should play more’ http://www.football-italia.net/75396/maccarone-%E2%80%98rugani-should-play-more%E2%80%99? Nov 6, 2015 Massimo Maccarone admits he expected his former Empoli teammate Daniele Rugani to be given more space at Juventus. The young defender played every minute for the Tuscan side in Serie A last year, but has so far been given just one Champions League cameo appearance for the Bianconeri. “I expected him to have more space,” Maccarone admitted in a Press conference ahead of the meeting with Juve on Sunday. “It’s also true that he has great champions head of him, so it’s not easy to play. I’m convinced of my opinion though, someone with his characteristics will be a starter for Juve in the future.” It has been suggested that Rugani may finally get his chance on Sunday against his former club, but Maccarone is looking forward to facing the Old Lady regardless. “For us to face Juventus now is a good advantage. We’re going through a good period, but it’s when you’re getting results that the intensity can drop. “Playing against Juventus now is perfect, and protects us from that, because how could you not be motivated to face the champions of Italy? “A Juventus crisis? How can you doubt a team which has won the last four titles? We’re ready, even though it will be a very delicate match.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Pogba: Things Are More Difficult Because Everyone Wants To Beat Juventus http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/pogba-things-are-more-difficult-because-everyone-wants-to-beat-juventus/? Nov 5, 2015 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba acknowledged that every game is a challenge because all opponents want to get one over the Bianconeri. The France international recognised that things have been difficult at the start of the season, but he believes that Juve can fight back by approaching matters one game at a time. “When we play for Juventus we know that it is more difficult when we’re against a smaller club playing at home,” said Pogba to Filo Diretto. “The start to the season was difficult but now we need to win and only worry about the next game. “It’s more difficult to play with your own style after winning the Scudetto for four consecutive seasons because everybody wants to beat you.” The 22-year-old also looked back on Juve’s 1-1 draw away at Borussia Monchengladbach. “The red card [for Hernanes] was difficult to digest,” added Pogba. “It was an important point but the focus is now on the next round and we must aim to win. “I go to training every day and try my best, some days it goes better than others but football is like that.”

‘Honour to wear number 10’ http://www.football-italia.net/75359/%E2%80%98honour-wear-number-10%E2%80%99 Nov 5, 2015 Paul Pogba describes the “honour” of wearing the “very important” Juventus number 10 shirt. The midfielder took over the number in the summer from Carlos Tevez, with the shirt previously having been worn by Alessandro Del Piero, Roberto Baggio and Michel Platini. “When I put the Juve shirt on it’s always an honour, because I know that at Juventus the number 10 is very important,” Pogba told JTV. “Really great players have had it - Platini, Baggio, Del Piero - so it’s an honour for me to play with this number. “I tell myself I have to do as well as them, otherwise everyone will be waiting for me and they’ll kill me! “I have to do well, I have to respect this number, this shirt.” The Bianconeri drew with Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League in midweek, meaning they only need a point against Manchester City to ensure qualification. “We know that Juventus are on a higher level than Borussia, and it’s always more difficult to play against a smaller club, we were away from home too. “We wanted to win, and after the red card it was difficult. “City? We always want to win, so we’ll have to see. The most important thing is to get through, if we have to get a draw… I don’t know, I’m not the Coach. “If we have to go through and we need a draw we won’t force it, but primarily we want to win.” Finally, the 22-year-old was asked about his goals for the rest of his career. “One day I want to win the Ballon d’Or, the Champions League, the World Cup… I want to win it all,” Pogba declared.

BORUSSIA M. - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Fabian Johnson (18') Stephan Lichtsteiner (44') Matchday 4 Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Borussia Park Stadium, Mönchengladbach Referee:‬ Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) Attendance: 46217 CAN JUVENTUS CHALLENGE IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE THIS SEASON? http://www.juvefc.com/can-juventus-challenge-in-the-champions-league-this-season/? Nov 5, 2015 Juventus are one of Italy’s most successful clubs and have won a number of trophies throughout their illustrious history, including 31 domestic titles and two European Cup triumphs. Without a shadow of a doubt, Juventus are widely regarded as one of the world’s biggest teams and the Old Lady are still a dominant force across the continent. In fact, they are one of the world’s most successful sides and have an incredible fan base that spans across the planet. This season, however, they have struggled to build any sort of momentum in Serie A. Juve are currently chasing a fifth successive Italian league title but sit nine points behind joint-leaders Fiorentina and Inter Milan. For more information on the Serie A title race, you can refer to Bookmakers.co.uk. They can keep you updated on the latest news, as well as odds on all of Juventus’ upcoming matches, including Champions League fixtures. Although the title isn’t beyond their reach just yet, Juve should strongly consider putting all of their eggs in one basket and aim for Champions League glory this season. After reaching the final of the competition in the 2014-15 campaign, Massimiliano Allegri’s men have the experience, talent and organisation to advance to the latter stages of the competition – despite losing the likes of Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez this summer. In the summer transfer window, Juve definitely lost more than they gained. In Vidal and Pirlo, they lost two crucial components of their immense midfield and, if truth be told, they are yet to recover from losing both of their star men. While they managed to keep Paul Pogba at the Juventus Stadium, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the France international move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid next summer. Both clubs have an open chequebook and will pay whatever it takes to lure Pogba at the end of the season. With just two group fixtures remaining, Juventus will be quietly confident of advancing to the next stage of the competition. Manchester City have been much improved this season and look as though they will finish at the top of the group, meaning that Allegri’s men may face one of Europe’s elite in the last-16 stage of the competition. If that is the case, their time in the tournament may be cut short but it would be foolish to write Juventus off as they still possess a solid, reliable and defensively astute team. Can they challenge for Champions League glory this season? Of course they can. With a bit of luck, Juventus can emulate last season’s performance and reach the final of the competition. Pogba is their driving force, however, and an injury to their star performer could be catastrophic for their hopes of success – both domestically and in Europe. However, they stand an excellent chance of reaching the latter stages at the very least and from there, who knows. Football’s a funny old game… http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

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Pogba: ‘Juventus can come back’ http://www.football-italia.net/75358/pogba-%E2%80%98juventus-can-come-back%E2%80%99? Nov 5, 2015 Paul Pogba insists Juventus “can come back” despite a “difficult” start to the season. The Bianconeri are currently languishing in 10th-place in Serie A, after a poor start to the defence of their title. “It’s been a difficult start to the season, but we can come back,” Pogba declared in an interview with JTV. “We just have to take it one game at a time and try and win some games. We’re only thinking about the next game, that’s how it has to be. “Before everyone knew we were winning, and this year it’s even more difficult. When you win the Scudetto four times, everyone is waiting for Juve, and wants to win against Juve. “It’s normal that it’s increasingly difficult, but we know what we need to do, we know it will be much more difficult than last year and past years. “We always have confidence and trust in ourselves, we always have to think about the next game and give our all.” The 22-year-old also discussed his relationship with the club’s fans, thanking them for their backing. “We always need them, just as much when we’re doing badly as when we’re doing well. “In the 80th or 90th minute, just the fact of hearing ‘Forza Juve’ gives us strength, you want to do something for them, for the team, and they help you a lot. “It gives you energy, the derby [against Torino] is the perfect example.” The Old Lady’s next test is away to Empoli on Sunday, and Pogba is expecting a tough game. “It’s a tough game, it’s away from home,” the Frenchman explained. “Before we go away with our national teams we want to win, we want to get closer to the top. “Every game is difficult, but we have to think about this one, be very focused and try to win.”

Pogba: ‘Juventus in my heart’ http://www.football-italia.net/75357/pogba-%E2%80%98juventus-my-heart%E2%80%99? Nov 5, 2015 Paul Pogba describes Juventus as “the club of my heart” because “they let me prove myself in football.” The French midfielder came through the youth teams at Manchester United [joining from Le Havre], but made just three League appearances for the Red Devils. He moved to Turin on a free transfer in 2012, and has become one of the most highly-rated young players in Europe. “Juve are the first team where I started to play,” Pogba told the club’s official television channel. “They’re the team who allowed me to go to the national team, the team where I scored my first goal, so now they’re the club of my heart. “They let me prove myself in football, and had the confidence in me to put me on the pitch. “How much do I love Juve out of 10? 10! Since I’ve been here, I’ve always given my best for the club, for the shirt, for everything. I play at 100 per cent. Always.” Pogba has become known for his long-range strikes, and was asked how often he works on them in training. “When it’s 11 against zero, with no goalkeeper!” Pogba laughed. “There’s a goalkeeper, I try to do some shooting at the end of training, alone with a goalkeeper, to improve.”

Swiss defender Lichtsteiner feared for career Stephan Lichtsteiner was surprised to return to the Italian champions' first team so quickly after he underwent heart surgery to cure breathing difficulties. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2557/news/2015/11/05/17008152/-? Nov 5, 2015 Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner was concerned his career would be over after undergoing heart surgery. Lichtsteiner had to be withdrawn at half-time of Juve's draw with Frosinone in September after suffering from "breathing difficulties". However, after more than a month out of action the Switzerland full-back made an incredible return to action in midweek, starting against Borussia Monchengladbach and scoring a stunning equaliser as Juve rescued a crucial Champions League draw. "I was definitely scared about never playing again," Lichtsteiner is quoted by giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "It was a difficult time for me as heart surgery is a pretty big deal. "Luckily, I had my family and friends to offer their support and love. "Fans also sent me words of encouragement, and it wasn't just Juventini. There were supporters from every club. I guess that's the beautiful side of football." Lichsteiner also revealed that coach Massilimiano Allegri kept a close on eye on him during the match. "I always feel like I can score and so I try to be ready for whenever the opportunity comes. "After so much time out I knew that I would likely not be at my best, but I kept working hard. Allegri often checked on me and I was feeling good. "However I didn't expect to be starting, especially given that I had only participated in two training sessions before the match."

Pogba needs time to grow into Juventus role - Del Piero The 40-year-old believes Juve's new number 10 must be given more time to develop into the role, following calls for improvement from Massimiliano Allegri. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2914/champions-league/2015/11/05/17007982/-? Nov 5, 2015 Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero has called for patience towards Paul Pogba after his slow start to the season. Pogba has struggled for form since taking over the iconic number 10 shirt in Turin at the start of the campaign, and this has coincided with the Serie A champion's worst domestic start in over 30 years. Despite setting up Stephan Lichtsteiner in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Borussia Monchengladback on Wednesday, coach Massimiliano Allegri urged he still must improve. Yet Del Piero feels he must be given time to grow into the role. "Today it [the no. 10 shirt] is being worn by a very young and very talented player who half of Europe want to sign," he said. "Let's give him time to learn, to make mistakes and to grow."

BORUSSIA M. - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Fabian Johnson (18') Stephan Lichtsteiner (44') Matchday 4 Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Borussia Park Stadium, Mönchengladbach Referee:‬ Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) Attendance: 46217 Ancelotti writes off Juventus' Champions League chances, but predicts Scudetto challenge The former Real Madrid boss believes the departures of key players will stop Juve replicating the exploits of last season in Europe, but a title charge is still on the cards. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2565/exclusive/2015/11/05/17006512/-? Nov 5, 2015 Carlo Ancelotti has written off Juventus' chances of going all the way in this season's Champions League following the summer departures of Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo. The Bianconeri reached the final last term, losing 3-1 to Barcelona in Berlin, but have started the current season terribly after losing three of their key men. "I think it’s going to be really hard for them to reach the final again as they have lost so many good players," Ancelotti told Goal. "They signed a number of very good and young talented players who will surely do well, but they need time to understand the system. That’s why I think they won’t reach the final like last year." Although they are well placed to reach the Champions League knockouts, Juventus are currently languishing in 10th position in Serie A after 11 games - already nine points behind joint league leaders Fiorentina and Inter. However, Ancelotti insists the Bianconeri can re-enter the race for the Scudetto - even if he believes Roma are the favourites to take the crown this season. "I do not think Juventus are out of the fight for the Scudetto," he stressed. "It is a strange and very balanced championship this season. The average points won will be lower than usual and for this reason I think Juve still have time to recover. “The team that has the best chance of winning the title is Roma because their offense is probably the most dangerous. I think [despite their win over Roma on Saturday] Inter will still have some issues because they changed a lot this summer and it’s not easy to get all the new players on the same page. "Then there is Napoli, who have started very well the season. I think Napoli can only improve further. The players are learning Maurizio Sarri’s system and will do better as they get to know it. I like Sarri’s philosophy because it’s an attacking one." Ancelotti says he would reject the chance to return to Juventus should the struggling giants approach him to replace under-pressure coach Massimiliano Allegri. The ex-Real Madrid boss, who is currently unemployed after departing the Santiago Bernabeu this summer, coached Juventus from 1999 until 2001. He has been linked with a potential return to Turin following the Bianconeri's worst start to a domestic season in almost 30 years. "What if Juve approach me? It is natural there is talk about me going back to Italy, but I have already been there [at Juve]," Ancelotti said. "Also, I am attached to one team only in Italy [AC Milan]. "At Juve I had a good experience and I got on well with directors Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo. There was a nice atmosphere and I got to understand how important the relationship is between a club and its coach. "But I prefer an experience abroad as my next job. I had a very good time in England and appreciated the environment, the stadiums and the respect from fans. I would love to go back to England." Ancelotti also compared three of the big name presidents he has worked under during his coaching career - AC Milan's Silvio Berlusconi, Chelsea's Roman Abramovich and Real Madrid's Florentino Perez. "The thing they have in common is they all love football," he explained. "The differences are that Perez and Berlusconi were born with a team in their heart. Abramovich became fond of Chelsea later. Perez and Berlusconi are more fanatical about the game, while Abramovich is a little more detached." http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

Every Juventus player must give more - Sturaro The midfielder has admitted the reigning Serie A champions have not been good enough this term and must improve if they are to hold onto their crown. http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/04/16986802/-? Nov 4, 2015 Stefano Sturaro feels every Juventus player must up their work rate in order to get the team back on track after a disappointing start to the season. The Serie A champions sit 10th in the table after 10 games, trailing leaders Fiorentina and Inter by nine points. Midfielder Sturaro is adamant everybody at the club is committed to the cause, but has admitted they must keep growing if they are to be successful again. "Every one of us has to give more, even if we're all professionals, we are committed to the cause and we're training very hard," the midfielder told Sky Sport. "We need to keep growing as a group and get to know one another better. With each passing game, we face different situations." Juventus will be looking to return to winning ways when they meet Empoli at the weekend after they were held to a draw in Tuesday's Champions League encounter with Borussia Monchengladbach. And Sturaro said: "It's very important that we bring home three points. "Empoli are capable of asking similar questions of us as Borussia: they play good football and we'll need to be compact and deny them space in which to pass the ball around."

Has Allegri’s Time Come To An End? Oscar La Gambina questions whether the Bianconeri hierarchy must consider the exit door for an underperforming Massimiliano Allegri. http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/juventus-club-focus-has-allegris-time-come-to-an-end/? Nov 4, 2015 If there was one word to describe Juventus 2015/16 Serie A season so far, it would be ‘rollercoaster’; that also sufficiently defines these Club Focus features since August. Demonstrated perfectly in the seven days since we talked of the Bianconeri’s attacking prowess last week, they suffered yet another shock 1-0 defeat to surprise Serie A package Sassuolo, before claiming a huge 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole and then finally obtaining a point in the Champions League against Borussia Monchengladbach, which they have Gianluigi Buffon to thank after he made a series of outstanding saves to keep the match at 1-1. It is difficult to tell whether one game, one tactical decision or a single player will kick-start the season for good, just look at these articles over the past 11 weeks to prove it. However, with Paul Pogba grabbing yet another goal and Juan Cuadrado’s first and possibly most vital of the season in the 93rd minute against the Granata, there may still be reason to be optimistic for Bianconeri fans. However, talk of positivity has arisen once before, so it is probably best to avoid this during a discussion of a team stuck on a rollercoaster. How about a bold question instead; Should coach Massimiliano Allegri be sacked? Following the Derby win it might seem an inappropriate thing to ask, but it was a thought that surely crept into many a mind after the demoralising Sassuolo loss. Allegri’s history with clubs supports the view that he should perhaps be relieved of his duties. At AC Milan, he won the league title in his first season and a Supercoppa Italiana in his second. Following this, he was unable to secure another Scudetto, finishing in second and third place simultaneously. He was then fired in January 2014. During his time at Sassuolo, he helped them gain promotion to Serie B for the first time in their history and then left, while he finished an impressive ninth in Serie A with Cagliari before being surprisingly sacked, despite keeping the side up the following campaign. With success comes disappointment soon afterwards for the 48-year-old it seems, and so it would be no strange event if he was to depart La Vecchia Signora. Plus, whatever his CV looks like, their current position of 12th is simply not good enough for the reigning Italian champions. Fourth or fifth could maybe just be accepted for the moment as it would mean European football, but mid-table is a poor place for a club as big as Juventus to be in. Perhaps the only thing that is currently keeping him in the job, is their recent success in the lucrative Champions League. The tournament is for only the best of Europe’s top clubs and it can be the difference between keeping a job and getting the sack for a coach, but the league still has to be prioritised. Considering their domestic form, the possibility of European football is currently a long way off, and should this continue, Allegri could soon be facing the exit door.

BORUSSIA M. - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Fabian Johnson (18') Stephan Lichtsteiner (44') Matchday 4 Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Borussia Park Stadium, Mönchengladbach Referee:‬ Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) Attendance: 46217 Marchisio: Juventus Earned An Important Point Against Borussia Monchengladbach http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/marchisio-juventus-earned-an-important-point-against-borussia-monchengladbach/? Nov 4, 2015 Juventus’ Claudio Marchisio has praised his team’s performance during their 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League, claiming they played with heart. The Bianconeri found themselves a goal down early on in the game, though they battled back through Stephan Lichtsteiner to earn another vital point in their bid to qualify for the knockout rounds. “We wanted to secure qualification already here in Germany, but after the way they [borussia] played we ended up earning an important point,” Marchisio wrote on his official Facebook page. “It was a point that we won with great courage and heart. “We also remain unbeaten in the Champions League, which is another positive. “But we know we have to give much, much more and we have to do this even before the trip to Empoli [on Sunday]. “Now let’s think about the league. “Thanks to all the fans who have followed us this far.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

BORUSSIA M. - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Fabian Johnson (18') Stephan Lichtsteiner (44') Matchday 4 Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Borussia Park Stadium, Mönchengladbach Referee:‬ Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) Attendance: 46217 Sturaro: ‘Good point at Gladbach’ http://www.football-italia.net/75308/sturaro-%E2%80%98good-point-gladbach%E2%80%99? Nov 4, 2015 Juventus midfielder Stefano Sturaro insists a draw at Borussia Monchengladbach was “a good point.” The Bianconeri fell behind to the German side, but got back into the game, and appeared to be in the ascendancy until Hernanes was sent-off. “Considering how we started, in the end we brought home a good point,” Sturaro told Sky. “Borussia are a technical team who play well, and it wasn’t easy to get the equaliser. We did well to stick together in the difficult periods. “We have to continue to grow, in terms of playing together and knowing each other better. “Every game offers different situations, which maybe as a group we haven’t been able to overcome. Also, as the Coach [Max Allegri] says, we have to improve technically, and everyone must give more. “Of course, everyone is a professional, always on point and ready to be fight for the cause, that’s why we always train at the maximum.” The former Genoa man was then asked about Sunday’s match, which will see the Old Lady take on Empoli. “Empoli will present the same issues as Borussia in some ways. We have to be united, and not allow them to have space or hit balls forward, it’s very important that we bring home a win. “As for what happens next, we’ll see, now we just have think about winning one game after the other.” Finally, the Italian Under-21 international paid tribute to Stephan Lichtsteiner, who celebrated his return after heart surgery with a goal last night. “Stephan is a great professional,” Sturaro said. “He always trains with great character, determination and will-to-win. His game yesterday speaks for itself.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

Lichtsteiner: ‘Juventus not satisfied’ http://www.football-italia.net/75291/lichtsteiner-%E2%80%98juventus-not-satisfied%E2%80%99? Nov 4, 2015 Stephan Lichtsteiner says Juventus “can’t be satisfied” despite his goal after returning from heart surgery. The Swiss full-back scored a wonderful volley to equalise against Borussia Monchengladbach last night, but the Bianconeri could only draw 1-1 after Hernanes’ red card. “I’m very glad to be back on the pitch,” Lichtsteiner wrote on his official Facebook page. “Thanks to Paul [Pogba] for that golden pass. Despite my return, an important point and a goal, we can’t be satisfied with this game.” The Old Lady only need to take a point in the next game against Sevilla to be sure of a place in the Last 16 of the Champions League.

BORUSSIA M. - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Fabian Johnson (18') Stephan Lichtsteiner (44') Matchday 4 Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Borussia Park Stadium, Mönchengladbach Referee:‬ Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) Attendance: 46217 Stephan Lichtsteiner marks Juventus return after heart surgery with goal http://www.espnfc.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/story/2697504/stephan-lichtsteiner-marks-juventus-return-with-goal? Nov 4, 2015 Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has said he felt a duty to help his teammates as he marked his return from a heart operation with a crucial Champions League goal on Tuesday. Lichtsteiner, 31, has spent the last month on the sidelines after surgery was deemed necessary when he complained of breathing difficulties. A surprise starter at Borussia Monchengladbach, the Swiss defender justified coach Massimiliano Allegri's faith in him with the equaliser in a 1-1 draw 40 days after his last appearance. "It was important for me to come back immediately, even after only two training sessions -- there was no way I could leave the team in the lurch in such a delicate moment," he told Mediaset. "I want to lend a hand to the team. We wanted to win, but given the way the game went, and with the red card [for Hernanes after a challenge on Alvaro Dominguez], the result's fine." The point means Juve, who have struggled in Serie A this season, can join Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16 if they beat them at home. If they fail to do so, a draw at Sevilla in their final group game will suffice. But Allegri was irritated that Alvaro Morata was reprimanded by the referee for wearing odd socks. "You can't have a player who has to come off the field to change his socks because they are not identical," he said. "The rules are the rules and I'm very angry about this. If you want to go somewhere in the Champions League, you need to play better and have the right attitude, and we don't have this yet." Juve travel to Empoli on Sunday, looking to cut the nine-point gap to league leaders Inter Milan and Fiorentina prior to the international break. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

BORUSSIA M. - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Fabian Johnson (18') Stephan Lichtsteiner (44') Matchday 4 Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Borussia Park Stadium, Mönchengladbach Referee:‬ Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) Attendance: 46217 Giorgio Chiellini and Hernanes at Fault as Juventus Draw with Gladbach http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2585913-giorgio-chiellini-and-hernanes-at-fault-as-juventus-draw-with-gladbach? Nov 4, 2015 For the second time in two weeks, Borussia Monchengladbach held Juventus to a frustrating draw, the 1-1 final score merely the latest in a season of disappointing results for the Bianconeri. That first encounter—analysed in detail here—ended scoreless, with the attacking prowess of the Italian giants called into question as statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com showed they managed just two shots on target, despite dominating almost the entire game. That was certainly not the case this time around as Juventus gave a much improved all-round performance, only to be let down by two veteran players who should have too much experience to make the kind of mistakes seen at Borussia Park. After some stale midfield displays in recent weeks, Massimiliano Allegri opted to start Hernanes, with the Juventus coach hoping the Brazilian would bring some much-needed creativity both in open play and at set pieces. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 18 - Only Buffon (16) had fewer touches than Hernanes (18) in the first half of #BMGJuve. Lost. The 30-year-old failed to do so, however, with WhoScored showing he completed just 16 passes and took three shots, all of which failed to hit the target. After 53 ineffective minutes, Hernanes ensured his impact on the game was even more harmful with a senseless move. Inexplicably launching into a two-footed challenge on Alvaro Dominguez, Hernanes gave the referee no choice but to send him off, and Allegri deemed that moment to be the turning point of the game. “We had the feeling that the game was in hand and we could win,” the coach told Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) shortly after the final whistle. “But the dismissal changed the match and considering the circumstances it went well.” Gigi Buffon made crucial stops from Granit Xhaka, Lars Stindl and Thorgan Hazard, but otherwise Juventus were able to limit Gladbach’s chances despite their numerical disadvantage. Indeed, had it not been for a Giorgio Chiellini error in the first half, the Bianconeri could have been protecting a lead rather than preserving a point. The game was just 18 minutes old when the German side crossed the ball and, rather than make a simple clearance, the defender somehow passed the ball directly to Raffael instead. The Brazilian quickly found Fabian Johnson, and he made no mistake with an angled drive beyond Buffon. GOAL | Monchengladbach 1-0 Juve What was Chiellini thinking? The Germans have been gifted the lead. Courtesy: BT pic.twitter.com/O3LNlqiKS7 — fanatix (@therealfanatix) November 3, 2015 What makes matters worse is that Chiellini, 31, was only returning to the side after sitting out Saturday’s Turin derby due to suspension, banned for one game following an equally mindless red card against Sassuolo. Given the form of Andrea Barzagli and the presence of Daniele Rugani in the squad, Chiellini’s continued presence in the starting XI must now be highly questionable. His importance to the team over the past few years cannot be understated, but for now, a spell on the bench is perhaps best for all concerned. There were some positive points to take from this display, and those should not be forgotten. Paul Pogba continued his recent good form, while the significance of Stephan Lichtsteiner’s return must also be noted. Netting a wonderful equalising goal, the Switzerland international—who had been sidelined for a month after cardiac surgery—was as reliable as ever defensively, but he, too, was disappointed that he couldn’t help the Bianconeri claim all three points. “No, I wasn’t dreaming of a comeback like this, I wanted to win. Given how it went after we went down to 10 men, we’ll take it,” he told the club’s official website, going on to discuss his return to fitness. “I’m pleased, even though I’d only trained twice, it was important to get straight back into action at full tilt.” With Juventus now sitting in second place in Group D, those errors from Hernanes and Chiellini prevented the Old Lady from securing qualification with two games to spare. Juve will return to Champions League action after the international break, needing to take points from Manchester City and Sevilla to achieve that aim; a task now made more difficult than it needed to be. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

BORUSSIA M. - JUVENTUS 1 - 1 Fabian Johnson (18') Stephan Lichtsteiner (44') Matchday 4 Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Borussia Park Stadium, Mönchengladbach Referee:‬ Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) Attendance: 46217 Pogba: Juventus Were Desperate To Beat Borussia http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/pogba-juventus-were-desperate-to-beat-borussia/? Nov 4, 2015 Paul Pogba has stated Juventus wanted to win Tuesday night’s Champions League fixture with Borussia Monchengladbach however settled for a 1-1 draw following a Hernanes red card. The French midfielder was instrumental in ensuring the Bianconeri earned a result in Germany, providing the assist for Stephan Lichtsteiner’s 44th minute equaliser. Nevertheless, Pogba believes his team have a lot to take away from the match. “After the expulsion, we did very well,” Pogba told Premium Sport. “We wanted to win but we bring home a draw, [and] that’s ok. “I work to always give 100% but that’s football, one day you’re there and another you’re not. “But I think I did well for the team.” The draw brings Juventus closer to the knockout stage of the Champions League where a win at home to Manchester City would send them through to the round of 16. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10