Socrates

Marotta: ‘Dybala needs time’ http://www.football-italia.net/74723/marotta-%E2%80%98dybala-needs-time%E2%80%99? Oct 23, 2015 Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta calls on fans and media to be patient with Paulo Dybala. The forward joined the Bianconeri from Palermo this summer, but has only made cameo appearances in the last two games against Inter and Borussia Monchengladbach. “We’re convinced we’ve built a competitive team, with talents like Dybala,” Marotta told journalists after the shareholders’ meeting. “A top team has an obligation to look for the best talent. That’s how it was with Pogba and Coman, who by the way asked to leave for Bayern Munich. “Dybala is a talent, but he can’t give immediate answers. He will be a lot better in the years to come, because switching from a provincial team like Palermo to one like Juventus means big tests in terms of criticism, training… “As for our expectations, he’s doing well, the results shouldn’t just be down to him. We appreciate him, he’s a smart lad and a great professional. “From my experience, he’s the kind of player who will go right to the top.” Marotta also reiterated his stance on Carlos Tevez, who was allowed to return to Boca Juniors this summer. “Tevez is a top player, and he readily agreed to come to us, even though he had a big contract with Manchester City. “When you’re 30-years-old and you want to return to Argentina, it’s detrimental to everyone to cause a confrontation. We were dealing with a man, not a spoiled 16-year-old kid. “We sold him for his value on the balance sheet at that time, around €6m, and got first option on some promising youngsters. “We simply responded to the wishes of a professional.”

Agnelli: ‘Not criticising Allegri’ http://www.football-italia.net/74721/agnelli-%E2%80%98not-criticising-allegri%E2%80%99? Oct 23, 2015 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli clarifies comments today, which were construed as a criticism of Coach Max Allegri. Today is the meeting of Bianconeri shareholders, and the patron declared that changes to the squad were no justification for a lowly League position. “After my statement at the meeting, what I said about the unacceptability of Juventus being 14th right now is being taken as a personal criticism,” Agnelli told reporters at a Press conference. “I want to emphasise that from my point of view, everyone who works at Juventus, from the President to the club shop, should be aware that Juventus being in 14th-place is unacceptable. “In addition, everyone who works at Juventus, from the President to the club shop, should know that they have to work to bring Juventus back to a competitive position this season. “So my reasoning is this: for Juventus to be in 14th-place is unacceptable.” It was also announced today that Pavel Nedved has been appointed as vice-President of the Turin giants, and Agnelli praised the former midfielder. “It’s a great pleasure to have Pavel Nedved, the next vice-President of Juventus here alongside me. “What Pavel represented on the field is not for me to say, many of you [the media] have described his exploits on the pitch throughout his career. “What I can talk about is the enormous growth Pavel has shown in the last five years as a Juventus director, it has been a continuous and constant improvement, just like his playing career. “Today Pavel is a man, a leader, who is fully aware of the various activities which take place throughout the club, of course with specific expertise in what happens on the pitch, but now he has a commercial sensibility that he didn’t have before, in terms of analysing the budget of a sports club. “Now Pavel has all of the skills to allow him to represent the club. Pavel has acquired the skills to allow him to go further in his career. “Pavel knows that, if he wanted it, he could be President of the Czech FA tomorrow, and that’s an example of something more he might want to aspire to in 10 or 12 years. “He knows he can continue to grow with Juventus, but the important thing is that he grows professionally in every sense.”

Nedved appointed Juventus VP http://www.football-italia.net/74720/nedved-appointed-juventus-vp? Oct 23, 2015 Juventus have appointed Pavel Nedved as the club’s new vice-President. The former midfielder was on the board of directors in Turin, having retired from playing for the club in 2009. A brief statement on the club’s official Twitter page announced that Nedved has been nominated by the board as the new vice-President. Nicknamed ‘The Czech Fury’, Nedved spent eight years as a player in Turin, winning four Scudetti and being awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2003. He further endeared himself to the Bianconeri faithful after the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, remaining with the club in Serie B and scoring 11 goals as the Old Lady secured promotion.

JUVENTUS - ATALANTA - MATCHDAY 9 Sunday, October 25th, 2015 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Marco Di Bello Juventus V Atalanta- Preview: Bianconeri Looking To Find Three Points Against In Form Dea http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/juventus-v-atalanta-preview-bianconeri-looking-to-find-three-points-against-in-form-dea/? Oct 23, 2015 Juventus host Atalanta at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday afternoon in Serie A as they look to climb the table. The Bianconeri have lost three games so far in Serie A this season, drawing another three and winning just two. The Bianconeri drew 0-0 with Inter in the Derby d’Italia last week. It was an encouraging display compared to the start of the season, but the problem of scoring goals was still visible as the Old Lady have struggled to be effective up front, having scored just nine goals so far this season in Serie A. Atalanta, meanwhile, are in great form and sit in 8th place with 14 points having won last weekend 3-0 against Carpi. Thanks to Alejandro Gomez’s wonder goal, the Dea went back to winning ways after losing to Fiorentina the previous week. Before that, their only other loss against Inter in the first game of the season, which was followed by five games unbeaten. Last season’s fixtures saw the Bianconeri win both games against the Dea. Juve won 2-1 in Turin thanks to goals from Andrea Pirlo and Fernando Llorente, and 0-3 in Bergamo thanks to a Carlos Tevez double. Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri may stat Paulo Dybala ahead of Simone Zaza who has been criticised by fans recently for his lack of goals. Mario Mandzukic has also struggled to perform to his level and should start on the bench as well. Allegri can count on most of his squad, with only Stephan Lichtsteiner and Martin Caceres still unavailable. Atalanta boss Edy Reja also has most his squad available, apart from Marcelo Estigarribia. Gomez and Maxi Moralez should start up front on either side of Mauricio Pinilla, who could be preferred to captain German Denis. Reja will confirm the new starting midfield with 20-year-old Alberto Grassi and expert Luca Cigarini alongside Marten De Roon, one of the surprises of Atalanta’s start to this season. Form Guide: Juventus (W-L-D-W-D) Atalanta (D-W-W-L-W) Expected Starting XIs: Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado, Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Evra; Dybala, Morata. Atalanta: Sportiello; Masiello, Toloi, Paletta, Dramé; Grassi, De Roon, Cigarini; Moralez, Pinilla, Gomez. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Marotta: ‘Cuadrado wants to stay’ http://www.football-italia.net/74713/marotta-%E2%80%98cuadrado-wants-stay%E2%80%99? Oct 23, 2015 Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta confirms on-loan Chelsea man Juan Cuadrado wants to stay in Turin. The Colombian winger joined the Bianconeri this summer on a season-long loan, but without a redemption clause. “We have no right of redemption, at Chelsea’s request,” Marotta acknowledged at the shareholder’s meeting. “He’s expressed his happiness at being here with us, and [his happiness to] continue here in future. “We’ll look at things with Chelsea at the appropriate time, but it’s very likely that there will be a good conclusion.” Marotta was also asked about the capture of Hernanes, and admits signing the Brazilian from Inter was not the club’s first choice. “Allegri never specifically asked for a trequartista. He gave us certain characteristics, but the formation is down to the players you have in the squad. “Hernanes arrived in extremis, he wasn’t first choice, and we never thought we were bringing in a phenomenon, but he was available, and we like him. “His sale represented an economic loss for Inter.” The director also hinted that Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi could arrive in Turin next summer, despite selling him outright this year. “At the moment he’s totally owned by Sassuolo,” Marotta explained. “We’re monitoring him, and we’ll have a consultation at the end of the season. We have an excellent relationship with Sassuolo.”

Agnelli: ‘Changes don’t justify position’ http://www.football-italia.net/74707/agnelli-%E2%80%98changes-don%E2%80%99t-justify-position%E2%80%99? Oct 23, 2015 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli warns changes to the squad are “not a justification for 14th-place.” The Bianconeri overhauled the team this summer, with Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal among those leaving, with the likes Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala coming in. “We were aware that the process of renewing the Juventus squad could create some difficulties,” Agnelli admitted at the shareholder’s meeting. “But it’s not a justification for our current 14th-place in the table. The investments in [Paulo] Dybala, [Mario] Lemina, [Daniele] Rugani, [Alvaro] Morata, [stefano] Sturaro, [Paul] Pogba and [simone] Zaza guarantee us a great future. “We’re always vigilant on the transfer market, and we’re ready to take advantages of opportunities like the Tevez one.” Agnelli also laid out his ideas for reform in Italian football, something he believes is necessary to compete with the top sides in Europe. “Italian football is in a transitional phase, and to reach the big European sides we need a national approach. “I’ve never shied away from the fact that more money could be given to the lower Leagues, but in the context of a well-defined plan. “Reducing the number of teams is critical, as is the introduction of B teams. B teams would allow us to have fewer loans, like in the Premier League. “Premier League clubs have 175 players out on loan. In Serie A it’s 452. That’s how you lose control of a player’s development. “Given the importance of sport in the Italian economic system, a consolidated sports plan would guarantee greater efficiency. “In terms of competitiveness, Italy is losing ground to foreign Leagues. Every crisis brings opportunity, if you have the courage to face up to the problems. “Italian football needs a credible response, credible proposals and credible people. “In short, it needs change.”

3 Biggest Worries for Juventus' 2015-16 Season so Far http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2581868-3-biggest-worries-for-juventus-201516-season-so-far? Oct 23, 2015 It's been a rough season for Juventus. The four-time defending champions have been hit hard by injuries and have yet to adjust to life without the key players who left during the summer transfer window. The result of those struggles is stark. After losing only four games all of last year, Juve have already fallen three times this year. They've only won twice in the league, and after eight games, they're in 14th place, nine points behind leaders Fiorentina and eight away from a Champions League place. The possibility of getting into next year's Champions League by winning the trophy still stands. The team has turned in much better performances in Europe, but still, with teams like Bayern Munich running around, it will be a difficult time. There is still time for the Bianconeri to right the ship, but they need to address several issues in order for that to happen. What needs to get fixed? Here are three of the biggest issues Juve have had to deal with so far this term. Right-Back At full-strength, the right-back spot for Juve is ridiculously strong. Stephan Lichtsteiner and Martin Caceres are incredibly talented. Both are world-class options on the right flank. Each can play as a traditional full-back or as a wing-back in a 3-5-2 should Massimiliano Allegri decide to go that route. Unfortunately, neither has been available lately. Caceres has had to deal with injuries since October of last season. He's still unavailable for at least another week after spraining an ankle on international duty with Uruguay. Factor in the team's internal suspension of the player after he crashed his Ferrari at the end of September in an alleged drunk-driving incident—his second in a year—and the next time he plays in a Juventus shirt will be the first time fans have seen him in a month. Lichtsteiner's situation is a bit frightening. After suffering breathing difficulties in a match against Frosinone last month, Lichtsteiner was diagnosed with minor heart arrhythmia and had surgery to correct it on October 2. Since then, there has been a flurry of claims and counterclaims as to how long he will be out. World-renowned cardiologist Bruno Caru—who didn't participate in Lichtsteiner's procedure—claimed shortly after the surgery that he would need to sit out for six months before going back to action. Fiorenzo Gaita, who performed the operation, countered, saying that he would only need a month of recovery if there are no setbacks. It's understandable that the medical community would want to err on the side of caution when it comes to heart ailments. The ghost of Piermario Morosini haunts these situations. It's why Jonathan Biabiany just spent a year on the sidelines. But while the clamor of just how long Lichtsteiner will be out continues, Juventus need to act. With both Lichtsteiner and Caceres on the shelf, Juve are operating without a right-back. That has forced Allegri to play a hybrid 3-5-2, with Juan Cuadrado on the right wing. It's become pretty clear over the last year that that formation isn't exactly in Allegri's wheelhouse, and using Andrea Barzagli as a full-back can only be a temporary solution. Juventus need to get cover for the position in January. When Caceres comes back, he will need a backup if Lichtsteiner is out for an extended period of time. Until then, they need to focus on getting the Uruguayan healthy and keeping him that way until the winter break. If Wednesday's game against Borussia Monchengladbach is any indication, the 3-5-2 is, as it was last year, not serving the team as well under Allegri as it did under Antonio Conte. Finishing Despite their dominance of Italian football, Juve's success since Conte's arrival in 2011 has often been characterized by one major weakness: poor finishing. Until the arrival of Carlos Tevez before the 2013-14 season, Juve's forwards were anything but clinical. In Conte's first two seasons, his top scorer was a midfielder—Claudio Marchisio in 2011-12 and Arturo Vidal in 2012-13. It was why a top forward like Tevez was on the top of director Giuseppe Marotta's shopping list. Unfortunately, Tevez's departure has caused a recurrence of that problem. Juve's forwards have scored only five times in league play—and top scorer Paulo Dybala's total of three includes a pair of penalties. Wednesday's Champions League game against Monchengladbach was a prime example of just how badly Juve's forwards are misfiring. The team launched 22 shots—but only two of them were on target. Paul Pogba hit both those shots on target, with two long-range efforts from midfield. In the meantime, Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata spurned multiple chances. Morata has waffled between too selfish and not selfish enough, but some nagging injuries have prevented him from starting every game. It hasn't helped that Morata has been the only constant in Juve's front line so far. Allegri hasn't given him a consistent partner all season, and the one he's performed the best with—Dybala—has for some reason not gotten any minutes. If the flux on the front line stops, Morata and whichever long-term partner he gets—preferably Dybala—will get time to develop the kind of chemistry that the young Spaniard had with Tevez, or that Tevez had with Fernando Llorente two seasons ago. That will mean goals. But especially now, as they go into a series of winnable league games, they cannot afford to be wasteful in front of goal. Injuries Injuries have been a massive issue for Juve throughout the year. Apart from Caceres, Lichtsteiner and Morata, Mario Mandzukic, Andrea Barzagli, Stefano Sturaro, Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio have all missed significant time this season. Kwadwo Asamoah has only just returned from a major injury that claimed almost the entire season from him last year. Those injuries have exacerbated the chemistry issues that stemmed from the losses Juve suffered in the transfer market. The midfield was particularly affected, as Sturaro and Mario Lemina were thrown into the fire and Simone Padoin was used as an emergency measure as well. That saw Pogba overplay, attempting to do far too much with the ball. The return of Khedira and Marchisio has seen him calm down and begin to play more within himself. Now, Allegri has his entire team at his disposal, with the exception of his two right-backs. Going forward, he needs to focus on keeping it that way. One of his biggest problems at AC Milan was a constant injury issue. Given the need to develop chemistry after so many changes over the summer, a similar problem at Juve would spell death. Hopefully the issues are put to bed. If they are, Juve can put their season back together. If not, it will be a difficult year ahead.

Juventus loanee Federico Mattielo breaks his leg for a second time http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/23/9601024/federico-mattiello-injury-chievo-verona-juventus-2015-serie-a-news Oct 23, 2015 Even when they're not playing at Juventus during the current season, they're bound to get injured. This is the reality we are being forced to deal with right now. It doesn't matter if they're officially on the senior squad roster or just on the books because they're out on loan, nobody is safe. Absolutely nobody. And why does it have to be Federico Mattiello? Why oh why does it have to be Federico Mattiello? Mattiello, who is spending his first-full season on loan at Chievo this year, has broken the same leg that he hurt earlier in the calendar year when he was tackled in the game against Roma. It was initially thought that the 20-year-old Italian, a member of the Azzurrini, "only" sprained his ankle. But, upon further review, the diagnosis for young Federico is much, much worse than that. From the Chievo official website: A.C. ChievoVerona announces that Federico Mattiello suffered a compound fracture in his right tibia after twisting his ankle. He broke his right leg earlier this year. Chairman Luca Campedelli, Sports Director Luca Nember, Coach Rolando Maran and everyone at ChievoVerona wish him a speedy recovery. Mattiello, who missed the start of the season because he was still recuperating from his first broken leg, had just played a full 90 minutes for the first time since said injury occurred. in Chievo's 3-2 loss to Genoa this past weekend. He recorded an assist, too, as he got the start at right back for Chievo. But now, instead of building off a good performance for a club that obviously believes in him, it's pretty clear what Mattiello's future holds. It's the same kind of rehab that he went through earlier this year, something that certainly wasn't easy the first time around, let alone a second round within the span of about seven months or so. Via Twitter, Juventus sent out well wishes to one of their most recent primavera graduates. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfc Un grande in bocca al lupo a @mattiellofede da tutti noi! #TornaPrestoFede! Amen to that. Get well, Federico. And may you drink lots of milk to build strong bones in the future.

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) JUVENTUS 0-0 BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYER RATINGS A lacklustre Juventus failed to break down a resolute Gladbach side in a disappointing 0-0. Here’s a round-up of how the team performed. http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-0-0-borussia-monchengladbach-champions-league-player-ratings/? Oct 22, 2015 It was a poor display, no two ways about it. Juve dominated the game, bossed the midfield and limited Gladbach to a handfull of chances…..but they failed to make any of it count with a winning goal. Gigi Buffon 6.5 - Even in a game where he had very little to do, he still managed to make a vital save and picked up what few efforts on goal there were. An extra point for his record-breaking appearance last night. Andrea Barzagli 6.5 - A defensive highlight. At age 34, he’s turning back the clock and seemingly getting better in a new role at right-back. Solid in his defensive duties, brilliant when overlapping with Cuadrado to get Juve going. Leonardo Bonucci 6.0 - Untroubled, much like the rest of the Juve defence. Provided soem good crosses from the back to try and creative opportunities for the strikers. Giorgio Chiellini 6.5 - Dangerous from the set pieces that Juve created, defensively sound and didn’t put a foot wrong all night. Superb Juan Cuadrado 6.0 - Met his match against Wendt who did a very good job in limiting the Colombian. An average display by his standards. Claudio Marchisio 6.0 - Kept it simple and did that very well. Defended the back-3, looked to get the team moving forward when options looked limited. Sami Khedira 6.0 - A very average display from a midfielder who showed lots of promise in his last two games. Failed to really impose himself on the game and created nothing of note. Paul Pogba 6.0 - A much improved display and some signs that he’s returning to the Pogba of old. Had two very decent chances on goal and forced a save from one of them. Ponderous at times and lacked his usual dynamism as the game closed out. Alex Sandro 6.0 - A lot was expected of the ex Porto left back, and while he had one or two moments of promise, the final delivery wasn’t there. Perhaps could have done better if he had been a bit braver in the final third of the pitch. Mario Mandzukic 5.0 - Poor is an understatement. Totally MIA for the entire game and didn't look on the same wavelength as the rest of the team. Very disappointing. Alvaro Morata 6.0 - Carried the attack all on his own, pulling wide left when he could, then cutting into the box to try and force the issue when it became apparent Juve were lacking any real attacking threat. Substitutes Paulo Dybala N/A - Some nice touches and passing in a brief cameo. Simone Zaza N/A - Never really got the chance to make a telling contribution. Made some good runs despite getting criticism for being a one dimensional player. Roberto Pereyra N/A - Made a one worthy run into the box but other than that, he was absent during his 20 minute cameo. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) JUVENTUS 0-0 BORUSSIA MÖNCHENGLADBACH CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Juventus dominated possession but failed to make their chances count in a drab 0-0 against Gladbach. http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-0-0-borussia-monchengladbach-champions-league/? Oct 22, 2015 I’ll admit, it took me fully 24 hours to calm myself and sit down in front of a computer to write this ‘report’. Typically, I would just highlight what happened in the match and comment on the chances Juve and/or Gladbach created….except there were none, or at least none that i can actually remember. The game started in a confident fashion, Juve holding the ball well, the midfield putting together some very good passes back and forth and Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado pushing forward down the flanks. There was some half chances, Paul Pogba creating a chance from distance and Cuadrado skimming the crossbar, and that looked promising for a while, but it wasn’t to last. The remainder of the game seemed to revolve around the Juve defence snuffing out what little Gladbach offered in terms of attacking threat, passing the pall into midfield, where it all seemed a little pedestrian. Passing out wide was all well and good, but when Bonucci shot from outside the D, you got the impression that this game was going to end in a draw or possibly stealing a late goal. I doubt anyone will bother reading my ramblings, but if you did take the time to read this Juventino’s rant, write ‘Del Piero for president’ in the comment section at the foot of this page. It’ll make me smile and take my mind off two dismal draws in a row. 5 Positives 1. A clean sheet – Given the dismal start to this season, two clean sheets in a row is not a bad thing and perhaps it’s an indicator that in this new look 4-3-3/3-5-2 hybrid, Juve are getting at least oen thing right. 2. Paul Pogba – Yes, i know, i know. It was a poor result and Pogba didn’t play that well. The reason i mention it as a positive is because it’s a marked improvement on his earlier displays this season. He even managed to get a shot on target and continued to do the simple things right. It’s a start. 3. Andrea Barzagli – Probably the highlight of the night (and the last two matches) – Barzagli at right-back is a thing of wonder. Twice, i’ve seen him intercept a dangerous looking pass and then gallop down the right to turn defence into attack. 34 years old and he’s still surprising us. Bravo! 4. Buffon sets a record – For those that didn’t know, Gigi Buffon set a record last night. He surpassed Del Piero’s record for minutes played in competitive games for Juventus. Quite an achievement and a fitting record for such a commited player. Gigi, I salute you 5. The attack – It was 0-0, you’re thinking. How can he talk about the attack as a positive ?! Well I look at it this way: We still haven’t found the perfect pairing up front. Zaza is a bettering ram, Morata looks lost when he’s playing out wide, Mandzukic is still recovering and Dybala is still being eased in, according to Allegri. I hold out a firm hope that once Allegri decides on a attacking partnership AND STICKS WITH IT, the goals will start flowing (My personal preference is for Dybala and Morata) Statistics Man of the Match: Andrea Barzagli Flop of the Match: The entire team with the exception of the defence and Gigi Buffon Corners: 5 Pass Accuracy: 85% Shots on Target: 2 Total Shots: 22 Ball Possession: 53% Formation: 4-3-3/3-5-2 Formation Lineups Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Cuadrado (Pereyra 60), Khedira, Marchisio, Pogba, Alex Sandro; Morata (Dybala 81), Mandzukic (Zaza 70) Borussia Monchengladbach: Sommer; Korb, Christensen, Dominguez, Wendt; Traore (Hahn 82), Dahoud (Nordtveit 87), Xhaka, Johnson; Stindl, Raffael (Hazard 74) Ref: Johnson (SCO) Who was your man of the match against Gladbach? Barzagli 93% Sandro 7% Buffon 0% Bonucci 0% Chiellini 0% Cuadrado 0% Khedira 0% Marchisio 0% Morata 0% Mandzukic 0% http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

Paulo Dybala should leave Juventus - Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2677090/paulo-dybala-should-leave-juventus-palermo-chief-zamparini? Oct 22, 2015 Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini says he has written to his club's former forward Paulo Dybala, now at Juventus, to advise him to seek a transfer in the winter. Dybala moved from Palermo to Turin for €32 million four months ago, but he has failed to hold down a regular starting berth under Massimiliano Allegri, and Zamparini accused the Juve coach of "ruining" the 21-year-old. "I'm really annoyed with Allegri because he's ruining a champion," Zamparini told Radio Sportiva in quotes reported by Tuttosport. "Dybala personifies football, Allegri doesn't. "When somebody personifies football like Messi does, then they should be given liberty and not forced into certain tactics. Allegri should train Mandzukic and the others, but this way he's ruining Dybala. "I've written to Paulo telling him to ask Juve to send him elsewhere. I've told him to make friends with the veterans, who I think are jealous of him. Allegri is destroying the work that Conte did. "He's got his ideas all confused. Dybala deserves a different coach. In just seven minutes yesterday [against Borussia Monchengladbach], you could see the difference he makes." Zamparini said Inter Milan would be a good place for Dybala, saying the Nerazzurri would be serious title candidates with the Argentine forward. "They've got a Scudetto-winning coach, and Roberto Mancini, for example, would play Dybala all the time, and maybe they would win the Scudetto," he said. Dybala has scored three goals in seven Serie A matches for Juve this season, but he has started only four of those matches, with Allegri repeating that he still needs to find his feet and improve before becoming a regular.

Marchisio: ‘Pogba is very strong’ http://www.football-italia.net/74673/marchisio-%E2%80%98pogba-very-strong%E2%80%99? Oct 22, 2015 Claudio Marchisio defends his Juventus teammate Paul Pogba - “his qualities can make all the difference.” The 22-year-old has attracted criticism this season, with suggestions he’s struggling to handle the pressure of playing in the number 10 shirt, and without Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. “Pogba? It’s normal that when you’re that good there’s a lot of expectation,” Marchisio explained to Sky. “Paul has done really well in the last few years since he’s been here at Juventus, and it’s normal that when important players leave, above all in the midfield, that expectations are growing more and more. “But I repeat, he’s a very good player who has a great future ahead of him. Paul knows what his strengths are. “He has to think exclusively about playing for the team, and about his qualities, which can make all the difference.” Marchisio was absent at the start of the season through injury, and is looking to help the side climb the table now he has returned. “I’m better, and I’m definitely glad to be back on the pitch after a long lay-off, which had never happened to me before. “Being out and seeing my teammates play is never good, you always want to be on the pitch making your contribution, even more so this season as the start wasn’t easy. “Now I’m back and we’re all ready to return to the highest possible level. “We’ve had difficulty in the last two games [inter and Borussia Monchengladbach], we got two 0-0 results in a row, so it’s normal that we’d ask why Juventus failed to score. “Since the start of the season the team has always played well, and created a lot more. We’ve converted less in the final third though, and that makes you think. “Particularly in the final third, in our choice of pass, we have to find the teammate in the best position. “Yesterday evening there’s also the fact we didn’t find the goal despite a frenzy of shots, we didn’t stay calm and evaluate the best choice to make. “So we’re at a point where we have to work quickly.” The midfielder also took the time to praise another of his midfield colleagues, new signing Sami Khedira. “He’s played in great teams and won a lot,” Marchisio noted. “He has great experience. He’s close with all the players, and has integrated very well on and off the pitch. “He also started with a big injury, I can say that he’s a great worker. He’s worked well to make himself immediately available and make a contribution. “The fact he came back and managed to score means he certainly helped the team.”

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Tacchinardi: ‘Don’t blame Allegri’ http://www.football-italia.net/74670/tacchinardi-%E2%80%98don%E2%80%99t-blame-allegri%E2%80%99? Oct 22, 2015 Former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi says Coach Max Allegri is not to blame for the club’s struggles. The Bianconeri are currently in 14th-place in Serie A, and were uninspiring in a 0-0 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League last night. Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini accused the Coach of “ruining” Paulo Dybala, but one former Bianconeri start doesn’t believe Allegri is at fault. “The reality is that the absence of Tevez is weighing heavily on them,” Tacchinardi told Tuttomercatoweb. “Allegri is trying a lot of partnerships, but they’re not only not in sync with each other, but also the team. The problem in Italy is that we only look at the result and people often speak out of turn. “In a perfectly-functioning team Dybala would be an important player, if not he struggles too. Zaza was one of the best Italian players at Sassuolo last year, and now he’s being criticised. “I don’t think it’s that he’s forgotten how to play. The same for Alex Sandro, who didn’t seem to be on the pitch yesterday, I don’t think I saw him yesterday. “In short, don’t blame the players or Allegri. If anything it’s proof of how a top-level player can change your team. “Look at other examples. When Roma had Benatia at the back, they hardly conceded a goal, now Coach Rudi Garcia is being criticised for the defending. “Nocerino scored 11 goals playing with Ibrahimovic at Milan. “Allegri is trying his best to get all of the best players on the pitch, but no-one is displaying the leadership that Tevez did. “With him you win the kind of match we saw yesterday.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Pogba angry Morata didn't pass in Monchengladbach stalemate The Juventus midfielder brushed of doubts about his form and claimed he could have scored on Wednesday if the Spanish striker had passed the ball to him at the "crucial moment". http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/10/22/16574262/-? Oct 22, 2015 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba admits he was angry team-mate Alvaro Morata failed to pass to him in Wednesday's goalless draw against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League. Pogba came closest to breaking the deadlock for Juve in Turin with a free-kick which was well saved by Yann Sommer and he would have had another good chance to score had the former Real Madrid striker passed in the first half rather than shot. After Juve's lead at the top of Group D was cut to a point, Pogba said: "I was angry with Morata and I hope that in the next match he will pass me the ball in the crucial moment." The France midfielder, having been linked with moves to Barcelona and Chelsea in the close-season, has scored just once this term, but he insists he will find his form again soon. Having been given the iconic number 10 shirt formerly worn by the likes of Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio, Pogba maintains he has the ability to get back to his best and denies his new number has created added pressure. "I'm not weighed down by the shirt," he told Mediaset Premium. "It's just a number, if it had been anything else nobody would say anything. "I always want to do well and follow what the coach asks me to do. I'm not interested in anything else, as I'm 100 per cent focused on improving. "I'm sure that I will score very soon and that I will do better for me and for the club." http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Pogba emblematic of frustrating Juventus Paul Pogba showed some promising signs, but Juventus lost their perfect Champions League record to draw 0-0 with Borussia Monchengladbach. Luca Cetta writes. http://www.football-italia.net/74662/pogba-emblematic-frustrating-juventus? Oct 22, 2015 It seems odd to say about a 22-year-old in only his fourth season of regular competitive action, but in some regards it was vintage Paul Pogba against Borussia Monchengladbach. On a day when iconic series Back to the Future was at the forefront of public consciousness, it was pleasing to witness Pogba returning to his stride. Struggling to make an impression this term with the No 10 on his back and greater responsibility on his shoulders following an extensive transfer campaign, Coach Massimiliano Allegri has admitted to wanting more from his mercurial talent. “He is an important player for Juventus, a player who has to give us a great deal and I expect a lot from him too,” Allegri stated in the pre-match Press Conference. Against Borussia he was heavily involved. Only Leonardo Bonucci was on the ball more often. There was incisiveness about his movements and delivery and for the most part Pogba kept to Allegri’s mandate, which is to keep it simple. Keep possession ticking over. Don’t take on one player too many. But there lingered signs of the frustrated figure. Thrust into a leadership role, especially in the absence of Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira, Pogba has appeared bogged down by burden. A youngster who took the lead from the impressive cast around him, the departures of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal also meant a departure of sorts for Pogba himself. It was only natural that it would take time to adapt. Juventus fired 21 shots at goal against Borussia. A massive ten came from the boot of Pogba – including the only two saves Yann Sommer was forced to make. Some were wayward, others drawing gasps of anguish from an increasingly anxious home crowd. In the final third the Frenchman appeared to maintain the belief that he had to be the player to conjure the magic. “10 is just a number,” he roared afterwards, deflecting criticism levelled his way. “If I’d scored a goal tonight, nobody would’ve asked me about the number. It’s true that I have to do what the Coach says, but I also have to play my style of football. I need patience, I hope a goal will arrive soon and I continue to be at the disposal of the team.” Pogba’s mishmash reflected that of the team. Juventus were dominant throughout, but the shot count told the tale. It wasn’t a poor outing, but it never hit great heights. The Monchengladbach wall stood firm and Sommer was rarely tested, with Juve reduced to attempts from distance. Gianluigi Buffon – who made history by surpassing Alessandro Del Piero for the most minutes played at the club – likened it to boxing. Juventus would have won on points, he stated, but could not land the killer blow. It was a thought echoed by Allegri, as the Bianconeri notched consecutive scoreless draws. Had Alvaro Dominguez seen red late in the first half it may have turned out differently. Alas, the Bianconeri were at times lethargic, notably after the interval. With the attack probing without much success Allegri made a curious substitution. Simone Zaza was sent on to replace Mario Mandzukic, keeping Paulo Dybala on the bench. Allegri stressed Juventus needed “a more physical frontline”, hence partnering the Croat and Alvaro Morata. But the Italian international’s 70th minute arrival did little to interrupt the flow. Dybala has it in his arsenal to unlock a defence but was handed only the final 10 minutes. Allegri said afterwards that the Argentine needs time to mature. Morata went through the same process last term. But Dybala played just 12 minutes against Inter and could have been introduced earlier as Juve searched for a way past the Germans. Manchester City’s last-gasp winner versus Sevilla puts added pressure on the Old Lady’s trip to Borussia-Park in a fortnight. Twice on the road in the final three matches, Juventus are currently a point clear of the English outfit. Seven points from three matches is a good return from a tough group and the first two performances were impressive, but Juve would have expected to win this one. They can take some positives out of it. Unlike in Serie A, Juventus continue to dominate proceedings. They still top the group. However, as with Pogba, consistency and inspiration in attack is lacking. This is where the Bianconeri must improve. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Juventus' Attacking Woes Continue in Goalless Draw with Borussia Monchengladbach http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2581567-juventus-attacking-woes-continue-in-goalless-draw-with-borussia-monchengladbach? Oct 22, 2015 Welcoming Borussia Monchengladbach to Juventus Stadium on Wednesday evening, Italian football’s grand Old Lady failed to capitalise on the opportunity to seize total control over Champions League Group D. The Bianconeri had won their opening two fixtures, taking maximum points with excellent displays against Manchester City and Sevilla, but could not find their way past the well-organised German side. Having also failed to score against Inter in their most recent Serie A outing, this encounter highlighted the continued lack of a cutting edge in front of goal. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 12 - Juventus fired 12 total shots (incl. blocked) in the 1st half vs Gladbach: none of these were on target. Inaccurate. That is something that has blighted the Turin giants throughout the early stages of 2015/16, the side having netted just nine times in their opening eight league outings. According to statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, coach Massimiliano Allegri’s men managed just two shots on target against Borussia, despite dominating almost the entire game. The same source shows that both those efforts came from Paul Pogba, a fact that does not reflect well on Juve's attacking players. Alvaro Morata and Mario Mandzukic started this match, while both Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza would be introduced as second-half substitutes, yet none of them tested the opposition goalkeeper. None of that quartet have found their best form so far this term, and Allegri was not afraid to speak out against his underperforming side as he spoke to Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia) shortly after the final whistle: If we look at the clear-cut scoring opportunities, there were few. However, if we look at the chances that could’ve turned into goals, we created quite a lot. Sometimes we made the wrong choice or were too egotistical. We should’ve changed the game and broken the deadlock by playing the final ball better. We had a similar situation at San Siro and once again failed to capitalise on our possession. Tonight I am very angry, because we have to do better in the final third. We should’ve scored at San Siro and the same is true tonight. We’ve got to score in those situations or pass the ball to a teammate who is in a better position. The coach must shoulder some of the blame, however, with his starting XI containing little creativity as they once again leaned heavily on Juan Cuadrado. That issue was discussed at length in this previous post, and the Colombian was certainly jaded when he was substituted after 60 minutes of action. His replacement, Roberto Pereyra, failed to make any impact, and the team perhaps needed Hernanes to feature somewhere, the Brazilian possessing the imagination and range of passing others perhaps lack. Indeed, while Allegri fielded his three best midfielders from the outset, it is becoming clear that the former Inter man has a significant role to play. There is no denying the quality of Sami Khedira, Claudio Marchisio or Paul Pogba, but perhaps the variety offered by Hernanes means he should feature more prominently. “All we’re missing is that clarity of mind when picking out the final pass,” Marchisio insisted in his post-match interview, per the club’s official website. “All of us, not just the strikers, are misfiring in the final third. That’s what we need to work on.” That is certainly true, with Pogba in particular turning in a disappointing performance, as his poor form continued. Yet to hit the heights of previous campaigns, the 22-year-old understands the need for him to contribute more and heed the advice of his coach in order to help the team more. “I always want to do well. I listen to what Allegri says and try to give 100 per cent every time,” Pogba told Mediaset Premium (h/t Football Italia). “It’s true that I have to do what the Coach says, but I also have to play my style of football. I need patience, I hope a goal will arrive soon and I continue to be at the disposal of the team.” Using Hernanes and an improvement from Pogba would certainly help, but Juventus’ biggest problem remains its underwhelming attack. They will hope to rectify that over the coming week, facing both Atalanta and Sassuolo before the derby encounter with Torino just a few days later. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

Rampulla: Buffon Is A Juventus Legend http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/rampulla-buffon-is-a-juventus-legend/? Oct 22, 2015 Former Juventus goalkeeper Michelangelo Rampulla has hailed the Bianconeri’s current number one Gianluigi Buffon after he overtook Alessandro Del Piero’s club record for playing the most minutes in the Champions League. The Old Lady could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Borussia Monchengladbach and have allowed Manchester City back into contention for top spot in Group D, but Rampulla insists the night very much belongs to Buffon. “I’m very happy for him because I remember the difficult times that the club went through in Serie B,” Rampulla told Tutto Mercato Web. “He decided to remain at the club and has made history. “He has achieved what I always wanted to achieve. It is what we all hoped would happen and now it has happened. “He is a legend of Juventus.”

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Juventus 0-0 Borussia M.: Wasteful Juve stay stuck in second gear as Gladbach steal point Juventus miss a chance to put some daylight between themselves and the competition as they stutter to a draw against Borussia Monchengladbach. The Bianconeri still stay top and undefeated in Group D. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/22/9586794/juventus-borussia-monchengladbach-2015-champions-league-group-stage-final-score-result-recap Oct 22, 2015 Juventus came into Wednesday night's game against bottom-of-the-group Borussia Monchengladbach as overwhelming favorites, as the German club -- affectionately known as The Foals' -- entered with no points in their first two games. Juventus, on the other hand, were looking confident and assured in the Champions League; something that they were yet to replicate consistently in Serie A. Coach Max Allegri recently said that the priority for now is the Champions League, so there was great expectation that the Bianconeri would go out to make the most of their home advantage and take another step towards winning the group and sealing a place in the Round of 16 -- especially with Manchester City facing a tough home test against Sevilla the same night. Alvaro Morata and Gianluigi Buffon were on the doorstep of big nights by beating two records held by Juve legend Alessandro Del Piero. With a goal, Morata would have beaten Del Piero's record of scoring in five consecutive Champions League games. Buffon would become the Juve player with the most minutes clocked for the club, barring an injury that would force him off. MATCH SUMMARY The first half started off slowly, with Juve seemingly content to play patiently; with six points from six points, Juventus did have the luxury to do so. The first chance of note came at around fifteen minutes; some good pressing from the Juventus midfield resulted in Gladbach losing possession and a Juve counter-attack. The ball eventually got to Paul Pogba, who passed wide for Morata; the young Spaniard went for the first time shot and hit well over. After a corner came back out to Juan Cuadrado on the left, the Colombian cut inside and let fly but his effort was wide. On 35 minutes, some great work by Andrea Barzagli to win the ball back after losing it sent Cuadrado free down the right wing, who squared for Morata. But Morata went for a spectacular goal rather than passing for Pogba, who was making a run into the box on the left. On 41 minutes, there was a real moment of controversy. Gladbach defender Alvaro Dominguez tried to pass out from the back, but his pass was intercepted by Morata. As the forward was sprinting through on goal, Dominguez tripped up the young bomber. The Spanish defender was the last man back, but the Scottish referee gave only a yellow; a strange decision as Morata was surely clear on goal. The half time whistle went with Gladbach, despite running some risks, looking fairly comfortable. Juventus, even though they had the chances, never got out of second gear. The second half started with a bit more attacking impetus from the home side, with Pogba lashing a shot on target from outside the box, forcing Yann Sommer into a decent save. A free kick cleverly won by Giorgio Chiellini led to a Pogba shot on goal, again pushed away safely by Sommer. The first change came on sixty minutes, with Roberto Pereyra replacing the largely ineffective Juan Cuadrado. On sixty-four minutes Barzagli - now moved to right full-back -- charged down the right flank and put in a great cross which fell perfectly for Morata, but the Spaniard went for a spectacular overhead kick which went way wide. Almost immediately, Juventus had penalty appeals waved away after Mario Mandzukic went over in the box under the slightest contact from Dominguez. The crowd at Juventus Stadium were audibly getting frustrated. With seventy minutes gone, Simone Zaza replaced the disappointing (once again) Mario Mandzukic. Zaza's first input into the game was a needless giveaway on a promising counter attack. Morata was not able to continue his run of scoring in consecutive games, as he was substituted on eighty minutes for Paulo Dybala. Another record was set, however, as stalwart Gigi Buffon beat Del Piero's club record of 48,867 minutes played for Juve. He was rewarded by being serenaded by the home fans. A lovely moment. Juventus seemed to finally wake up in the late stages, and put the Gladbach defence under some sustained pressure; Pogba and Chiellini with the most notable (half) chances. All in all, a very poor performance, void of intensity and any real quality from the Bianconeri. Twenty-one attempts, and only two on target (and those two came from okay long range shots from Pogba); sums up just how terrible we were tonight. With Manchester City's last minute win versus Sevilla, things are suddenly closer in the group, as City are now just one point behind Juventus. LE PAGELLE Buffon 10 - I mean, he literally had nothing to do all game (The Foals had zero shots on target). So that means he did nothing wrong, right? What the hell, a perfect score for the record-breaker! Barzagli 8 - He just seems to be getting better with age, doesn't he? Another top class performance by 'Barza', both at centre back and at right full back. Bonucci 7 - Made a couple mistakes and misplaced a few passes, but was largely untroubled and did what he had to do well. Chiellini 6.5 - He was the busiest of the centre backs, but was also largely untroubled. Loses half a point for the late yellow card. Cuadrado 6 Lacked effectiveness in the final third (he wasn't the only one). Understandably taken off early in the second half. Khedira 6.5 - A small step back for the experienced German midfielder after impressive performances since making his debut. Didn't get into the box anywhere near as often as in his recent games, and had less of an overall impact. Marchisio 8 - Along with Barzagli, he was our best outfield player. Kept possession with smart passes - I don't think he misplaced a pass all night. Maybe he could have brought the ball up field sometimes and played some more key passes in the final third; Lord knows the game tonight was crying out for that. Pogba 6.5 - Still waiting for the Paul Pogba of the last two seasons to show up. He had some good moments tonight, but still made many bad decisions - like taking difficult shots when their were better passing options. Alex Sandro 7 - Defensively he was solid. Offensively, like Cuadrado, he was largely ineffectively, with very few (if any) of his crosses finding their target. Morata 6 - The young Spanish international had the chance to make history, with goals in six consecutive Champions League games - beating another Del Piero record. But it wasn't to be. By far our most dangerous looking forward, but that isn't saying much given the other performances. He looked too keen on scoring, and that led to a number of bad decisions, much like Pogba. Mandzukic 5 - Once again, 'Super Mario' looks nothing like the player we thought we were getting when he was brought in over the summer. Had one chance early on that he failed to connect with, but other than that he looked anything but dangerous. Subs Pereyra 6 - The Argentine had some bright moments when he came on for Cuadrado and added much needed pace to the attack, but didn't do much to change Juve's fortunes. Zaza 5 - Is it possible to send Zaza back to Sassuolo already? I'm struggling to see what exactly he does well. His first input today was to pass the ball straight to a Gladbach defender when Juve were on a promising counter attack. His first touch (and often subsequent touches) are poor, he isn't a good dribbler, his shooting is all over the place. Simply put, he is not Juve material. Those rumours that Allegri was not impressed by him and was willing to let him leave are looking more believable when he gets on the pitch. Dybala 6.5 - Looked more threatening and able to make something happen than both Mandzukic and Zaza combined. It looks more and more obvious that the forward line going forward should be Morata and Dybala, but Allegri does not seem to agree yet. Coach Allegri 5.5 - While Allegri surprised most with his tactical decision-making and smart personnel changes, he has seemingly regressed in those departments so far this season. THINGS I THINK I THINK Firstly, I've personally never been a fan of 3-5-2, as it makes our attacking play so labored and predictable. Further, for 80 minutes there was such a lack of intensity in our play. I get that you don't want to rush things and leave yourself open for counter-attacks, but there is no good reason why Juve played with such a lack of fervor for so long. Then, there's the decision to once again leave Dybala on the bench. I don't get it. Even without scoring, Dybala is often a spark; which is more than can be said for either Mandzukic or Zaza. So why is he being left on the bench so often? And then Allegri brings Zaza on before Dybala. And Zaza proceeds to be poor, as one would expect, because he is simply not very good. A win would have put us more or less in the last 16 and as group winners. Now, things are less rosy, as Juve needs a win away to Gladbach and at home to City to make sure of winning the group. Gladbach would almost certainly play better and be more dangerous on their home turf. This was definitely a big opportunity blown by our poor approach and Allegri's inability to positively change things. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/calcio/champions-league/2015/10/21-5162220/juve-borussia_moenchengladbach_le_immagini_pi_belle/#1 http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/P-0OLPpbxpa/Juventus+v+VfL+Borussia+Monchengladbach+UEFA

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Juventus stumble to another draw as calls for Paulo Dybala start to grow http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2676545/juventus-stumble-to-another-draw-paulo-dybala-needs-to-start? Oct 22, 2015 Demonstrating the frustrating ineptitude of their forward line, Juventus wasted the opportunity to grab another win that would have taken them one step closer to qualification for the Champions League round of 16. Held to a goalless draw by a mediocre Borussia Monchengladbach, more must be done to improve a side that lacks intelligence and understanding in the attacking third. It's inelegant, if not ungracious to criticise Massimiliano Allegri because he has managed wondrous results in the Champions League. However, when it comes to winnable games, he and his squad have been known to stutter and disappoint and they did so once again in the match against the "easiest" opponent in the group. While Juventus dominated proceedings and played with a certain level of fluidity, the lack of decisive play in the final third was maddening to say the least. For that Allegri must take responsibility, as the decision to deploy Alvaro Morata alongside Mario Mandzukic was a failed one. The duo simply don't understand one another and when facing a side that defended tightly, closing down the spaces expertly, teamwork was the only logical way to penetrate a locked defence. Andre Schubert's men did a wonderful job of exposing the lack of relationship between Juve's two forwards. The Croatian has only just returned from injury and considering the nature of the game, wasn't afforded the right level of service to exploit his strengths. Had Stephan Lichtsteiner been available, Mandzukic may have done more. But with Alex Sandro not able to deliver accuracy into the box, Juventus would have benefitted more from the ingenuity and hard work of a certain Paulo Dybala. The Argentine was once again benched and only thrown on to the pitch in the final 10 minutes of the game. A player who has shown to understand the movements of Morata alongside him and would have disorganised a defence by pulling players out of position, it remains to be seen why Allegri won't entrust him with a starting role. Asked about this very topic in his post match news conference, the coach was vague, only noting that the youngster must grow and is still very inexperienced. While Dybala needs to improve his strength and be able to stand his own ground, Allegri simply does not have the luxury of training him as he trained Morata. There is no Carlos Tevez to score the necessary goals in the meantime. Right now, the youngster may well have to be thrown in at the deep end. If those are indeed the reasons why the expensive signing has not been used often then it remains to be seen why the inexperienced Simone Zaza and his many obvious limitations is being afforded minutes. A deflected goal in the league and one against an exhausted Sevilla back-line is simply not enough of a reason to play the ex-Sassuolo striker who simply lacks the technique and intellect required to play top level matches. The fact he is being chosen above Dybala is bizarre to say the least. Whenever deployed, Dybala frequently makes an impact and managed it again at the end of the game by elevating the quality of play in attack, especially from set pieces. No one but Allegri understands the youngster's weaknesses but if he insists on not playing him then more must be done to improve the overall game in the final third. The attack is simply not clicking and the same mistakes are being repeated again and again. At this moment, the midfield cannot chip in with goals. Sami Khedira does not seem as effective with Claudio Marchisio beside him, and the duo are not offering enough inspiration or unpredictability when in the attacking phase of the game. As for Paul Pogba, his quality on the ball may be abundantly clear, but going forward he provokes frustration. He either wastes possession, slows down play or misjudges the situation by either striking the ball too softly or dispatching an inaccurate strike on goal. His constant stuttering begs the question, why does he play like a shackled man? Is it fear of making a mistake or are the tactics so rigid that he's constantly attempting to remember instructions thus slowing down the game? Far too often the Frenchman found himself in excellent situations only to make another mistake when perhaps all he needs to do is trust his instincts and his quality and show that he has enough to cope with the responsibility. Consistently attempting to score is not the answer, Pogba needs to learn to play for the team, sacrificing himself for the cause. It remains to be seen how Allegri will resolve the situation but the absence of Tevez is being sorely felt, a man who had the individual quality and the intelligence required to play within a unit. Without an experienced forward and players who can make the most from set pieces, it remains to be seen how many goals Juve can score this season. More must be done to extract the quality of the new arrivals and find a way of allowing them to play harmoniously with one another. Until then, the Old Lady may continue the trend of goalless draws. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Max Allegri "really angry" after team's draw with Borussia Monchengladbach Manager and players' quotes after the disappointing draw. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/22/9587480/allegri-i-am-really-angry-juventus-monchengladbach-champions-league Oct 22, 2015 The Jekyll and Hyde show that has been Juventus continued on Wednesday after the Bianconeri failed to score and were held to a 0-0 draw by Borussia Monchengladbach on Gameday Three of the Champions League. After the game, this is what manager Massimiliano Allegri had to say - "I am really angry, because we have to play better in the last 30 metres. "We did the same mistake against Inter in the league. We have to improve and must do it quickly. "When there are better placed team-mates you have to pass the ball and my players have forgotten this." Under-fire midfield star Paul Pogba was also asked about the burden of the number 10 shirt that has seemed to have had an adverse effect on his play this season - "Personally, I always want to do well, I always listen to what [Massimiliano] Allegri says. "On the field we want to give our best. Does the number 10 weigh heavily? The number is just a number, if I had created a goal no one would speak of the number. "The excessive criticism? It's true that I have to do what the coach says, but I always have to play my football. I have to be patient. "I hope to get a goal soon, but I have to continue to be available to the team." Club captain Gianluigi Buffon - who had the kind of anonymous game between the sticks that we like to see - was also critical of how his side wasted chances - ""On another day we would have won, we had some huge goalscoring chances. "We had the majority of possession and a higher defensive line, but we could not get the goal. "I'd say it was a fair result, we didn't really have that many clear-cut chances over the 90 minutes. "We perhaps had a bit more territorial domination and greater thrust going forward, but they were good value for a point." When asked about passing Alessandro Del Piero's Champions League appearance record for Juventus - "It's a great satisfaction, but the things that gratify me more are the successes of the team and the ability to share these with my teammates and with the fans." Defender Andrea Barzagli, whose tireless running for yet another game was one of the few positives on the night, spoke about the lack of incisiveness in the Old Lady's play - "We struggled to find space against a tough side and lacked something in the final third. "We got stretched out and ran a few risks. We must improve, because if we can't create that much then we mustn't risk at the back either. "We are still inconsistent. We aren't aggressive enough and needed to be determined, venomous, playing like a big club, scoring goals and not conceding. "It's an odd season. For a while we conceded all the time, now we're not conceding, but struggling to score." http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Juventus' perfect Champions League start ends in Monchengladbach draw http://www.espnfc.co.uk/uefa-champions-league/match/434225/juventus-borussia-monchengladbach/report? Oct 21, 2015 Borussia Monchengladbach brought an end to Juventus' perfect start in the Champions League on Wednesday when they held the Serie A giants to a goalless draw in Turin. The Italians, last season's beaten finalists, had the best chances of the game in the second half but Paul Pogba's attempts were met with fine saves from visiting goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The point is enough to keep Juve at the top of Group D but they are just one point clear of Manchester City, who beat Sevilla 2-1. The Foals, who failed to test Juve goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon throughout the encounter, are at the foot of the standings. The hosts went into the contest looking to make it three wins in a row in the competition against a German side who had not tasted victory in Europe's elite club competition since their last appearance in 1978. Gladbach struggled without the injured trio of Martin Stranzl, Patrick Herrmann and Nico Schulz. Juve had a strong start but Alvaro Morata and Juan Cuadrado saw their attempts from outside the area fly wide. At the other end, Raffael tried his luck from outside the area but saw his attempt go off target. In the 29th minute, Granit Xhaka made a vital block after Pogba drilled a right-footed attempt on target. Shortly after, Giorgio Chiellini's header from Juan Cuadrado's cross went wide. The visitors were lucky not to go down to 10 men in the 42nd minute when Alvaro Dominguez lost the ball to Morata and then fouled the Spaniard when he was clear on goal. The referee showed Dominguez a yellow card, much to the anger of the home crowd. Juve showed more intent after the restart and in the 49th minute Sommer was forced to fully stretch to clear Pogba's curled attempt. Nine minutes later and Sommer was called on again to make a save after Pogba's powerful free-kick. In the 64th minute, Morata's over-head kick went wide as Juve continued to press forward. Buffon got a standing ovation shortly after when he beat former captain Alessandro Del Piero's club record of 48,867 minutes of competitive football for Juve. Morata, who was looking to set a new record of scoring in six consecutive Champions League games, was replaced in the 81st minute. The visitors, who will take on Juve in Germany in a fortnight, held on for their first point of the campaign. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Marchisio: 'Juve need goals' http://www.football-italia.net/74656/marchisio-juve-need-goals? Oct 21, 2015 Claudio Marchisio notes “it’s a consistent issue this season that Juventus struggle to score goals.” They played their second consecutive 0-0 draw, after Inter in Serie A held by Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League. “We had lots of shots tonight without finding the goal. It’s similar to in Serie A, where we create a lot and don’t seem to score many goals,” said the midfielder. “In defence we’re conceding less than at the start of the season, but in the final third we lack that sharpness on the final ball or the finish. This is what we’re missing compared to last year and it’s something we all have to improve on. “I don’t think it’s a drop in fitness levels, as we held out very well over 90 minutes here and against Inter. We must improve our finishing, because you only win games by scoring. “It’s a consistent issue this season that we struggle to score goals. Probably losing the first game of the season, after seeing three champions leave, put extra pressure on the new arrivals. “They found themselves having to deal with some unexpected defeats after joining a club that used to never lose. Clearly, as results get better, it lifts the performances.” http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

JUVENTUS - BORUSSIA M. 0 - 0 Matchday 3 Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 - 08:45 P.M. Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee:‬ Craig Thomson (Scotland) Juventus 0 - Borussia Monchengladbach 0: Initial reaction and random observations http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/21/9585356/juventus-borussia-monchengladbach-2015-champions-league-final-score-result-initial-reaction Oct 21, 2015 Yeah, it was one of those games. One of those stupid, stupid games where Juventus dominate in terms of possession, go on and create plenty of chances in the final and then do absolutely nothing with said scoring opportunities because they're nothing even close to clinical. One of those games where the only fictitious purpose of Juventus' existence is to frustrate the living hell out of all of us. And one of those games where Juventus probably should have won, but didn't truly come close to winning because of how ineffective in front of goal they were. This wasn't the same kind of scoreless draw like the one that was played out over the weekend in the Derby d'Italia against Inter Milan. Nope, Juventus actually played relatively well in that game. What about in this one? Not really, and I feel pretty confident in saying that. This was more 2015-16 Serie A Juventus rather than 2015-16 Champions League Juventus. Basically, they needed something to spark some consistent offense, but it never really got there. You look simply at the stats and see that Juve outshot Borussia Monchengladbach 22-4 on the night and think everything is wonderful. Then you see that only two of those shots tested Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer and it pretty much shows how ineffective Juventus were in front of goal. Shots went high. Shots went wide. Shots went even more wide. They tried side volleys, Giorgio Chiellini tried to send himself flying through the air to put something on frame. They did just about everything except really trouble the opposing goalkeeper in a game that was very much a winnable one. That's not exactly the goal of the game, you know. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@gianluigibuffon: "I'd say it was a fair result, we didn’t really have that many clear-cut chances over the 90 minutes." Never have truer words been spoken before. Not a surprise it's from somebody like Gigi Buffon, either. There were chances, but none of them equated to anything. And thus the reason Juventus were sent to a draw rather than extending their perfect record in the Champions League this season. Heck, the way that game went, Juve probably just sent a couple of more shots 15 feet wide of the Borussia Monchengladbach goal while I double checked that I got the spelling of "Borussia Monchengladbach" right in this post. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@ClaMarchisio8: "We're creating a lot but not putting those chances away. This applies to the team as a whole, not just the strikers." Amen, Claudio. A-freaking-men. Random thoughts and observations Paul Pogba needs a day off. Like, a complete and outright day off where he does nothing but sit on the bench that allows the Frenchman to give himself a break both physically and mentally. It's evident that he's pressing and trying to do too much. And when he does that, the tricks and flicks and everything else he usually does so well become the wrong kind of thing to do. Juventus clearly needed a creative spark in the second half and Max Allegri waited until there were 10 minutes left to bring on Paulo Dybala. I usually don't rag on substitution choices, but this time around Allegri waited way too long to bring on his best asset from the bench. It makes you wonder what, exactly, Allegri's plan for Dybala is over the next month or two. We know he's got the talent to truly lead the line alongside Álvaro Morata. And while some may think Allegri's integrating Dybda into the squad the same way he did with Morata a year ago, it's two completely different situations outside of their big transfer fees. I want to see Dybala play regularly, everybody wants to see Dybala play regularly. The only thing is, Dybala isn't playing regularly ... unless you count substitute appearances in the second half as playing regularly. Andrea Barzagli is a treasure and he should be appreciated like one. He is playing unbelievably well right now. It's come to the point where if I see a player making a run on the right side of Juventus' defense I'm not even worried. Why? Because Barzagli's got it covered. It's kind of a shame that this kind of performance will put a damper of Buffon achieving yet another milestone at Juventus. So many minutes, so many saves, so much awesome thanks to one player. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@gianluigibuffon passes @delpieroale's record of the most minutes played for Juventus. At least San Gigi got a clean sheet, so there's that. Who else was surprised Alex Sandro got the start against Gladbach? I don't think many people were predicting that one. I know I wasn't. It would be really nice if Juventus scored a couple goals against Atalanta over the weekend. And win. Score a couple goals, get a clean sheet and win. That's a three-part plan that everybody who wears bianconero should be in favor of right now. http://www.goal.com/en/tables/uefa-champions-league/10

Pogba: I Have To Be Patient To Hit Top Form http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/pogba-i-have-to-be-patient/? Oct 21, 2015 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has denied he is feeling the weight of expectation that comes with wearing the number 10 for The Old Lady. Pogba was speaking after the Bianconeri drew a blank against Borussia Monchengladbach as they drew 0-0 at the Juventus Stadium on Wednesday. “Personally, I always want to do well, I always listen to what Allegri says.” said Pogba to Premium Sport. “On the field we want to give our best. Does the number 10 weigh heavily? The number is just a number, if I had created a goal no one would speak of the number. “The excessive criticism? It’s true that I have to do what the coach says, but I always have to play my football. I have to be patient, “I hope to get a goal soon, but I have to continue to be available to the team.”