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INTER - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Claudio Marchisio to fill Paul Pogba void at Juventus against Inter? http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2655212/claudio-marchisio-to-fill-paul-pogba-void-at-juventus? Oct 9, 2015 Juventus may have to do without Paul Pogba for their clash with Inter Milan when Serie A returns to action next week, but Claudio Marchisio may be back in contention for a place. Pogba returned to Turin on Thursday after a sprained ankle forced him out of France's international friendlies against Armenia and Denmark. He is to receive treatment from his club's medical team, although he is currently rated doubtful for the Derby d'Italia next weekend. His place in the side for that game could be taken by Marchisio, who came through a full training session, including a warm-up match against amateur side Aygreville, on Thursday. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen .@ClaMarchisio8 and @sturaro_stefano return to the group for today's workout with Aygreville The Italy international has been sidelined since mid-September due to an adductor injury and missed their Champions League clashes with Manchester City and Sevilla. His absence has seen coach Massimiliano Allegri forced to improvise with his midfield, with Hernanes and Mario Lemina both getting playing time. Marchisio was the man earmarked to fill the Andrea Pirlo role following the veteran's summer switch to New York City FC and his return will come as a boost to the Bianconeri, who face an intense period of fixtures after the international break. After travelling to second-placed Inter, they host Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League, and then welcome Atalanta to the Juventus Stadium four days later. Then follows a midweek trip to high-flying Sassuolo and the Turin derby, before they head to Germany to face Gladbach. The Old Lady will then go to Empoli before the next break for internationals in November, by which time they will hope to have climbed from their current 12th position in the table. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Juventus midfielders Claudio Marchisio, Stefano Sturaro return to training http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/9/9483427/juventus-claudio-marchisio-stefano-sturaro-injiury-training-2015-serie-a Oct 9, 2015 With all the injury news we've had to see posted on Juventus' website this season, you have to appreciate when the following two paragraphs show up in front of our eyes: Claudio Marchisio and Stefano Sturaro today returned to the group and took part in a training ground friendly win over Aygreville, an outfit who ply their trade in the Eccellenza division. Under the watchful eyes of Massimiliano Allegri and his coaching staff, the Bianconeri ran out 3-0 winners in the 60-minute match, with youngsters Nicolò Pozzebon, Andrea Favilli and Mattia Vitale all getting on the scoresheet inside 40 minutes. That is what Juventus' website told us on Thursday afternoon. And, man, am I happy to see it. Very, very happy. The collective line of thinking amongst many of us over the past two weeks has been, "Now that Sami Khedira is back, just wait until Claudio Marchisio comes back as well to complete the midfield." And yeah, it's going to be happening soon just as long as Paul Pogba's ankle allows him to take the field next weekend at the San Siro. But, no offense to Sturaro on this one because he's a good player in his own right, Marchisio being back training — and likely a participant in Sunday's Derby d'Italia against Inter — is the main thing we're all focusing on here. We've seen him for all of 45 minutes and cursed his injury problems this season for much longer than that. Exponential amounts, probably. And this time, we hope we're not forced to deal with another injury news all of two days after he returned from the last one, too. That would be a grand old time. Marchisio coming back will only aid Juventus in their bid to quickly rise up the Serie A table and continue to roll in the Champions League. It only makes sense that would happen when you get back one of your best players. We can all agree that Marchisio is certainly that — both because he's good at what he does and being one of this new Juve's unquestioned leaders. So, welcome back, Claudio and Stefano. Please stay healthy for as long as possible.

INTER - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Juan Jesus: 'I'd never join Juve' http://www.football-italia.net/74079/juan-jesus-id-never-join-juve? Oct 8, 2015 Inter defender Juan Jesus admits he received offers over the summer and promised he would “never join Juventus.” The Brazilian sat down with Inter Channel to answer fan questions. “I did receive some offers over the summer, but it wasn’t the right time to leave, as I knew I had more to give to Inter. “I want to win with this team and I still have a long contract.” Among the sides linked with Juan Jesus were Juventus. “I would never join Juventus. It’s a great club, but I have to do the right thing by Inter, having spent so much time here.” The Nerazzurri are in second place after five wins, a draw and a defeat in Serie A this season. “We started well and it’s only right to think about Champions League qualification. From the start of the campaign we’ve been working hard and making sacrifices to reach this objective. It’s down to us now. “The new arrivals have also given the team a big hand. Felipe Melo’s character is important both on the field and in the locker room.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Croatia's Mario Mandzukic sidelined by hamstring injury http://www.espnfc.co.uk/croatia/story/2653797/croatias-mario-mandzukic-sidelined-by-hamstring-injury? Oct 8, 2015 A hamstring injury will prevent striker Mario Mandzukic from playing in Croatia's Euro 2016 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Malta. Croatia host Bulgaria on Saturday and then travel to Malta for their final Group H match on Tuesday, but they will have to do so without their first-choice striker. "Unfortunately, Mandzukic cannot play due to a hamstring injury," Croatia national team doctor Boris Nemec told the Croatian federation's website. "He has been examined on Wednesday and concluded that he will not feature in these matches." The 29-year-old will now return to Juventus to continue his rehabilitation. "He will be back to full training in two weeks, without risking injury recurrence," Nemec said. "Of course, he was not happy with these news, bit his health comes first." Croatia are third in Group H with 14 points from eight matches, four points behind leaders Italy and two behind Norway, but in position to advance to the playoffs for the last four spots at next summer's 24-team tournament.

Juve Club of the Year nominees http://www.football-italia.net/74071/juve-club-year-nominees? Oct 8, 2015 Juventus are nominated for Club of the Year in the Globe Soccer Awards, joining Barcelona, Bayern Munich, PSG and Dnipro. The Bianconeri won their fourth consecutive Scudetto last season, the Coppa Italia and reached the Champions League Final. This earned them the nomination from the ECA (European Club Association). The Globe Soccer Awards will be presented in December in the United Arab Emirates and decided by a jury including Presidents, players, Coaches, agents and referees. Juve had already been nominated in 2014, but the award went to Barcelona. Dnipro are intriguing nominees, as they reached the Europa League Final despite having to play all their home games on neutral turf due to the political instability in Ukraine.

Neto: ‘Returning players crucial’ http://www.football-italia.net/74056/neto-%E2%80%98returning-players-crucial%E2%80%99? Oct 8, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Neto believes players returning from injury can help the Bianconeri move up the table. The Old Lady have endured a poor start to the Serie A season, and currently sit in 12th place, 10 points behind leaders Fiorentina. “We have a strong squad,” Neto inisted in an interview with JTV. “We’ll need everyone. With the injured players coming back, we have the opportunity to make a leap up the table. “We’re aware of our potential, and we know where we can get. Inter-Juve is the next game, so that’s the most important one. “We have the quality to win, the time is right.” Juventus form in Europe is in stark contrast to their League showings, taking six points from their first two games, though the Brazilian is yet to feature in that competition. “The Champions League music gives you chills, and makes you feel prepared for the challenge. The wins in the Champions League gave us a lot of confidence. “Taking six points from two games was an important step.”

Juan Cuadrado can lead Juventus' resurgence and Max Allegri holds the key http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/8/9477723/juventus-juan-cuadrado-max-allegri-serie-a-champions-league-2015 Oct 8, 2015 It has been a very peculiar experience watching a Juventus player drizzle past defenders at ease with the ball at his feet, taking on one or two at a time before ruthlessly dropping them behind. And not just doing it sporadically but with every given opportunity, at speed and more often than not, doing it effectively. It didn't really happen in the last few years, with the small exception represented by a certain blonde winger whose idea of defending involved something within the narrow margins of keeping a close eye on his man and following him from a safe distance while smoothing his rumpled feathers -- Milos Krasic. But now, there is that feeling which struggles but keeps on fighting nonetheless against a strong set of conceptions already part of any tifoso bianconero DNA. That particular feeling that tries to persuade the brain into believing Juventus actually have a player capable of dribbling past opposition; capable of developing great pace in an instant in areas of the field where it matters the most, around the 18-yard box. A winger in either a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3 formation, doing all of the above while also fulfilling his defensive duties and making the terrible absence of Stephan Lichtsteiner look less painful and less damaging. Juan Cuadrado has been amazing to watch so far. When the team had lacked consistence and failed to break through sturdy defences -- and it happened one time too many this season -- he would still perform his magic. Why then, you will ask, having had such a jolly joker in the team, Juventus registered results damnable even for a team of Atalanta-like calibre in the opening stages of the domestic campaign? And why, despite all his scintillating moves, Cuadrado only made a single assist in eight appearances in Serie A and Champions League? Good questions. Pertinent questions. Simply put, decision-making is not something Cuadrado masters. And joining a Juventus team alongside nine more new players who, just like him, had to adapt to a new club, training regimes and philosophy, did nothing to help him improve this. The level of chemistry within the squad was close to nought in the opening stages of the campaign, with Max Allegri constantly changing formations and shuffling the starting line up before each game. A good enough alibi then for failing to make his mesmerising skills count towards the team's results. But it shouldn't happen anymore. Before the international break, Juventus offered encouraging signs that they are back to the normal level, with commanding victories against Sevilla in the Champions League and Bologna. It seems that the team has started to click again and perhaps the return of Sami Khedira to action isn't a simple coincidence, nor is Alvaro Morata's re-emergence. Both of them have proved once more it is possible to influence the course of a game with dominant individual performances. Cuadrado is more than capable of doing that as well, but a major improvement in his in-game decisions is needed. Learn to be able to discern when playing a simple pass is more effective than launching into yet another spectacular series of dribbles. A better timing of crosses and through balls for a natural-born target-man like Mario Mandzukic or Morata can easily lead to goals. The extravagant turns into success. The fantastic, into results. The key to this rests solely with Allegri. He is the one who has to work closely with Cuadrado and decide how much freedom or how many restrictions the Colombian needs in order to deliver; to decide when a long-distance blast from an individual is worth taking a chance and when not. A version of Cuadrado that manages to take the best decisions at the right time could be influential enough for Juventus to surge all the way back to the top of the Serie A table. It is a matter of Allegri bringing the best out of him. POLL Who is the player most capable of leading Juventus to the Serie A title this year? 24% Alvaro Morata (61 votes) 18% Claudio Marchisio (46 votes) 17% Juan Cuadrado (43 votes) 12% Sami Khedira (29 votes) 12% Paulo Dybala (30 votes) 10% Paul Pogba (24 votes) 6% Gianluigi Buffon (15 votes) 1% Mario Mandzukic (2 votes) 250 votes total

INTER - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri 'Inter inferior to Juve, Roma' http://www.football-italia.net/74050/inter-inferior-juve-roma? Oct 8, 2015 Coach Alberto Zaccheroni explains how he would arrange Inter in a 4-2-3-1, in spite of their squad being 'inferior to Juve and Roma'. In his last game against Sampdoria, Coach Roberto Mancini turned to the 4-2-3-1 in the second half to fix the game, and Zaccheroni believes that should be the way forward. “Mancini has the right men for a 4-2-3-1,” said the former Japan Coach. “He has the wingers, one of them is Perisic. “The other is Biabiany, who is perfect because he has speed but also defensive skills. In Parma he even played as a full-back. “Ljajic? He's more of a trequartista, but if he can adapt himself and find the continuity that he's always been lacking, he won't have problems in playing as a winger. “He's more apt than Guarin, who can play on the right, but who is an atypical midfielder. He's the best at attacking from a distance. “I think of Palacio and Jovetic as two second strikers. “Jovetic can't play as a winger, much less in the 4-3-3. He can have an exchange with the striker through the central lines, but also play as a poacher himself. “Felipe Melo and Medel would form a wall in the midfield, but I think it's best to have one of them alongside Kondogbia. “With his long dashes, Kondogbia needs to have space ahead of him. Now he's having trouble, one ought to look at him in training to understand what he's thinking. “Inter have a remarkable squad, but inferior to that of Juve and Roma. “They can make good that difference with their mentality and some tactical creativity.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

INTER - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri 'Juve will return, but Serie A...' http://www.football-italia.net/74042/juve-will-return-serie? Oct 8, 2015 Jose Mourinho says 'Serie A has never been so open' and defends Juventus: 'They'll come back, it's only a matter of time'. The 52-year-old's former Italian team, Inter, were leading the standings until a short while ago before being crushed by Fiorentina 4-1 and drawing 1-1 against Sampdoria. 'If I were an Inter supporter I wouldn't be so disappointed,” the Special One told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Compared to the last few years, Inter are now doing very well. They started off strong to compete for the Scudetto. “Inter to win the Scudetto? Right now that's unanswerable, but they are in the group of competitors. “Serie has never been open to as many teams as it is now. “Juve started out a bit like Chelsea, suffering, but just like Chelsea they'll come back. “It's only a matter of time. Roma and Napoli can take advantage of a season in which the Bianconeri are not the super-favourites.” Finally, the Chelsea Coach discussed Fabio Capello's statements that he 'burned out' his players. “I read what Capello said on the giornalaccio rosa and beyond. “I think that a Coach with his history would have done better to talk of football, without making comments on the work of his colleagues. “Otherwise I could have gone and made comments on his work when he was coaching the English or Russian national team, but I never did. “That's because I prefer showing respect for the negative moments of my colleagues. “I'd much rather discuss what Fabio Capello did in the many beautiful moments of his career, which is full of extraordinary triumphs.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Croatia send Mandzukic home http://www.football-italia.net/74032/croatia-send-mandzukic-home? Oct 7, 2015 Croatia have sent Mario Mandzukic home from international duty to train with Juventus. The striker had surprisingly been called up by his country despite a muscular tear. Following further tests with the Croatian medical staff, he has been sent back to Turin. Mandzukic will continue rehabilitation with the Bianconeri doctors.

Elkann: 'Juve don't miss anyone' http://www.football-italia.net/74028/elkann-juve-dont-miss-anyone? Oct 7, 2015 Lapo Elkann assures Juventus “do not miss” Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo or Carlos Tevez and can still win the Scudetto. One of the heirs to the Agnelli fortune celebrated his 38th birthday and spoke to Sport Mediaset about his beloved Juve. “Do I still believe in the Scudetto? It’s a long battle and you only win it at the end. We have a strong squad, so we can face and win this battle. “It wasn’t the best start to the season, because there have been so many changes, but I have full faith in my cousin Andrea. I am merely a huge fan.” Elkann was asked who he missed most between Vidal, Pirlo and Tevez. “I do not miss anyone, as I am happy with the squad as it is today. It is pleasant to look back at the joys of the past, but I love the future and always want to look forward. “Max Allegri has strength and intelligence, this Juve will make us happy.” There were reports today of a possible comeback to Turin for Tevez, as Boca Juniors have allegedly missed his payments.

Third-Time Lucky With Sami Khedira Ever since the closure of the summer transfer window, the entries of the Juventus Club Focus have debated what the future of the Bianconeri midfield holds. http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/juventus-club-focus-third-time-lucky-with-sami-khedira/ Oct 7, 2015 Immediately after clubs were stopped from snapping up any new deals, Hernanes was mentioned as the saviour of the middle of the park. After a fairly positive debut, the Brazilian failed to replace the often-mentioned Andrea Pirlo well enough. A few weeks later, it was Paul Pogba’s turn to be examined. The Frenchman’s performance against Genoa was second to none, playing a part in both the goals in scoring one and providing the assist for the other. He too, though, was, for now, a one-match star. As they say, however, third time lucky, and Massimiliano Allegri’s team is just starting to properly come together after a few weeks of uncertainty. Thank you Sami Khedira. World Cup winner last year and Champions League winner with Real Madrid the season prior, the German international, who unfortunately picked up an injury before the campaign started leading to the perhaps panic buy of Hernanes, is the gel that the squad have been needing to bring everything together. Pirlo was a master on the ball, there is no doubt about it. His absence inevitably left a dent in the framework of the most successful Italian club, and an extremely good reinforcement was needed to make sure that success continued and a historic fifth-straight Scudetto was achieved. The aforementioned Hernanes and Pogba tried and failed, and even Simone Padoin had a go at one point, but none of them fit the bill. A conductor is needed, and Khedira was that man, producing a beautiful melody with his faithful orchestra. A strong metaphor maybe, but one that holds true. Altruism is a key part of any successful midfield; a player who puts the team first ahead of his own achievements, and this selflessness is an invaluable characteristic for someone to possess. Luckily for Juventus, Khedira has such personality. Adapting with ease to the Italian style of play and Allegri’s 4-3-3 formation, the 28-year-old made crucial runs to aid his teammates’ movement, while also, although not strictly following altruistic traits, grabbing himself a Serie A debut goal. A suitable reward for his hard work. Thankfully, since the last one of these Club Focuses for Juventus, there have been two games involving the Old Lady. A tough fixture against Sevilla in the Champions League followed by a far-from-easy league game at home to Bologna given their recent domestic form, both of which had good performances from Khedira and both of which they won, meaning neither was a one-off. Despite being just their second win so far this term, La Vecchia Signora appear to be back at their best, playing deadly football which can knock down the strongest of European sides, let alone the smaller clubs of Serie A. The Derby d’Italia is waiting for them after the international break, but should they match their performances with the ones against Sevilla and Bologna, three points will surely come their way. Constantly being overshadowed by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo up front and Kaka in midfield during his tenure at Real Madrid, the transfer from Los Blancos to Italy will give Khedira more time in the spotlight, allowing him to flourish with his good football. It’s not like Juventus have to worry about injuries with him too much either. He had just recovered from the knock he picked up in the summer before the Sevilla game on Wednesday, but played 76 minutes on the field with relative comfort, showing no clear signs of any aggrevation to the injury. Already a fan favourite with the Juve faithful who applauded his efforts, the German’s career can come to a peak while in Turin.

Gattuso: Dybala Can Become A Success At Juventus http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/gattuso-dybala-can-become-a-success-at-juventus/? Oct 7, 2015 Former AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso believes Juventus striker Paulo Dybala can become one of the world’s top players. The 37-year-old has turned to coaching since retiring from playing football and is currently in charge of Lega Pro club Pisa, although he had a six-game stint at Palermo in 2013 where he worked with Dybala. “Two years ago I had the good fortune of coaching Paulo,” Gattuso told 2AngryMen TV. “He is a player who I have always said is a few steps ahead of everyone else,” he added. “He must find the continuity that he showed last year at Palermo, then he will be successful.” The 21-year-old joined the Bianconeri this summer from the Rosanero for €32 million and has scored four goals in nine games since. The young Argentine forward appeared 35 times in Serie A for Palermo last season, scoring 13 goals and assisting a further 10.

Paulo Dybala says Argentina rewarded his patience http://www.espnfc.co.uk/argentina/story/2652191/paulo-dybala-says-argentina-rewarded-his-patience? Oct 7, 2015 Juventus forward Paulo Dybala said that his patience was rewarded with his first call-up for the Albiceleste's two opening World Cup qualifying games against Ecuador and Paraguay. Dybala, 21, signed for Juventus over the summer in a €32 million move after scoring 13 Serie A goals for Palermo last season. He had options to play for Poland, Italy or Argentina because of his family ancestry, but said he always wanted to play for Argentina. "Last year [Argentina coach Gerardo] Martino came to Palermo," Dybala told ESPN FC radio in Argentina. "I always felt that I was very young and if I kept doing things well I would get here. Today thank God I am here. "This is a very important moment in my career because getting here was not easy," Dybala, who began at Argentine second division club Instituto and moved to Italy in July 2012. "Things are going well for me and I am enjoying this because it has always been my dream, this is what I have always wanted. I am here to be a part of the team, if I get to play I will be very happy and if not, I will support the group. I am at the disposition of the coach and my teammates." Dybala said he shared the good news with his teammate and fellow Argentina Roberto "Tucu" Pereyra. "We were in training camp I think getting ready for Champions League [vs. Sevilla] when I found out," Dybala said. "I was really happy. There are only a few Spanish-speaking players at the club. It is just Tucu Pereyra and we almost never speak Spanish." Argentina host Ecuador in Buenos Aires on Thursday before facing Paraguay in Asuncion on Oct. 13. "My current status is really nice being in the recall, but we are missing the best player in the world, it is regrettable that he isn't here. We are going to do everything possible so that his absence isn't notable," Dybala said. He said that moving to Juventus as Carlos Tevez was leaving led to comparisons but he is trying to blaze his own trail. "Everyone loves him back at Juventus and speaks so highly of him," said Dybala, who has scored four goals in nine appearances this season for the Bianconeri. "The media is always trying to compare us and they are always looking at our statistics, but I try to do things my way and not think about how Carlos did them." He said the move to Juventus was a challenge but added that playing at Palermo gave him a chance to get noticed. "I spent two very good years there. But it was the right moment to make an impact with the transfer and today by good luck I am doing very well," he said. "There are still many veteran players at Juventus. In Serie A the club are always contenders. We try to be as competitive as possible and to win always. At this moment we are trying to improve our situation. Martino said Dybala has enormous potential and said it was his preference to select Dybala over Gonzalo Higuain. "And I say potential because what he has shown up to this point he must do now at Juventus," Martino told Ole newspaper. "He has become a star in one of the most important leagues in the world. And now he has to establish himself at Juve. That is like having to put on a River or Boca shirt here. Fundamentally he is a good young player who thinks well. When his head is on straight, there are more chances that things will go his way, naturally."

Juventus Hoping Paulo Dybala Can Continue to Fill Void Left by Carlos Tevez http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2576433-juventus-hoping-paulo-dybala-can-continue-to-fill-void-left-by-carlos-tevez? Oct 7, 2015 One of the hidden casualties at Juventus this summer was the fact that Carlos Tevez’s decision to move back to Argentina earlier than planned robbed Paulo Dybala of the opportunity to learn from his compatriot. Having seen the application, effort and professionalism displayed by the former during his time in Turin, the impact his guidance could have on the latter is immeasurable. By passing on the lessons gleaned from his stellar career, Tevez would have undoubtedly been able to help Dybala settle into life with the Bianconeri. Having notched an impressive 13 goals and 10 assists for Palermo in 2014/15, the Serie A champions moved to sign Dybala at a cost of €32 million—with potentially a further €8 million in bonuses—per their official website. However, Tevez would subsequently agree to return to Boca Juniors shortly afterwards, meaning the youngster would not be given that chance to work closely with the former Manchester United man at club level. Coach Massimiliano Allegri has treated the 21-year-old with care, often bringing him off the bench rather than thrusting him directly into the starting XI, and has been rewarded with some superb early displays. Dybala netted the second goal of Juve’s Supercoppa Italiana victory over Lazio shortly after coming on as a substitute, following that up by scoring against AS Roma on his first Serie A start. Slotting home a penalty in last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Bologna took his tally to four in his first nine games for the Bianconeri. More than just his goals, Dybala is proving to be a constant problem for defenders, blending pace and power in a manner eerily similar to the way Tevez often bustled his way past helpless opponents with ease. According to statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, he has completed an average of 2.5 dribbles per game, a figure bettered only by Juan Cuadrado (3.2) and Roberto Pereyra (2.7) among his current team-mates. Bologna’s over-matched players certainly only had one way of preventing Dybala skipping past them on Sunday, fouling him continually throughout the game, with a number ending up receiving yellow cards as a result. Yet just like Tevez, his work rate when not in possession has also caught the eye. That is arguably the one facet of his play that time alongside the veteran star would have affected most, but it seems to be a lesson Dybala has already learned. Constantly pressing the ball and working hard to recover it, the dedication and application to the defensive side of the game that are hallmarks of Tevez’s play are very evident in Dybala’s early displays. It was something the player touched upon shortly after joining Juventus, already insisting that his transfer was the perfect motivation to improve. “You can never ease off," he said to JTV (h/t FourFourTwo). “I’ve been here a couple of days and it’s a big change for me. I hope I’m able to develop into a top player here.” Dybala has clearly begun to do so, his performances have been rewarded with a maiden call up to the Argentinian national team, and boss Gerardo Martino singled him out for praise in an interview earlier this week. “He’s a player with enormous potential, he’s become a star in one of the toughest leagues in the world,” the coach told Diario Ole (h/t Football Italia). “Now he has to assert himself with Juventus, which is as it would be if he was playing in Argentina for River Plate or Boca Juniors.” Joining up with the Albiceleste will also present him with an opportunity to train alongside Tevez, perhaps picking up a few pointers from the man who lifted Juventus to the Champions League final last term. Dybala may not yet be at that level, but he has made an excellent start to life with La Madama as he attempts to fill the void left by the departure of Tevez.

Imperfect 10: Pogba's struggles shows he's no playmaker The former Manchester United midfielder is struggling to adapt to life in a new role as the Serie A champions are without familiar faces to guide him along. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/10/07/16078952/-? Oct 7, 2015 Just as Juventus have struggled to muster a positive start to their Serie A title defence, France midfielder Paul Pogba has failed to take up the mantle of being the Turin side’s star player. Seven matches into the domestic campaign and the table makes for grim reading for fans of the Bianconeri. They have only eight points to their credit, have already suffered as many losses as they did in the league in the whole of last term and, perhaps most damningly, lie below an AC Milan side in the midst of crisis. Of course, the campaign was never going to be straightforward for the Turin giants. Over the summer they lost stars such as Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez, and have been forced to move on from the side that heroically progressed to the Champions League final in June. There was a lavish spend in an attempt to match and improve upon the summer departures, yet the new-look Juve were first and foremost to be built around Pogba – the player they had to fight so hard to prevent losing to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain or Chelsea. The 22-year-old, however, has found his new-found status tough to bear. Shifted into a more advanced role and presented with the No.10 jersey formely of Tevez, Alessandro Del Piero, Michel Platini and Omar Sivori, the expectation is for his role to shift from all-action midfielder to creative catalyst, from chief of the supporting cast to centre stage. Pogba may have been a regular at the Juventus Stadium since spectacularly barging his way out of Manchester United in the summer of 2012, decrying a lack of first-team football aged only 18, but the self-assurance that saw him battle his way out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s clutches has been scarcely evident since being handed the crucial role in Italy’s most successful club. Before he had the experience of Pirlo and Vidal alongside him to call upon; now he is expected to drive forward a young team lacking in genuine top-level experience. It is one that he has so far found chastening. "We’re not asking him to score three goals a game or win a match by himself," coach Masimiliano Allegri argued last month. "We’re simply asking to Paul to play as he knows how, to be a little more carefree. "He’s only 22. At 22, you can’t act and play like you’re 30. He must put his ideas in place and play so that he can exploit his full potential." Allegri’s tactical shift has not helped. Juve have settled into a hybrid of 3-5-2 and 4-4-2, with Pogba recently shifted into a role that effectively means he is playing narrow on the left side of midfield. In such a position it is difficult to exert a decisive influence, even for such a talented performer. Last season Pogba found the net eight times in only 26 Serie A appearances; this term he has just one goal from seven – and even that was a penalty. The ramifications of his downturn have been noted by national team coach Didier Deschamps, who plans to use the Paris-born youngster as a starting player at Euro 2016. "Pogba is already at a very good level so now it is a question of effectiveness and efficiency," the France boss said on Wednesday. "He’s capable of great pieces of skill that excite the crowd but are not always the best thing to do. He is a creative player but he can improve. He has to help the team." Deschamps has been happy to experiment in recent friendlies, unburdened by the pressure of competitive football due to France’s host-nation status at the Euros. He has also tried Pogba in an advanced role, but his trials have been equally as fruitless as those at club level. The Juve man, who has seemed most comfortable playing with the national team in a 4-3-3 system in which he and Blaise Matuidi operate as box-to-box players, was tried in the role against Albania back in June. Fatigued after the Champions League final, Pogba turned in an unimpressive second-half cameo as Les Bleus slumped to a shock 1-0 loss, but was equally disappointing when fielded in a similar role in the 1-0 success in Portugal three months later. As Deschamps pointed out, decision making – the attribute critical to the success of any No.10 – has been the downfall of Pogba thus far. Maturity is something that can only be gathered through experience, and former Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand has backed the young Frenchman to be a Ballon d’Or candidate within a few years. Speaking to BT Sport, the former England centre-back said: "I think he has the personality to be the best. I think Pogba really will go on to be the best player in the world in the next three or four years. He's got that personality. That desire to be the best player. "The way he trains, the way he looks at his game. He believes in himself like not many other players I've seen." In the short term, the No.10 jersey is not the correct fit for Pogba, and though he is capable of incredible feats of skill, in the long term it may also be that he is suited to playing in a deeper role. This should not, however, be considered a slight on his talent. At the moment he is simply going through an essential phase of his development and will surely come through it a more complete and even more devastating player.

Agnelli: 'Harmonise Leagues' http://www.football-italia.net/73991/agnelli-harmonise-leagues? Oct 6, 2015 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli suggested major Leagues all start at the same time to “harmonise European football.” The patron has proposed several reforms to Italian football, including the introduction of B-Teams. “I think it is necessary to find a common thread for European football, for the good of clubs and fans,” Agnelli said at a club management forum. “During the course of a season, teams are above all busy on the national level, so we should have national Leagues that start on the same day. “Some start very early, for example on August 10, others must later. I acknowledge in these nations there is 35 degree heat and it’s impossible to play, but starting on the same day would help harmonise European football.”

Martino: Juventus's Dybala is already a star The Argentina coach has been impressed by Paulo Dybala's impact in Italy and is keen to familiarise him with the national team set-up. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/12662/world-cup-2018-qualifying/2015/10/06/16083912/-? Oct 6, 2015 Argentina coach Gerardo Martino believes Paulo Dybala is one of the top players in Serie A. The Juventus forward, who was also eligible to represent Italy through his ancestry but turned down an approach from Antonio Conte, has been selected in the Argentina squad to face Ecuador and Paraguay in World Cup qualifying. The coach of the beaten Copa America finalists has been impressed by the 21-year-old's development in Europe and hopes he can continue to build upon his broadening experience. "We had the chance to call a player like Dybala," Martino said to Ole. "We did it so he can get himself familiarised with the team. He's a player with enormous potential, he's become a star in one of the toughest leagues in the world. "Now he has to assert himself with Juventus, which is as it would be if he was playing in Argentina for River Plate or Boca Juniors. "Paulo is a good lad, when the head is right it means there is more chance of good things happening naturally." Dybala is pleased to have realised his dream of making the cut and said he will do whatever is required for his country. "It is a very important moment because to get here is not easy," Dybala told reporters upon his arrival in Buenos Aires. "Things are going well for me and I will enjoy this because I always had this dream - it's what I wanted. "If I get to play I'll be happy and if not, I will support the group. I'm available to the coach and my team-mates." Argentina will be without Lionel Messi for their next two fixtures due to injury, but Dybala feels there are plenty of other talented players that he can learn from. "Lionel is not going to be available but there are other very important players like him and I can observe them and learn many things," he added. "The players there are the best in the world. Seeing them every day, it will be a great experience."

Dybala: 'Thanks Juventus!' http://www.football-italia.net/73988/dybala-thanks-juventus? Oct 6, 2015 Paulo Dybala thanked Juventus for helping him make the Argentina dream come true. The forward earned his first call-up for senior international duty after impressing since his move from Palermo this summer. “This is a very important moment in my career and I have to thank Juventus,” Dybala told reporters. “Being part of the Seleccion has always been a dream of mine. I am here to learn. “If I play, then I’ll be happy, otherwise I’ll give the squad a hand from the bench.”

Juventus Star Reveals Argentina Call Up Is A Dream http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/juventus-star-reveals-argentina-call-up-is-a-dream/? Oct 6, 2015 Juventus forward Paulo Dybala has spoken of the joy in being called up for the first time by Argentina. The former Palermo player could win his first cap for Gerardo Martino’s side as they kick off their World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign with matches against Ecuador and Paraguay. “This is a very important time in my career, it was not an easy journey,” Dybala told reporters “It is a dream and I am here to learn. “If I play I will be very happy but if not then I will support the group, I am at the complete disposal of Martino and the team.” Even with captain Lionel Messi out injured, Dybala may struggle to find a place in the Argentinian starting XI although the Juve forward is taking it all in stride. “I am training with some of the best players in the world, to see them work every day will be a great learning experience,” Dybala noted. “Italy was never an option for me, my only desire was to play for Argentina. “Now I am only thinking about taking advantage of this moment and making my dreams come true.”

INTER - JUVENTUS - MATCHDAY 8 Sunday, October 18th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Giuseppe Meazza Stadium - Milan Referee: Paolo Valeri Nedved: ‘Inter a Scudetto rival’ http://www.football-italia.net/73967/nedved-‘inter-scudetto-rival’? Oct 6, 2015 Pavel Nedved sees Inter, Roma, Fiorentina and Napoli as Juventus’ potential Scudetto rivals. The Bianconeri have started the season poorly, and currently sit 12th in Serie A after taking just eight points from seven games. “Who can fight for the Scudetto besides Juventus?” Nedved considered in an interview with Sky. “Those who are already up there. I’m looking at Inter, because they’re not in Europe, so they can play one game a week and that’s very important. “Then obviously Roma have strengthened a lot. We’ve seen that there are other teams who could be great like like Fiorentina and Napoli, so you can’t rule anyone out this year.” The former Czech Republic international also reaffirmed his backing for Juventus’ transfer strategy this summer. “I think Juventus have encountered the difficulties we expected. We didn’t just sign a load of young players, we have a nice mix. “The work done by Marotta and Paratici was, in my opinion, excellent. I think that we’ll be proven right over time, because we got some truly strong players.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

France Manager Didier Deschamps Calls For Juventus Superstar Paul Pogba To Match Flair With Efficiency. The 22-year-old midfielder is slowing becoming a pivotal figure for both club and country, and national team manager Didier Deschamps recently had words of advice for the youngster. http://www.thehardtackle.com/2015/france-manager-didier-deschamps-calls-for-juventus-superstar-paul-pogba-to-match-flair-with-efficiency/? Oct 6, 2015 Part of the excitement and hype surrounding Juventus superstar Paul Pogba can be attributed to the midfielder’s flair and technical ability. The young Frenchman has been given the famous No 10 jersey by the Bianconeri this season following much speculation linking him with a move to FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC. Pogba has the potential to be the stand-out player in the EURO 2016 tournament to be held in France at the end of this season, but his national team manager Didier Deschamps has urged the former Manchester United starlet to balance his technical ability with efficiency. Deschamps calls for consistency and efficiency from Pogba France take on European sides Armenia and Denmark in friendly internationals over the international break, with Didier Deschamps getting the opportunity to experiment and determine his best possible side for the tournament proper next year. The France manager also had some words of advice for Pogba (via Goal): “It’s important to say first, that [Pogba is] already at a great level. “The question is now in term of his consistency and efficiency. He’s capable of technical moves that will make all the fans to get up. I have no problem with that but it has to match with efficiency. That’s not always the case. I do not want that he stops doing what he does. He creates a lot. If he could improve something it would be more efficiency.” Pogba has the tools to be the best in the world Although Didier Deschamps’ comments make a great deal of sense, Pogba has shown remarkable growth over the past couple of seasons, becoming more mature as player as he gradually established himself in the first teams of club and country. The France midfielder shows greater maturity particularly in his decision making when in possession, and seems to be better able to judge when to pull out a trick that will get the fans excited as opposed to when a simple pass would do the job more efficiently. There is no doubt that he will iron out the little flaws in his game as he gains more experience at the highest level. Pogba has the talent and ability to go to the absolute top of world football, and the potential to lead what is an extremely exciting generation of young French footballers in the years to come.

'Juve can still fight, but Pogba...' http://www.football-italia.net/73961/juve-can-still-fight-pogba? Oct 6, 2015 Director Pavel Nedved believes Juventus can come back for the Scudetto, but Paul Pogba must be 'more concrete'. The Bianconeri have done something to right their awful start to the season with a 3-1 victory against Bologna, but they still have a long way to go. “Our comeback in 2002 was beautiful, we won the Scudetto on the last day and I think we could do this now too,” Nedved told the Press of the Scudetto challenge, at the Turkish Airlines Football Legends European Golf Championship event. “But we mustn't think of it now, we know that the next game [against Inter] is going to be really difficult. “We know we're behind and in trouble, but we also know how to react. No need to look at the standings now.” The Ballon D'Or winner then discussed Juventus star Paul Pogba, echoing almost exactly the words of France Coach Didier Deschamps. “You can't have everything when you're young, that's why I tell him to be less stylish on the pitch but more concrete and decisive for the team. “The team built by Marotta and Paratici is a great team, the technical level is really high. “We must stay calm and work on that, because we signed players that are very, very good. Everyone is calm at the club, as they are at the team. “Everything goes as it should and I never considered quitting. I did some important work with the football federation of the Czech Republic. “It was beautiful, it helped me develop and I'm glad I helped the international team, but there's been no problem with Juventus.”

Gianluigi Buffon's reported Ballon d'Or snub stuns Cesare Prandelli http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2650453/gianluigi-buffon-reported-ballon-dor-snub-stuns-prandelli? Oct 6, 2015 Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli says it would be scandalous if the leaked Ballon d'Or shortlist -- which did not feature Gianluigi Buffon -- proved accurate. Spain's Mundo Deportivo published a long-list of 59 names it claims are in the running for FIFA's prestigious annual award. While the likes of David Ospina, Christian Atsu and Massimo Luongo are present, Buffon is not. The Juventus goalkeeper only found out about his potential exclusion from the morning newspapers in Italy, and released a statement explaining his surprise at not being considered at least one of the top five goalkeepers in the world. FIFA is due to reveal its official list on Wednesday and Prandelli believes if it does prove to be the one published last week, it would be a travesty. "It's a scandal, not just a slip-up," he told Radio Onda Libera. "I was shocked [when I found out]. Buffon's class can be seen also in the answer he gave with his own statement." Prandelli also expressed his surprise in the way the Serie A season has started, with his former club Fiorentina leading the way and Juventus struggling. "Fiorentina are playing good football and they are giving their fans something to dream about," he said. "It's a club which really lets you work. Foreign coaches, like Paulo Sousa, are not plunged into a stressful situation when they arrive, which means they can just focus on the work. "It's been an odd season so far because many of the big clubs have changed a lot and they're struggling, while the other are more ready and are causing upsets."

Learn about Paulo Dybala's past, what he wants to do in the present and future It's the international break and we're struggling for any kind of Juventus-related things to do. So why not watch a 25-minute documentary about one of their best players?. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/10/6/9460285/paulo-dybala-juventus-palermo-argentina-video-la-joya Oct 6, 2015 Even as Juventus has struggled to find any kind of consistent form this season, big-money summer signing Paulo Dybala has been one of the brightest standouts thus far. It's an easy one, too. It makes perfect sense considering his nickname, 'La Joya,' is all about shiny jewels if you were do some Spanish-to-English translating. Above, the video, a documentary about the life of Dybala, goes by the same name. It's not some YouTube highlight video with questionable music that we sometimes post on this corner of the SBN blog family. No, no. It's much more than just Dybala scoring goals and then celebrating while some Indie Pop song annoys the crap out of you in the background. This is, essentially, is a story of Dybala's past and is concluded with some recognizable names talking about his future. We know about his playing career, but do we know about how he got to that point? Like, say, did you know before you watched this video that Dybala had two brothers and they both tried to be professional footballers themselves? Or the fact that Dybala had any kind of Polish roots whatsoever? Or that he's incredibly good looking? Okay, that last one has well known. But I guess we're spending the international break educating ourselves. That's not so bad, methinks. We also get to see Dybala go through a variety of activities during the course of the documentary. Like, for instance, mocking a friend of his while they play a game of FIFA feating Argentina vs. Poland. Hint: Dybala was winning. That's a fantastic picture in every single way. Paulo Dybala makes defenders break their ankles on the actual field of play, then he mocks his friends like he just made them cry while they play video games. Or, if you want to see something other than the 21-year-old Juve striker taunting his friends while he beats them on FIFA, here's Dybala showing off his collection of jerseys that he collected during his final year with Palermo last season. You might recognize a large portion of the names when you watch the video. It's a pretty impressive collection with a very understandable Argentinian influence because, well, why wouldn't it be. He also snagged a shirt from the captain of his current club... I mean, the guy has a point there. Maybe we should forward this onto the actual FIFA seeing how they just so happened to leave San Gigi off their initial Ballon d'Or list. (Those jerks.) And I'll leave you with Dybala sitting down and talking on Skype with some of his family members in Poland, which brings things full circle after what we heard about in the first couple minutes of the video. Okay, so maybe a swill or two of Vodka isn't necessarily in young Paulo's future. But hey, he left the door open for it — even if that look on his face might not suggest it. (Also, credit the YouTube translation service for turning "Poland" into "the Polish." Quality.) The meaning of all this, though? It's always nice when we get to see the human side of these players we watch from all corners of the earth mainly because it's not available to us very often outside of Claudio Marchisio's Instagram feed, which is wonderful. About 95 percent of the exposure we get to these players is when they step onto the field, with pretty much the rest of the small percentage of it being through interviews in the media or on social media. Just make sure you document that first trip down Vodka Road, Paulo. We're gonna need to see if that face makes another appearance.