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JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Hernanes: 'We must start winning' http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/juventus/news/hernanes-we-must-start-winning_245080.html Sep 9, 2015 Juventus midfielder Hernanes has insisted that the Old Lady must start winning matches following a disappointing start to the season. The Serie A champions have lost both of their first two league games of the new campaign, which has left them already six points off the pace. Hernanes, however, who joined Juve from Inter in the summer, is confident that his team will be ready for this weekend's clash against Chievo. "There are two things to talk about. If we're talking about the level we play at, then it might take some time to know each other and do things by heart. However, in terms of the results, there are no excuses and we have to start picking up three points," Hernanes told Sky Sports News. "We're ready, we've been working well in the last few days. I think we've reached a good level of physical condition, and we're ready." Juventus have won the Italian league in each of the last four seasons. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Paul Pogba Discusses Juventus Future Following Rumours of Chelsea, PSG Interest http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2563501-paul-pogba-discusses-juventus-future-following-rumours-of-chelsea-psg-interest? Sep 9, 2015 Paul Pogba has revealed he had “no motive” to leave Juventus in the previous transfer window despite strong reported interest from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. The Frenchman has matured into one of Europe’s finest midfielders in Turin and has insisted he could remain with the Italian champions for a while yet. “Why would I not stay? I didn't have any motive to go. It wasn't the right time," he said, per Hamish Mackay of the Daily Mirror. “It was never clear that I would leave and there's no reason I can't continue here for longer. Let's see.” Chelsea were linked with a big-money offer for the 22-year-old late in the transfer window, per Tony Banks of the Daily Express, while the Parisians were also said to have made a bid, reported by Mackay. But Juventus looks an ideal club for Pogba to continue developing, especially given the summer of seismic changes that took place on the back of their double-winning season. Indeed, it means Pogba, now the club’s No. 10, has increased responsibility following the departure of the shirt’s previous incumbent, Carlos Tevez, as well as Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo. As we can see here, courtesy of OptaPaolo, the youngster is a player who is already happy to take control of the ball and affect matches: OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 199 - Pogba has completed 199 dribbles in Serie A (since 2012) - at least 61 more than any other Juventus player.Ten. As such, it’s no surprise Juve want to keep hold of him. According to the Bianconeri’s director general, Giuseppe Marotta, the club will hold out for a massive fee if they are to eventually sell Pogba, per Mackay’s piece: As we want to win, we have decided to keep hold of a player as important as Pogba, although we have had offers from some very important clubs. In the future he could be worth more than €100m. We've lost the likes of Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal, three irreplaceable players, against our will and replacing them isn't easy. Directors, managers and players come and go, but clubs, victories and their successes to come remain. In among discussions about Pogba’s future, it is often forgotten just how big a club Juventus is. The Italian giants may not be quite as flush as sides such as Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City, but with 31 Italian league titles won in total, they’re a team with massive historical significance and endearing pageantry. Their run to last season’s Champions League final suggested they’re as good as any current side in Europe too. Pogba will know this after being with the club since 2012, and he seems like a level-headed lad aware there is still much for him to learn despite his obvious talent. How to take a grasp of games for Juve without Pirlo and Vidal is one, as football analyst Jack Rathborn touched upon: Jack Rathborn @JackRathborn Pogba feels awkward with this enhanced responsibility on his shoulders, just swung a boot at a 1/2 volley from far out, wild Other illustrious clubs will continue to sniff around the player, and it’d be no surprise if Pogba did have his head turned by a lucrative offer, but it’s encouraging to hear the midfielder insist he could remain in Turin. After all, Juventus took a chance on Pogba when he left Manchester United and have helped facilitate his development from an erratic player into a footballing force of nature. This season could be one of the most important of Pogba’s career given the added significance he’ll have in the starting XI. While he doesn’t seem quite at ease with the extra pressures yet, it’s something the youngster must become accustomed with if he’s to go to the summit of the sport. His raw ability certainly won't hold him back.

What Is Massimiliano Allegri's Best Juventus Attacking Combination? http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2563177-what-is-massimiliano-allegris-best-juventus-attacking-combination? Sep 9, 2015 Juventus underwent a major roster overhaul this summer. Several key players were lost in the midfield and on the front line. Of those players, none may have been more influential for the team than Carlos Tevez. Arriving in 2013, Tevez instantly provided the top-level goalscorer Antonio Conte lacked in his first two years in charge of the team. The forward play was so bad back then that midfielder Claudio Marchisio had a share of the scoring lead for all competitions in 2011-12 with 10 goals and Arturo Vidal was the outright leader in 2012-13 with 15. By contrast, Tevez scored 39 goals in two league seasons and added seven during last year's run to the Champions League final. Even when the team was badly misfiring, Tevez could pull a goal out of nowhere to grab three points. This summer, Tevez left the team to return to his boyhood club, Boca Juniors. The sale was worth €6.5 million in cash and a stake in several of Boca's promising young players, including 18-year-old wunderkind Guido Vadala, reported by Football Italia. His departure signaled a total overhaul of Juve's attack. Of the forwards Massimiliano Allegri had available to him a year ago, only Alvaro Morata remains. Kingsley Coman left for Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal, Fernando Llorente departed for Sevilla in search of playing time and Alessandro Matri's loan ended. With such massive turnover, it's on Allegri to find the best combination up front. Of his new options, there are a few players with similar characteristics to the men who left. Paulo Dybala has the potential to be the second coming of Carlitos and has already impressed, scoring the team's only league goal of the season to date and notching in the Supercoppa Italiana. Also arriving is Mario Mandzukic. While not a skill player, the Croatian hitman scores everywhere he goes. Many Juve fans still remember the way he played against them in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013, when he pressed the Bianconeri's defence hard and made it impossible for them to get the ball forward. He scored in the second leg to dust off the tie and went on to score the opener in the final against Borussia Dortmund. The final new arrival was Simone Zaza. Zaza has a similar game to Morata, although the Spaniard's ceiling is higher. He can score as a poacher and is good enough with the ball at his feet to create his own chances when called upon to do so. So what is the best combination up top? If Allergi continues to use the two-pronged forward line he used for almost the entirety of last year, he'll have to pick two of the four. Last year, he tended to gravitate toward a little-and-big scheme with his forwards. The "little" was almost always Tevez, although Coman occasionally replaced him. Morata and Llorente cycled through as the "big" part of the equation, with the younger Spaniard slowly gaining a foothold and pushing his way into the starting XI as the season went on. If he follows that pattern, there is only one player on the roster who can fit the bill as the "little," and that's Dybala. The shifty Argentinian can provide much of the dribbling and passing ability Tevez did. He's not going to attract the same kind of defensive attention as his compatriot—at least not right away—so his partner will have to find holes in the defense on their own. The question then becomes, who should partner him? As much as Conte, in his new position as coach of the Italy national team, would love for Juve to push hard to complete the development of a young Italian forward—something he desperately needs—Zaza is most likely to serve as depth behind Morata and Mandzukic. He'll look to work his way past one of them and into the primary backup role. Between Mandzukic and Morata, it's the latter who should start. Morata is by far the more skilled of the two and can dovetail much better with his skill set. Mandzukic, whose skill set is far closer to Llorente's, may fall victim to the same issue the Spaniard had when it comes to Allegri's tactics. When Tevez first arrived, it was into Conte's regimented, predetermined tactical scheme. It kept him closer to Llorente, which gave him more room to work. After Allegri arrived, Tevez was given much more freedom. That freedom, however, had an adverse effect on his partner. Without Tevez to stretch the defence, they collapsed on Llorente, and his goal total plummeted from 16 to seven. What is the best strike pairing for Juventus? Dybala/Morata 79.3% Dybala/Mandzukic 11.7% Morata/Mandzukic 7.3% Zaza/Morata 1.6% Zaza/Mandzukic 0.2% Total votes: 575 Given the similarity between Mandzukic and Llorente, it stands to reason that Morata should start. There is a wild-card option here who should be mentioned: Juan Cuadrado. The Colombia international is at Juventus on a one-year loan, and Allegri could use him to add a totally new wrinkle. Allegri experimented with a 4-3-3 formation in the early rounds of the Coppa Italia last season. It was a bit makeshift, using the likes of Coman and Roberto Pereyra on the wings. Now that Cuadrado, a pure winger, is in the squad, he could experiment with that formation with Cuadrado and Dybala around Mandzukic or Morata. Considering the turnover Juventus have had this year, though, adding a third formation onto the usual rotation of 3-5-2 and 4-3-1-2 is probably too much to ask of the team. A two-striker system is the best solution, and Dybala and Morata are the best pairing Allegri can call on.

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Lippi: ‘Don’t write-off Juventus’ http://www.football-italia.net/72739/lippi-‘don’t-write-juventus’? Sep 9, 2015 Marcello Lippi warns it would be ‘a glaring error’ to write-off Juventus after only two games. The Bianconeri have lost their first two games for the first time since the foundation of Serie A, but their legendary former Coach warns against talk of a crisis. “Anyone who thinks Juve have lost their hunger or are in crisis is making a glaring error,” Lippi cautioned in an interview with giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “They’ll fight to the end to win their fifth consecutive Scudetto. “They’ve changed a lot? True, but their solid core has remained. Buffon, Bonucci, Chiellini, Barzagli and Marchisio will help the new faces. “Don’t read too much into the results from the first two games. Without Khedira, Marchisio and Morata it wasn’t the real Juve. The team is strong. “Hernanes could work well, Dybala is a great talent and I’ve heard good things about Alex Sandro. Don’t write-off Mandzukic either, so far he hasn’t had the right service. “Then there’s Asamoah to come back.” Lippi, who won five Scudetti and the Champions League in two spells with the Old Lady does see another side in the division as a serious rival. “Roma are almost on par. The Giallorossi have made two or three important signings. Dzeko is the central striker they needed. “I was also impressed with how easily Digne slotted in. What personality! “Totti’s role? It’s a delicate situation. Totti can still change the game with one shot. He and [Coach Rudi] Garcia must establish a clear relationship, however. “Totti can’t play forever, and as an intelligent person he knows that very well, but he also can’t miss four or five games in a row. “Roma must assure him space, which won’t be lacking between the League and the Champions League. “Roma and Juventus have not been lucky in the draw [for the Champions League], but they’ll go through. I’m expecting a big test for the Bianconeri against Manchester City.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Juventus’ big boys must step up If Juventus want to gain their first points in this season’s Serie A, their biggest stars have to step it up against dangerous Chievo on Saturday, writes Vincent Van Genechten. http://www.football-italia.net/72738/juventus’-big-boys-must-step? Sep 9, 2015 No one expected the Bianconeri to be in joint-last place in Serie A after two games in the 2015-16 season. Not winning at Stadio Olimpico against Roma is nothing to be ashamed of, but Juve got beaten pretty soundly by the Gialliorossi. Juventus will meet an upstart Chievo team on Saturday, a game Max Allegri’s side cannot afford to lose. The Old Lady has to step up its efforts in all areas of the game. The biggest concern has been the midfield, which has been devastated by injuries to Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Kwadwo Asamoah. Paul Pogba had to carry a lot of the burden by himself, but the French star has found it difficult to adjust to his new role as playmaker. In previous years, Pogba could rely on the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal to do the playmaking for him. It allowed him to play his favourite and best role on the pitch: box-to-box. Pogba turned himself into a big time player by powering his way through the middle of the field, threatening to score inside or outside the opponent’s penalty area with every marauding forward run, while also being willing to do the defensive dirty work. Pogba dished out eighteen assists over the last two seasons, while scoring fifteen goals. These stats are enough to believe the Frenchman has the talent to be a playmaker. But he’s far better suited as a player making key runs without the ball. In the absence of a player like Pirlo, Pogba had to make his mark with the ball more often than not. For example: Pogba has made 1.5 crosses per game, up from 0.1 per game last season, and he has recorded 3.5 bad controls per game, up from 1.8 per game last season. If Allegri wants to use Pogba in his best role, he has to play either Roberto Pereyra or new addition Hernanes behind the strikers. Juventus have only scored one goal so far, when Pereyra found Paulo Dybala against Roma. On the one hand, that issue seems to be the result of a lack of creativity. As noted above, Pogba isn’t a creative player, he’s a pounding force. Adding Pereyra or Hernanes to the starting line-up could help mightily in this regard. Just as important is the return of Marchisio. Juventus need a leader who can balance the team and fire his teammates up when things get rough. Marchisio is just that type of player. On the other end, Juve’s strikers have not shown their best form. Mario Mandzukic in particular has been flat, and will not be encouraged by failing to score from a number of presentable chances while on international duty with Croatia against Azerbaijan. Consequently, Alvaro Morata could see his first start of the season as the Spaniard wants to show Allegri he’s the best goal-getter in Turin. Morata was prolific last season next to Carlos Tevez, and could form a deadly duo with Dybala as well. The Argentinian has been Juve’s best this season. Almost 70 per cent of his dribbles have been successful so far, he has a passing success of over 80 per cent and has crossed the ball 3.5 times per game. Allegri has to play his biggest acquisition, but has to decide on his partner. Will it be Mandzukic or Morata? Only then will Dybala be able to create a similar partnership to the one he had at Palermo with Franco Vazquez. Only then will the starlet be at his creative best, with a partner in crime he’s able to find blindfolded. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Zamparini: ‘Juve should believe in Dybala’ http://www.football-italia.net/72736/zamp-%E2%80%98juve-should-believe-dybala%E2%80%99? Sep 9, 2015 Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini tells Juventus to ‘believe’ in Paulo Dybala. The Rosanero patron sold the forward to the Old Lady this summer, in a deal which could eventually be worth up to €40m, and says the forward has to play. “Juve must believe in Dybala,” Zamparini told Tuttosport. “Allegri must believe in him. When I saw that he started from the bench in the Supercoppa and the first League match against Udinese, my heart sank. “I was amazed, and I wondered: ‘why did they buy him?’ “I sent a text to [Juventus general manager Giuseppe] Marotta and I said: ‘if you pair Dybala and Morata, you’ll get back to dominating’. “Those two can destroy any defence, but it’s wrong to harness them with excessive tactical duties. If you do that, you lose 50 per cent of what they can do. “For Paulo, I have only one piece of advice. He should find the right ruthlessness and desire, the way Javier Pastore has done at Paris Saint-Germain.”

Juventus Legends star with Boca http://www.football-italia.net/72732/juventus-legends-star-boca? Sep 8, 2015 Juventus Legends including David Trezeguet, Toto’ Schillaci, Pavel Nedved, Edgar Davids and Fabrizio Ravanelli played a 1-1 draw with Boca Juniors Legends. The charity game for the UNESCO Cup was hosted by the Juventus Stadium in Turin on Tuesday evening. Fans flocked to see the old glories in action and raise money for charity. It was also a celebration, the fourth anniversary of the Juventus Stadium’s inauguration. Goalkeeper Stefano Tacconi proved he’s kept his cat-like reflexes, flying to palm away a Martin Palermo left-foot strike early on. Andres ‘Guly’ Guglielminpietro put Boca Juniors ahead with a splendid volley, following up Tacconi’s save on a Palermo header. Trezeguet just failed to get on the end of a Ravanelli assist, while Abbondanzieri was decisive on Mauro Camoranesi set up by Nedved. Straight after the restart, Schillaci forced a save and Trezeguet found the net for Juve’s equaliser, a tap-in created for him by Nedved. Nicola Amoruso and Nedved tested Abbondanzieri from distance, but at 1-1 it went to penalties. Amoruso and Alessio converted, but Davids and Bonetti failed from the spot, so Boca lifted the trophy in Turin. Juventus Legends: Tacconi (Peruzzi 46), Birindelli (Tavola 87), Montero (Aleinikov 46) (Galia 78), Ferrara (Carrera 46), Torricelli (Dimas 59), Bonini (Mirkovic 46), Camoranesi (Bonetti 70), Nedved, Davids, Trezeguet, Ravanelli (Schillaci 46) (Amoruso 68)

Tavecchio Congratulates Agnelli On Uefa Role http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/tavecchio-congratulates-agnelli-on-uefa-role/? Sep 8, 2015 FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio has congratulated Andrea Agnelli on his election onto the Executive Committee of UEFA. The 39-year-old is also the President of Juventus, the fourth member of the Agnelli family to run the football club after his grandfather, his father and his uncle. “Dear Andrea, I want to express my sincere congratulations on the appointment to the UEFA Executive Committee,” Tavecchio said in a statement on the website of the FIGC. “I am sure that we will be well represented, with his usual skill, the aspirations of our clubs and the whole family of Italian football.” Agnelli was appointed President of the Bianconeri in May 2011 and has been credited with overseeing the club’s transition into their new stadium while winning four Scudetto’s in a row.

Former Azzurri Coach Expects Race For Scudetto To Go To The Wire http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/former-azzurri-coach-expects-race-for-scudetto-to-go-to-the-wire/? Sep 8, 2015 Marcello Lippi believes Juventus have a serious fight on their hands to again win the Scudetto. The 67-year-old f0rmer Juventus coach says the reinforcements made to Roma’s squad this summer mean the Scudetto race should be much closer than in previous years, but has also warned that the Old Lady should not be written off. “My first feelings tell me it will be a much more balanced championship,” Lippi told Premium Sport “Roma have made two or three very good signings, but let us not forget Napoli and of course Juventus. “I think it will be an open championship, but remember that Juventus has won the last few titles with at least 15 points and therefore a gap of six points will not be that worrying. “Are Juventus in a transitional year? They will certainly struggle to win as easily as they have in recent years, but it should be noted that they will certainly fight to win.” During two spells in charge of the Bianconeri, Lippi guided the club to five Serie A titles and four Champions League finals, winning the competition in 1996.

Ancelotti: 'Juve can challenge Spaniards' http://www.football-italia.net/72719/ancelotti-juve-can-challenge-spaniards? Sep 8, 2015 Carlo Ancelotti believes Juventus can win the Champions League and “threaten the Spanish hegemony.” The Bianconeri lost the Final to Barcelona last season, but this time round there are five Liga teams involved because Sevilla qualified as winners of the Europa League. “I have been fortunate enough to win the Champions League three times as a Coach, twice with Milan and once at Real Madrid,” he told Spanish newspaper Marca. “I must admit I have a special affection for that tournament. The biggest talking point this season will be seeing if the Spanish sides continue to dominate, but there are many sides who can compete for the trophy and threaten the Spanish hegemony. “These include Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Juventus. “For Barcelona the challenge is to win the Champions League for two years in a row. I can guarantee that will be one of the toughest ever tests, as no side in the history of the Champions League has managed it. “We went very close at Real Madrid last year, but then lost to Juventus in the semi-final.” Ancelotti was controversially sacked by the Merengues and replaced by former Napoli boss Rafa Benitez. “I know what it means to coach Real Madrid and I wish him all the best. I have a lot of respect for his work. I wish Real Madrid all the best. “I think the time has come for me to take a step back and relax. I am very happy with my experience at Real Madrid. “Over 20 years as a Coach I’ve been at some of the best clubs in the world: Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. “I think that after a year of rest, I will return with more energy. This year I tend to spend long periods in Madrid and London with my family.”

Allegri Is A Friend Says Adriano Galliani http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/juventus-coach-is-a-friend-says-adriano-galliani/? Sep 8, 2015 AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliano insists Massimiliano Allegri is a friend despite his club’s decision to sack the Juventus coach. Allegri was sacked by the Rossoneri after a 4-3 defeat to Sassuolo left the club thirty points adrift of Antonio Conte’s Juventus, however Galliani shrugged off the questions regarding whether he regrets the decision and insists he remains friends with the Bianconeri coach. “Is he a regret? No he’s a friend,” insisted the Milan vice-president. Both Galliani and Allegri were present in Milan on Monday, coinciding with the Juventus coach’s new personal smartphone app called ‘Mr Allegri tactics’. Allegri succeeded Antonio Conte at the Juventus stadium in summer 2014 less than seven months after his dismissal at the Rossoneri, and in his debut season with the Old Lady he guided them to the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and narrowly missed out on an historic treble after losing to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

Agnelli elected to UEFA Committee http://www.football-italia.net/72715/agnelli-elected-uefa-committee? Sep 8, 2015 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli has been appointed to the UEFA Executive Committee for 2015-17. There were 11 new board members elected to join four existing members, including Milan director Umberto Gandini. Agnelli joined the UEFA Executive Committee and was also confirmed on the European Club Association Executive Board. The UEFA EC now has members from Bayern Munich, Milan, Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow, Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus, Olympique Lyonnais, Ajax, Anderlecht, Olympiacos, Legia Warsaw, Celtic and HJK Helsinki.

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Juventus' Curva Sud closure explained http://www.football-italia.net/72709/juventus-curva-sud-closure-explained? Sep 8, 2015 CONI has released a statement explaining the reasons for upholding a one-match closure of Juventus’ Curva Sud. The Bianconeri were ‘perplexed’ by the ruling, which relates to violence in the Derby della Mole of March last year, in which firecrackers were thrown at Torino fans. Juve pointed out that the perpetrator was not a season ticket holder, and in fact did not even have a ticket for the match in question, which was at the Granata’s Stadio Olimpico. However, CONI’s Collegio di Garanzia dello Sport has today released the reasoning behind its decision. The ruling accepts that Juventus do not have “strict liability” for what happened, but is instead related to “the mere fact that an explosive device, which is extremely dangerous for the safety of other spectators, was launched from a place - the away end, occupied by Juventus fans - which is attributable to the club which has been sanctioned”. The decision was not based on the circumstances of the individual, but the area from which the device was thrown, making the Old Lady’s argument about tickets “irrelevant”. It was decided that there was “no doubt” that an explosive device was launched from the Juventus section into the Torino section in the first half, which injured several people. In addition, supporters did not look to cast the person out, or at least disassociate themselves from the individual, “on the contrary, for the remaining 89 minutes they continued to throw firecrackers and other objects, continuing a situation of serious tension and violence”. It was pointed out that “the Codice di Giustizia punishes the behaviour of supporters, not just supporters with a fans’ card. The concept of a fan is not different from organised fans. There doesn’t need to be an investigation into the intensity of their sporting passion, or on the prevalence of violent intentions ‘above and beyond’ their sporting passion”. Furthermore the judgement explained that just because someone may not be a season ticket holder at Juventus Stadium, they may still be considered a fan. “Real objective facts help place this person as someone close to the fringes of the Juventus Ultras, and someone who is a frequent visitor to the Curva Sud at Juventus Stadium,” the ruling explained. In summing up, the document insisted that the the object was thrown from an area “objectively attributable” to the Juventus fans. That meant that while the court accepted that the club could not be held directly responsible for what happened, a punishment was still merited. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Trezeguet: ‘Buffon the best ever’ http://www.football-italia.net/72707/trezeguet-%E2%80%98buffon-best-ever%E2%80%99? Sep 8, 2015 David Trezeguet believes former Juventus teammate Gigi Buffon is ‘the best goalkeeper of all time’. The ‘keeper has made over 700 appearances for Parma and Juventus, as well as winning 150 caps for Italy. In that time the Carrara-native has won six Scudetti, two Coppa Italia, the UEFA Cup and the World Cup, and his former teammate believes he’s the best-ever in his position. “Buffon is the best goalkeeper of all time,” Trezeguet told Tuttosport. “I don’t see anyone who’s had the consistency of Buffon for the last 20 years. Since his time at Parma he’s maintained a very high level. “He’s always been decisive, it’s amazing.” The Frenchman also discussed his young compatriot Paul Pogba, and believes he too can go on to have an impressive career. “He has a unique future ahead of him. We were talking about Buffon, and he can be the Buffon of midfielders if he keeps doing what he’s done here. “I think he’s on his way to winning the Ballon d’Or, he has everything, and he’s still young.” The Bianconeri have been defeated in both of their opening Serie A games, but Trezeguet, who scored over 170 goals for the club believes they’ll get back on track. “Juventus haven’t had much time this year,” the 1998 World Cup-winner explained. “Three key players in [Andrea] Pirlo, [Arturo] Vidal and [Carlos] Tevez have left, so they need time to fix the team. “I’m sure against Chievo you’ll already be able to see a better team, it’s a team full of winners who want to show that they deserve to wear the shirt. “Paulo Dybala? He’s got his whole future ahead of him, and it’s a big future. He’s already proven himself at Palermo, and he’ll do the same here. “We don’t play in the same role, but I see in him a little of me when I arrived at Juve. I was young, with the desire to prove myself and a Coach who could help me grow. “Dybala has it all, he’ll be the future of Juve.”

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Lippi: ‘Serie A more balanced’ http://www.football-italia.net/72705/lippi-‘serie-more-balanced’? Sep 8, 2015 Marcello Lippi believes Serie A is ‘more balanced’ this season, but cautions against writing off Juventus. The Bianconeri have lost their first two games of the season, the first time that has occurred since Italy has had a national League. However, the former Juve Coach does not believe the Old Lady should be counted out. “The first feeling is that the League is more balanced,” Lippi admitted in an interview with Premium Sport. “Roma have made two or three good buys, but let’s not forget Napoli, and, of course, Juventus. “I think it will be an open League, but let’s not forget Juventus have won the last two Scudetti with a gap of at least 15 points, so six points can’t be considered frightening. “Juve will definitely fight to win as they always have, I’m not saying they’ll do it, but they’ll certainly improve.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Why Allegri’s New-Look Juventus Is Stuttering http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/why-allegris-new-look-juventus-is-stuttering/? Sep 8, 2015 Two consecutive losses in their first two matches sees Juventus sit in 17th position on the Serie A table. And with the Bianconeri’s title defence off to a faltering start, Ryan Wrenn assesses what has gone wrong with Massimiliano Allegri’s new-look side. Massimiliano Allegri’s dramatic reworking of his Juventus side is already being called into question a mere two games into the season. Some changes were forced upon him. The team is clearly feeling the loss of a trio of their best players. The departures of Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo this summer were never going to make for an easy transition. Injuries have also played a part. Alvaro Morata has been limited to a mere 28 minutes over the first two games while new midfield signing Sami Khedira won’t make his debut until October at the earliest. Speaking of Juventus’ struggles this season in the context of departures and injuries neglects to appreciate how much the team has changed over the summer however. Though Allegri was rumored to be targeting some like-for-like replacements for the departed – most notably his former AC Milan star midfielder Riccardo Montolivo in for Pirlo – most of the changes have been significantly more about transforming than stabilizing. The considerable business Juventus did do on the transfer market – €120 million spent on eight players plus two loan signings – had more to do with fortifying the attack than attempting to replicate the contributions of Pirlo and Vidal in midfield. This is the kind of spending spree often only undertaken by a team entering a rebuilding phase. Rebuilding to what, exactly? It’s tempting to look at the Juventus’ first two games and see some symmetry with Allegri’s old side, AC Milan.The defense looks uninspired and especially narrow even for a back three. A workman’s effort in midfield, borderline-utility players there not to dazzle but simply to do a job while the attackers in front bear the weight of settling the game. Paul Pogba, much like Kevin Prince Boateng before him, looks lost in a makeshift trequartista role. Now, of course, Allegri’s AC Milan won the Scudetto in 2011 and followed it up with second and third place finishes. Were it not for Juventus’ reemergence, they might have had a similar era of dominance in Serie A. They were, in short, a good team. The problem, of course, is that Juventus were – and likely still are – a great team. Allegri inherited a side last season that had been crafted by Antonio Conte as deftly and skillfully an Old Master had crafted a work of art. It was that team with which Allegri came close to winning the treble in undoubtedly his greatest season as a head coach. As with all works of art, the paint started to crack and colors began to fade. Some small chips fell away entirely. Any responsible curator will tell you what to do in that scenario. You touch it up, add in a few brushstrokes here and there, fill in the blanks. Though you’ll never be able to replicate the original artist’s work, it is your duty to at least honor what made the work great, to ensure that it endures. Instead of touching up Conte’s masterpiece, Allegri seems more content to paint over it. The transfer window seems proof enough of that, though these opening two games have made it especially clear. The majesty with which Juventus used to control the midfield seems to be slipping away. Compare the corresponding fixture against Roma last season to their recent loss. Allegri, knowing that Juventus only had to maintain the gap between them and their primary competitors for the Scudetto, played for and got the draw. The midfield trio was its typically dominate self even in the absence of Pirlo due to injury. Vidal, Roberto Pereyra and Claudio Marchisio averaged 37 successful passes as the latter player did his best attempt at replicating Pirlo’s usual contributions. This season’s trip to Rome looked markedly different in both substance and style. Paul Pogba, Simone Padoin and Stefano Sturaro averaged a mere 23 passes. They struggled to contain an admittedly fantastic Roma midfield and, more worryingly, seemed reluctant to contribute anything to attack in those rare moments when they did reclaim the ball. Only when Pereyra was introduced in the 71st minute did the midfield begin to resemble its former self, but by then it was too little too late. It is far too early to make a final judgment on Allegri’s intent with Juventus this season, it must be said. It could be that the international break will make him reconsider his tactics in the opening two games. Perhaps he will field a more familiar team in Saturday’s crucial game against league leaders Chievo. Over four seasons of football, no one in Serie A has yet found a way to reliably usurp Conte’s Juventus. As much as Allegri surely wants to imprint his own mark on the team, there is no sense in changing a formula that could still remain entirely effective.

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Pepe: ‘Juventus a privilege’ http://www.football-italia.net/72701/pepe-‘juventus-privilege’? Sep 8, 2015 New Chievo signing Simone Pepe says his time at Juventus was ‘a privilege’ and speaks about the ‘terrible’ feeling of losing the Champions League final. The winger left the Old Lady this summer after five years and four Scudetti in Turin, and praised the fans for supporting him despite the fact that ‘I’m not a champion’. The 32-year-old will face his old club this Saturday, when top of the table Chievo face a Bianconeri side that is yet to pick up any points after two rounds. “I won’t have a laugh at my ex-teammates’ expense on Saturday, because I know this is a difficult time for them,” Pepe said to giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “I spoke with Bonucci, Chiellini and Barzagli and I’m sure they will regroup. On Saturday evening, whatever happens, I’ll go for dinner with my former colleagues. “I’ve suffered a lot by not playing much, but I’ve tried to look forward and my positivity has helped me. “Andrea Agnelli sent me a text after I joined Chievo. With us he’s always been like a big brother. What we achieved in these four years is the fruit of a winning mentality – to Juve, a draw is like a defeat. “Playing for Juve is a privilege, I knew that it wouldn’t be easy and you don’t expect to play there. “The first year we finished seventh, with Conte we got back up and made a real accomplishment – an impossible Scudetto. That was the greatest triumph, as it was unexpected. “It isn’t for me to judge how much the departures will weigh on Juve, but I think that in order to win you need a base of Italian players – we are the only people who feel sick when we lose. Too many Italians have left, but there’s still Buffon, Chiellini, Barzagli, Bonucci and Marchisio. “Getting to the Champions League final was a dream come true, but the day after was terrible. At the end of the match we were demoralised as it was an occasion that for many, me included, would never come again. “The love of the fans made me even more proud because I’m not a champion. My Juve had five or six champions (Tevez, Vidal, Pirlo, Buffon and Barzagli) and a lot of great players. I won the support of the fans by giving everything on the pitch.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Pogba is unique, the Buffon of midfielders - Trezeguet The former Juventus striker is full of praise for both Bianconeri stars and says Paulo Dybala is the future of the Serie A champions. http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/09/08/15151522/-? Sep 8, 2015 David Trezeguet has hailed Juventus star Paul Pogba as "unique" and believes he could reach incredible heights like team-mate Gianluigi Buffon. The 37-year-old has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for years, having won the Uefa Cup, Champions League, World Cup and reached a European Championship final throughout a glittering career. Pogba is seen as one of the most promising players in the world, with the 22-year-old midfielder already a pivotal player for Juve. Trezeguet believes Buffon is the greatest goalkeeper ever and feels Pogba can have an equally successful career. "He's the best goalkeeper of all time," he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "I don't see anyone who has had the continuity Buffon has for the last 20 years. Since his time at Parma, he has maintained a very high level. "He has always been crucial, it is impressive. I cannot explain how he does it. "Paul has a unique future ahead of him. He may be the Buffon of midfielders if he continues to work as hard as he has worked at Juve. "I see that he is happy and it is during these times that we grow. He has it all and he is so young." The World Cup and European Championship winner also spoke highly of Juve's summer signing Paulo Dybala. "He has a bright future ahead of him and is a very important future. It has already proved himself at Palermo and will prove even more in Turin," he added. "He doesn't play the same role as me, but I see a little bit of myself in him from when I arrived at Juve: young, with desire to demonstrate value and technically good to help me grow. "Dybala has it all and will be the future of Juve. "Juve have lost three core players like Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez. It will take time to fix the team."

Breaking Down What Mario Lemina Will Bring to Juventus http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2561757-breaking-down-what-mario-lemina-will-bring-to-juventus? Sep 8, 2015 While the likes of Paulo Dybala, Alex Sandro and Mario Mandzukic grab the headlines, Juventus have made a number of less notable signing this past summer. The Bianconeri invested a staggering €77 million in that aforementioned trio, with a further €18 million sent to Sassuolo in exchange for Simone Zaza, per TransferMarkt.co.uk. Yet behind them, a free transfer for Sami Khedira represents fantastic value, as does the loan deal that saw Juan Cuadrado arrive after an unsuccessful six-month stint at Chelsea. While those players need little introduction, the same cannot be said of the capture of French midfielder Mario Lemina. Brought to Turin on the final day of the Serie A transfer window, he initially joins the reigning Italian champions on a season-long loan from Olympique Marseille. According to the club’s official website, however, "a fee of €0.5 million paid on or before 30 September 2015 would provide Juventus with the right to purchase the player outright" for €9.5 million next year. The 22-year-old seemed very happy with the move, discussing his opinion of the Bianconeri with reporters at his inaugural press conference in Turin last week and revealing he was “delighted” to be part of “a massive club with a tradition of winning.” With illustrious names such as Paul Pogba, Claudio Marchisio and Khedira already at the club, it remains to be seen how much impact Lemina will have. Yet he appears to already have moved up the pecking order, coach Massimiliano Allegri including him in his Champions League squad at the expense of Simone Padoin, per the official Juventus website. That was an impressive decision from the former Milan and Cagliari boss and was discussed at length in this previous column. Having made just 50 appearances for Marseille, seeing what he brings to the Bianconeri is difficult to understand, but Andrew Gibney of French Football Weekly believes Lemina’s battling approach is arguably his biggest asset as he wrote recently: Many would see Lemina as a street fighter. He chases a lot of balls down, harries and pressurises opponents into mistakes, and seems to possess a strong determined attitude. Until recently, it seemed he was a pretty fair player too, not known for having a nasty streak. However, in an incident against Rennes recently, he punched Ola Toivonen in the groin, leading to a much-deserved ban. To succeed at a club like Marseille and run the midfield, one perhaps needs something of a nasty streak. The punch was cheap and nasty, but it showed he had fire in his belly, something that will prove useful when better-channelled. That is supported by WhoScored.com statistics, with their figures showing the former Lorient youngster has averaged 2.3 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game over the course of his fledgling career. Lemina is also a hugely versatile player, something the man himself discussed at his unveiling at Juventus Stadium. “I’m as comfortable going forward as I am tracking back,” he told reporters, per the club’s official website. “I played in a back three for Marseille on occasions, so for the benefit of the team, I can slot in anywhere.” “My preferred position is in the centre of the field where I can dictate play and influence the game, but I know that it’s up to me to force my way into contention,” Lemina continued. “My ambition is to play and develop my game as much as I can.” He is likely to be a reserve behind Juve’s first-choice midfield, a matter analysed in detail here, and he joins a group of promising young players that gives the Old Lady an extremely bright future.

Juventus ‘a seven-headed dragon’ http://www.football-italia.net/72696/juventus-%E2%80%98-seven-headed-dragon%E2%80%99? Sep 8, 2015 Giovanni Trapattoni says Juventus are like ‘a dragon with seven heads’ and backs them to retain the Scudetto. The former Bianconeri and Italy Coach also revealed that he sees himself in Massimiliano Allegri and offers his support to Simone Zaza. “This season will be more balanced than in the past four years, but Juventus will win again,” Trap said to Tuttosport. “Juve are like a dragon with seven heads, you cut off two but another five remain. You can’t kill them off. “Woe betide those who think that the Bianconeri can’t repeat their success. In the final hours of the transfer market, Juve brought important players to Turin. "I like Allegri because he’s a bit like me. Last year he brought fruition to an amazing season, with a bit more he would’ve won the Champions League and completed the treble. Keep it up! "The Champions League match against Manchester City comes at the right time. For the Bianconeri, winning in England would mean a lot, especially psychologically. “Juve at full-strength must not be afraid of anyone; they can win the Champions League. "I like Zaza. He's young and can still improve a lot. When he goes back to defend he reminds me a lot of Roberto Bettega. “He has all the characteristics to become great - Allegri must do well to keep him lively from the psychological point of view and to give him opportunities at the right time.”

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Chievo Captain Believes Anything Could Happen Against Juventus And Inter http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/chievo-captain-believes-anything-could-happen-against-juventus-and-inter/? Sep 7, 2015 Chievo forward Sergio Pellissier believes anything could happen in the Mussi Volanti’s two next games against Juventus and Inter. The Gialloblu are sitting pretty at the top of the table after a blistering start to their season which has produced a 3-1 win away to Empoli and 4-0 thrashing of Lazio at the Stadio Marc’ Antonio Bentegodi. ”Anything can happen against Juve or Inter and we hope to stay at the top of the table, but we know that it is going to be difficult.”, the long-serving talisman told Veronese newspaper L’Arena. Chievo will face the Bianconeri at home following the international break before travelling to the Stadio Meazza the following week. Pellissier holds the record for the most appearances in a Chievo shirt having played in 422 matches for the club, and will have fond memories of playing in Turin as he scored his first career hat-trick against the Old Lady during the 2008-09 season. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Marchisio Returns To Training http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/juventus-midfielder-returns-to-training/? Sep 7, 2015 Juventus have been dealt a big boost with the return of midfielder Claudio Marchisio to first team training. The Bianconeri have lost their first two Serie A matches but Marchisio could be back for the game against Chievo after the Italian international was ruled out for the first two rounds due to injury. Juventus took to twitter to announce Marchisio is back training. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfc Buone notizie bianconeri: prima di incontrare le Legends.. @ClaMarchisio8 si è allenato con il gruppo! Marchisio missed the start of the Serie A campaign after being ruled out for three weeks with a muscle injury in his right thigh.

Lichtsteiner Still Upset Over Champions League Final Defeat http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/juventus-defender-still-upset-over-champions-league-final-defeat/? Sep 7, 2015 Stephan Lichtsteiner has revealed he is still gutted about Juventus‘ Champions League final defeat in June. Juventus lost to Barcelona 3-1 in Berlin and in a lengthy interview with Fifa.com. Lichtsteiner also spoke about Italy as a footballing country. “On the day of the game I wasn’t really that nervous,” Lichtsteiner told Fifa.com in an exclusive interview. “I was pretty relaxed and just incredibly excited about the final. I knew that in two hours it would all be over, one way or another. “But I was pretty nervous in the week leading up to the game. “You think about winning the title, everything revolves around that one game and you can’t wait to get out there and start playing. “We’d had a great season, having won two titles already, and were prepared to get our hands on the big trophy. “Both the supporters and the players were desperate to make that dream a reality. “Juve are one of the biggest teams in Europe, but still not quite at the same level as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. “Clubs like these reach the final on a regular basis. “For me, however, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I knew it was now or never. “I was therefore incredibly disappointed after the match and still am today. “In hindsight, I can be happy with everything we achieved last season as a team. “I’m also proud of my own performance. I played every minute of our 13 Champions League matches last season. Lichtsteiner then went onto talk about Italy as a country “Italy is one of the nicest countries in Europe and has everything you could wish for.” “You’ve got the ocean, the mountains, the lakes, great food and a fantastic lifestyle. “I’m also a big fan of the mentality of the Italian people. They’re open and relaxed, perhaps more so in the south than in the north. “They’re also extremely passionate about football, which is more of a tactical game in Italy. “The emphasis is placed on perfection and that doesn’t always result in the sort of spectacle we’re used to seeing in other leagues. “But you can feel how much the Italians love their football. Everyone has an opinion which they’re eager to put across.”

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Juventus hit back at Curva closure http://www.football-italia.net/72686/juventus-hit-back-curva-closure? Sep 7, 2015 Juventus say they are ‘perplexed’ by the decision to close the Curva Sud in Juventus Stadium for Saturday’s match against Chievo. CONI, the Italian National Olympic Committee, has decided that the stand should be closed for the match as punishment for an explosive device being thrown during last season’s Derby della Mole. The Old Lady lost their final appeal against a ban on Thursday and today released a statement underlining their frustration at the decision. “Juventus Football Club is greatly perplexed by the decision reached today by the Italian National Olympic Committee to close the South Stand for this Saturday’s match between Juventus and Chievo,” read the statement on the club’s official website. “This decision impacts on Juventus and a section of its season ticket holders despite the fact that the perpetrator is not a Juventus season ticket holder and was not in possession of a ticket for the Turin derby at the Stadio Olimpico. “Juventus emphasises the urgent need to ensure that all stadia in Serie A meet common security and technological requirements so that deplorable incidents, such as the one which occurred in Turin’s Stadio Olimpico, can be quickly stamped out of the game. Nothing has happened so far since that day in April. “The club has therefore decided against reprising ‘Gioca con Me – Tifa con me’ (‘Play with Me – Cheer with Me’), an initiative that in previous years has brought thousands of children to the stadium, notwithstanding the similar circumstances.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127