Socrates

'Juve still believe in Scudetto' http://www.football-italia.net/72622/juve-still-believe-scudetto? Sep 6, 2015 Juventus “still believe we can win the Scudetto” despite their historically bad start, said Beppe Marotta. Never before had the Turin giants begun a Serie A campaign with two consecutive defeats, but they were beaten by both Udinese and Roma. “We are just at the start of the season and what the table says now doesn’t mean much,” insisted general manager Marotta. “Getting back to a victory against Chievo next weekend will be fundamental to start the comeback. “We still believe we can win the Scudetto and certainly aren’t just playing to take part this season.” Last term Juve won their fourth consecutive Serie A title and the Coppa Italia, but were beaten in the Champions League Final by Barcelona. They have a tough group this time round, facing Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach. “In Europe you cannot afford any mistakes or false starts.”

Antonio Conte: 'It is difficult to describe Gianluigi Buffon' http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/italy/news/antonio-conte-hails-gianluigi-buffon_244393.html Sep 6, 2015 Italy manager Antonio Conte has hailed goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as a "champion" and has revealed that he has great admiration for Juventus's number one. The 37-year-old is to receive his 150th cap for Italy when the Italians take on Bulgaria in their Euro 2016 qualifying match on Sunday. The former Juve manager is full of praise for the goalkeeper, who has been a key part of the national side for the last 18 years. "Finding the words to describe Gigi is tough," Conte told reporters. "He is such a champion. I admire him as a player and as a man. He was my teammate, my goalkeeper at club level and now for Italy."

Marotta hints at Pirlo retirement http://www.football-italia.net/72615/marotta-hints-pirlo-retirement? Sep 5, 2015 Juventus director Beppe Marotta hinted Andrea Pirlo should retire from the Italy squad. “It’s a decision he must make.” The 36-year-old midfielder did not renew his Bianconeri contract this summer and moved to New York City FC. He became the first MLS player to feature for Italy in a 1-0 victory over Malta this week, but was criticised for his sluggish performance. “I think every player should understand when the moment has come to hang up his boots,” Marotta told Mediaset Premium Sport when asked about Pirlo. “I don’t know if that moment has already arrived for him. Certainly, it’s a decision he must make.”

Marotta: 'No new Hamsik bid' http://www.football-italia.net/72612/marotta-no-new-hamsik-bid? Sep 5, 2015 Juventus director Beppe Marotta insists “we won’t resume talks with Napoli for Marek Hamsik in January.” Both clubs confirmed there were negotiations during the summer and Tuttosport claimed there will be another proposal mid-season. “No, I doubt we would resume talks with Napoli for Hamsik in January, because we’ve signed an important player like Hernanes,” Marotta told reporters. It was a difficult time for Juve, who missed out on targets including Roma’s Miralem Pjanic, Julian Draxler and Mario Gotze. “We always seek the best on the market. We were unable to get all of them, but still have a great squad that won everything except the Champions League last season.”

Trezeguet: 'Juve will be back' http://www.football-italia.net/72604/trezeguet-juve-will-be-back? Sep 5, 2015 David Trezeguet is confident Juventus will get back on track and discussed his happiest Bianconeri moments. “There have been big changes this summer, because important players left and the newcomers came in. At the same time, I am convinced that the changes as important to continue winning. “I hope and indeed am sure that the team will get back on track, because defeats help motivate, force you to work harder and grow. “Mario Lemina is a very good player and Juve made a great buy there. In France there’s a lot of talk around him and he’s got a big future ahead of him.” The striker will take part in the game between veterans for charity this weekend and sat down with the Juve Twitter account for a Q&A. “The greatest game for me was when we won the first Scudetto away to Udinese. It was against a tough opponent and on the other side Inter were playing an incredible match with Lazio. We won and were able to bring home the Scudetto after many years. “The goal I am most fond of was in a 5-2 victory over Atalanta in Bergamo, as it allowed me to overtake Omar Sivori and become the top foreign goalscorer. This is the most important achievement of my career… “The best goal was a bicycle-kick against Real Madrid, because in a Champions League tie against the Galacticos is a special moment and another goal meant we were able to qualify. “Alessandro Del Piero is the greatest player I ever partnered for Juventus.” Trez is currently working as an ambassador for Juventus in the world, but has he ever considered becoming a Coach? “At the moment my role as President of Juventus Legends takes up all my time! Today being a Coach is not a main objective. This role is very stimulating, as I am learning so much and hope to continue as a director. “Juve was a unique love affair for me. I arrived very young and left after 10 years with a career full of success. Aside from the sporting success, I left a human bond here and was grateful to be invited back. “The only trophy I never won with Juventus was the Champions League, so if I could go back in time and play one match again, it’d be the Final against Milan at Old Trafford.”

Travel Guide: Juventus http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/travel-guide-juventus/? Sep 5, 2015 Juventus Stadium replaced the loathed Stadio Delle Alpi in 2011, providing an impressive backdrop worthy of a European leading light. The reigning Serie A champions are the most successful team in Italian football history, while holding the record number of Scudetti won at 33, and here’s how you can see the revered Old Lady in action. Tickets Tickets can be purchased online at Listicket and via the club’s official website, by phone on +39 02 600 60 900, or at a Listicket sales point. It’s worth noting before you buy that you must be in possession of a ‘Tessera del Tifoso’ (Fan Card) to enter certain sections of the ground. Juventus sell out their 41,254 capacity venue regularly, therefore booking in advance is advisable. Tickets tend to go on sale around two weeks before the match is due to take place. Prices usually start at €30 per person for a seat behind one of the goals, ranging anywhere up to €90 for a central location along the side of the pitch. If the match you wish to attend is already sold out, then you could try internet outlets such as Viagogo, though prices will almost certainly be higher than normal. You can also experience a stadium tour and the J-Museum, costing €18 adults, €15 Under-16 or Over-65 and children under the age of six go free. More prices and timing information can be located online via the Juventus website, where tickets can be booked in advance for the museum only, or the tour and museum together. Hotel The Turin Tourist Office provides a hotel and hostel booking service, while there are many good places to stay both in the city centre and closer to the venue. The Hotel Master is a three-star establishment near to the stadium itself, and availability is usually plentiful even for bigger matches. Family-run Hotel Castello is also a superb location nearby, housed within a 17th-century building. Hotel Residence Sporting is home to the Maffei Sports Centre, which boasts a pool, tennis courts and football pitches on-site. Finally, the Grand Hotel Sitea is located in the city centre and offers a gourmet restaurant in classy surroundings. Central four-star dwelling Victoria is an elegant spa hotel. But, both represent pricier options than the others mentioned. Flights Turin Airport is approximately 16 kilometres (9.9 miles) to the north of the city centre, which represents a relatively short drive from the Juventus Arena. You can fly direct from the United Kingdom with various airlines from all of London’s main hubs, or on a one-stop alternative from your local airport. On arrival, an express rail service costing €3.70 one way runs every 30 minutes into Dora train station just north of the city, with a journey time lasting 20 minutes. A taxi to town from the airport will likely cost around €40 and takes half an hour. Car hire is also readily available. Around Turin Turin boasts majestic architecture, an elegant appearance and old-fashioned class, as well as two of Italy’s most celebrated football clubs in the shape of Juventus and Torino. Not only is Turin the capital of the Piedmont region, but it was once the country’s capital city, and this is abundantly clear in its architecture. Wander along Turin’s wide streets, with their beautiful arcades, which lead towards the Po river. Many palaces and gallerias galore along the way should satisfy the history buffs among you, while one of the city’s most celebrated relics, the Shroud of Turin, is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. The symbol of the city is the monument Mole Antonelliana, which currently houses the National Museum of Cinema. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Museum is considered second only in importance to the one in Cairo itself. Food You should avoid tourist traps that can sometimes compromise quality and instead head for an authentic establishment that offers true Turin cuisine. Many of the city’s restaurants are small in size, so reservations are advised, especially if you’re part of a big group. Eating chocolate as we know it today – in the form of bars and pieces – originated in Turin. The chocolate and hazelnut sauce, Gianduja, is a speciality. There are many options that will give you great quality food at value-for-money prices, including Ristorante Consorzio, Solferino and Quanto Basta, plus many more. Bars The Murazzi, on the west bank between the bridges of Umberto I and Vittorio Emanuele I, provides the congregating area for a mixture of young locals. There aren’t any specifically Calcio-centric bars, but the likes of Alcatraz, Arcata 35 and Ole Madrid are all recommended. Murphy’s (Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 28) is probably one of the most atmospheric venues for football fans to gather, with plenty of television screens to be viewed from any angle. Nearby resides the historic 1870 Huntsman, formerly known as the Tetley Huntsman, while the Isle of Skye public house next to Porta Susa station offers live Sky Sports. Travelling to Juventus Stadium Juventus Stadium (Corso Gaetano Scirea, 50, Torino) is located about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) from the city centre and Turin’s main Porta Nuovo train station. A special tram service (line 9) connects the stadium with Bernini Metro stop on the day of a game. Bernini can be reached on Metro line 1 from Turin train stations Porta Nuova and Porta Susa. The stadium can be reached easily by bus when there is no match scheduled. From the city centre (Via 20 Settembre – Via Bertola) you can hop on bus 72 or 72B in the direction of Viale Bruno Sper. or Picco. Get off at the Stadio Alpi stop. It lies just south of the Tangenziale ring road if you decide to drive instead. You will then need to take the Venaria exit from the northern section of the road. Parking passes are available for every fixture. The only prerequisite is that you must already be in possession of a valid match ticket prior to making a reservation. You can purchase a parking pass online through the club website or at the stadium on the day of the match, subject to availability. At the stadium It’s very important to remember that you must have an official document constituting identity, such as a passport, in addition to your match ticket when entering the stadium. Be sure to check out the Juventus Store, which is the largest club shop in the entire country. Also, there’s an adjacent shopping centre named Area 12, which could be worth a look if you have plenty of time to kill. The all-seater Juventus Stadium is a very modern venue, which is as beloved by fans as its predecessor was hated. It’s one of the very few club-owned stadia in Italy, while the proximity of the stands to the playing field – compared with the Delle Alpi – make for a wonderful atmosphere. There’s barely an empty seat to be had at most fixtures, and the opportunity to witness Italian football’s finest within such salubrious surroundings is a fantastic experience to behold. Cost Hotel: €44-€159 per night Flights: Starting at €85 return Airport transfer: €7.40 return Match ticket: €30-€90 Food: €5-€10 pizza or pasta, €4-€10 sandwich Drinks: Cappuccino €2, Coke €3, Beer €5.50 Metro: €1.50 per trip

Davids: 'Juve miss Vidal' http://www.football-italia.net/72595/davids-juve-miss-vidal-balo? Sep 5, 2015 The Dutch ‘Pitbull’ sat down with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport to cast his eye over the Serie A scene, above all reigning champions Juventus. “I am not worried, as after four or five years of constant success a dip in form is normal. The important thing is to ensure it’s only a passing phase. “The new players need time to adjust. I am sure Juve will reach a high level this season. Obviously starting with two defeats automatically means you are no longer favourites for the Scudetto, but on the bright side the only way is up.” Much has been said of Juve missing Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez, but Davids insists Chile international Vidal is the real loss. “It is important to be gritty and strong to win back the ball and give consistency to a team. Vidal is one of the best in the world in that role. If you don’t have someone like that, you must change the way you play. “Tactics must adapt to the players and not vice-versa. After many years together, the players had formed a bond, so Juve will be different now.” Paul Pogba reportedly turned down €12m per season to play for Chelsea, while Juventus rejected €100m. “How much is he worth? The market dictates that,” added Davids. “He has incredible potential and everything to become one of the best players in the world. I think he could well be worth €100m.”

Lapo Elkann: 'Juve get results' http://www.football-italia.net/72590/elkann-juve-get-results? Sep 5, 2015 Lapo Elkann is confident Juventus will get over their early season slump. “The fact is, Juve bring home results.” The Bianconeri have lost the first two Serie A games, something that had never happened before in the club’s history. “I am convinced, certain and sure Juve will soon get back on its feet and get the results we expected,” director Elkann told Sky Sport Italia. “As with all things in life, when you rebuild a team there can be bumps along the way. The strength of the squad and club will bring Juve back to victory. “You just need to see the last four years. I don’t remember Roma, Inter or Milan winning the League. I’m pretty sure we did. “I also recall it was us in the Champions League Final against Barcelona a few months ago, not another team. “The fact is, Juve bring home results.”

New Carpi Midfielder Looking Forward To Facing Pogba http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/new-carpi-midfielder-looking-forward-to-facing-juventus-star/? Sep 5, 2015 Carpi midfielder Federico Gino has said that he is looking forward to playing against Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba this season. The Serie A newcomers signed the 22-year-old from Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting and Gino recalled how his Uruguay side lost to Pogba’s France at the FIFA U-20 World Cup two years ago. “It was a unique experience that I will never forget,” Gino said in a press conference. “We succeeded in reaching the final against a great France composed of players that have all played in teams from important leagues. “In that moment Pogba already was an established player. I am happy to have the new opportunity to challenge him in Serie A.”

Chelsea Transfer News: Paul Pogba Rejected £62m Blues Transfer http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2561229-chelsea-transfer-news-paul-pogba-rejected-62m-blues-transfer-top-rumours? Sep 4, 2015 Paul Pogba sensationally turned down a £62 million transfer to Chelsea this summer, despite Juventus prepared to sell at the price. Italian publication giornalaccio rosa Dello Sport (h/t Frank Leach of the Mail Online) reported the Serie A champions had settled on an amount for the sale of the French superstar—but the player pulled the plug on the deal. The 22-year-old met with his agent Mino Raiola to discuss the potential transfer, per Leach, but opted to remain in Turin as the club goes through a transitional period of rebuilding after the sales of Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal. Leach also says Pogba's decision led to the collapse of John Obi Mikel's transfer to Besiktas, with Jose Mourinho blocking the player's exit from west London. Mourinho is said to have personally involved himself in trying to lure Pogba, "pleading" with the player to join the Blues, as reported by French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t James Cambridge of the Express.) Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta has recently spoken out about the value of Pogba to the Old Lady, hinting the cited £62 million will not be enough in future transfer windows, per Neil McLeman of the Mirror: We decided to keep Pogba despite significant offers from foreign clubs. In future, he will be worth over €100 million. I’ve noticed how the Premier League has become richer, and we’ve seen clubs buying players for what would have been crazy prices until recently, but are very normal today. If Pogba continues his performance of last season, I think next year, €100 million will not suffice. Pogba has made 78 appearances for his club in the past two seasons in Serie A and Europe, according to WhoScored.com, scoring 16 times and providing 14 assists from central midfield. Chelsea have looked sluggish in midfield at the start of the campaign, and the Pogba revelations could indicate why the Special One desired a new top-class central operator. However, the Mirror's David Anderson believes Chelsea never stood a chance of capturing Pogba despite the huge fee, as the player has his heart on joining the champions of Spain and Europe: David Anderson @MirrorAnderson I'm surprised Chelsea thought they could get Pogba. Man City tried and took the hint because he seems set on a move to Barca next summer. Pogba will continue to be one of the most wanted players on the planet, but Chelsea's staleness in midfield will need to be addressed internally by their host of talented operators.

Baselli Warns Against Writing Off Juventus http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/torino-star-warns-against-writing-off-juventus/? Sep 4, 2015 Torino midfielder Daniele Baselli has warned that Juventus will recover after a slow start to the Serie A season. Juventus have lost their first two Serie A games for the first time in their history and Baselli, who moved to Torino from Atalanta this summer, is excited to play in the derby. “You cant write off Juventus yet,” Baselli told Sky Sport Italia. “It is still very early in the season and they will get better. “They are a great team and they will fight for the title this season. “I am really looking forward to playing against Juventus. “It will be my first real derby as a professional footballer player so I cant wait.

Injured Khedira Focused On Return To Action http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/injured-juventus-star-focused-on-return-to-action/? Sep 4, 2015 Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira is determined to play for the team as soon as possible following his injury setback. Khedira was injured during a pre season friendly against Marseille but the German international is hopeful of a quick recovery. The German world cup winner took to Instagram to update fans on his progress. Good being back with "Die Mannschaft" but I am having Juve on my mind! The medical staff here is helping me superbly to get back on to the pitch as soon as possible! Khedira joined Juventus on a free earlier this summer after his contract expired at Real Madrid.

Kondogbia: ‘Pogba never an enemy’ http://www.football-italia.net/72560/kondogbia-%E2%80%98pogba-never-enemy%E2%80%99? Sep 4, 2015 Inter midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia believes Juventus are still favourites for the Scudetto, and discusses his friendship with Paul Pogba. The Nerazzurri have won their first two Serie A games, while the defending champions have lost consecutive matches. However, the 22-year-old believes it will still be difficult to finish above the Old Lady and his good friend Pogba. “Pogba and I will never be enemies,” Kondogbia told Sky. “I think our friendship is stronger than football. The fact remains that we’re both professionals. When we face Juventus I’ll do everything to be better than Paul, and he’ll have the same attitude to me. “It’s a healthy rivalry, nothing more than that. It’s true that so far we have six points more than them, because we started well, but Juventus are still favourites.” Kondogbia was also asked for his thoughts on another Bianconeri midfielder, new signing Mario Lemina. “I know him very well, we won the Under-20s World Cup together. He can be very useful both defensively and going forward.”

Emery: 'Juve favourites, but...' http://www.football-italia.net/72547/emery-juve-favourites? Sep 4, 2015 Sevilla Coach Unai Emery believes Juventus' slow start is deceptive: 'They'll dominate in Serie A and in the Champions League.' The Spaniard won the last two Europa League titles but will be setting his eyes on bigger game this year, as the Champions League group pitches his team against Juventus and Manchester City. “Juventus and Manchester City are the favourites in the group,” he admitted to Tuttosport. “Borussia Monchengladbach and ourselves will try to tip the balance. “We know it's going to be difficult, but we want to become a surprise and we're very clear on what we should be aiming for if we want to amaze our competitors. “I don't trust Juve's defeats against Udinese and Roma. “I'm certain that in the Champions League we'll be up against the same team that has been dominating the league for the last four years and that only a few months ago made it to the final of the Champions League. “Juventus have a lot of quality and players with different characteristics, who allow her to deploy in a variety of formations. “Cuadrado is a winger who can help outnumber the opponent, but they're well-equipped in the midfield too. “We'll see, but I'm certainly not expecting a team in a state of crisis. “They'll dominate in the race for the Scudetto and for the Champions League, as always.”

Juventus fan has Juan Cuadrado's face shaved into his hair http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/2595921/juventus-fans-juan-cuadrado-tribute? Sep 4, 2015 Having gone entirely under the radar during his ill-fated stint at Chelsea, it would appear that Juan Cuadrado has found himself an altogether more appreciative audience since moving to Juventus over the summer. Fans flocked to the airport to welcome the former Fiorentina man back on to Italian soil and now one Juventus supporter has gone the extra mile in his bid to make Cuadrado feel loved again. Mourinholic @Mourinholic Juventus fan gets Juan Cuadrado's face shaved onto his head. We don't claim to be experts in the field, but shaving dreadlocks into the back of somebody's head looks like no mean feat. Honestly, we can't think of a more fitting tribute.

Juventus lose stadium appeal http://www.football-italia.net/72536/juventus-lose-stadium-appeal? Sep 3, 2015 Juventus will play Chievo with the Curva Sud closed after losing the final appeal against a ban. The Bianconeri received the partial stadium ban after one of their supporters threw an explosive device into a crowd of Torino fans during the Derby della Mole on April 28. Juve lodged several appeals, arguing the fan was identified and punished, while he did not have a valid ticket or necessary ‘Fan Passport’ to be allowed in. Therefore they felt it was Torino’s fault for allowing the hooligan into the stadium without the proper security checks. However, the final appeal was rejected today, so Juventus will have to play their next home game against Chievo with the Curva Sud closed. It is likely the club will ask for permission to fill the stands with children who can enter free of charge, something that has proved successful in the past during partial stadium bans.

Serie A - 3^ Giornata Andata - 12-9-2015 (ore 20:45) JUVENTUS - CHIEVO VERONA - Sabato, 12 settembre, 2015 - ore 20:45 Juventus Stadium, Torino Arbitro:‬ Marco Guida Confronti ufficiali 26 - 24 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 18 - 17 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 7 - 6 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Chievo 1 - 1 (Serie A) Goals Juventus 48 - 45 (Serie A) - 3 (Coppa Italia) Goals Chievo 21 - 20 (Serie A) - 1 (Coppa Italia) Juventus - Chievo a Torino Serie A Confronti ufficiali 12 Vittorie Juventus 9 (l'ultima il 25.01.2015, 2-0) Pareggi 3 (l'ultimo il 03.03.2012, 1-1) Vittorie Chievo 0 Goals Juventus 26 Goals Chievo 12 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Chievo a Torino 10 presenze Buffon Gianluigi 7 Marchisio Claudio 6 Chiellini Giorgio 5 Camoranesi Mauro German 5 Del Piero Alessandro 5 Pessotto Gianluca 5 Thuram Lilian 5 Trezeguet David Sergio 4 Bonucci Leonardo 4 Lichtsteiner Stephan 4 Nedved Pavel 4 Zambrotta Gianluca 3 goals Zalayeta Marcelo Danubio 2 Iaquinta Vincenzo 2 Quagliarella Fabio 2 Trezeguet David Sergio 1 Asamoah Kwadwo 1 Camoranesi Mauro German 1 Chiellini Giorgio 1 De Ceglie Paolo 1 Del Piero Alessandro 1 Ibrahimovic Zlatan Ultimi confronti diretti 19.12.2010 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-1 09.05.2011 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 2-2 16.10.2011 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 0-0 03.03.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 1-1 22.09.2012 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 2-0 03.02.2013 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-2 25.09.2013 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 1-2 16.02.2014 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 3-1 30.08.2014 - Serie A - Chievo-Juventus 0-1 25.01.2015 - Serie A - Juventus-Chievo 2-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 6 - Pareggi 4 - Vittorie Chievo 0 - Goals Juventus 16 - Goals Chievo 7 http://www.goal.com/it/tables/serie-a/13

Marchisio injured during ad? http://www.football-italia.net/72516/marchisio-injured-during-ad? Sep 3, 2015 Remarkable reports that Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio got his injury while filming an ad for Sky Sport Italia. “Last day of training by myself. Soon I’ll be back in with the group. I can’t wait!!” wrote Marchisio on Twitter today. The Italy international has been out of action for the last month, so with Sami Khedira also sidelined, the Bianconeri were forced to use Simone Padoin in his role. According to Telelombardia, the real reason behind his injury was kept quiet to avoid controversy. It’s claimed he didn’t pick up the muscular problem during a training session, but rather while filming an advert for Sky Sport Italia. Juventus lost the opening two games of the Serie A season for the first time in their history.

Pogba turned down Chelsea? http://www.football-italia.net/72510/pogba-turned-down-chelsea? Sep 3, 2015 Reports in France suggest Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba turned down a move to Chelsea. The former Manchester United man has been the subject of intense speculation surrounding his future, with Bianconeri general manager Giuseppe Marotta warning he would cost over €100m. One of the teams linked with a move for Pogba is English Premier League side Chelsea, and today’s edition of L’Equipe reports that manager Jose Mourinho personally tried to convince the 22-year-old to move to Stamford Bridge. The sports newspaper reports that Mourinho called Pogba in August, but was unable to convince the player, who would prefer to move to Real Madrid or Barcelona if he leaves Turin. L’Equipe also notes that the Old Lady were unwilling to sell, and while there was no official bid from Chelsea, initial talks made it clear that Juve were not willing to negotiate.

Pellegrini: ‘No Juventus crisis’ http://www.football-italia.net/72507/pellegrini-%E2%80%98no-juventus-crisis%E2%80%99? Sep 3, 2015 Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini doesn’t believe Champions League opponents Juventus are in ‘crisis’. The Bianconeri have lost their first two League games for the first time since 1912, and will face City in Europe on September 15. “Juventus have won the Scudetto for the last four consecutive seasons,” Pellegrini reminded reporters at the UEFA coaching forum in Nyon. “They have a strong team. Crisis? What crisis? The season has just begun, and the League is the League, the Champions League is different. “European competitions are a different story. We’re not underestimating Juventus, who reached the final yesterday. I don’t think the defeats to Udinese and Roma count for anything. “We know it will be tough, and the same is true of Sevilla, who can be the surprise in a very tough group. “Alvaro Morata? He’s very good, but Allegri has a lot of other champions. We’ll have to be careful.”

Gianluigi Buffon: Juventus will bounce back from nightmare start http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2594247/gianluigi-buffon-juventus-will-bounce-back-from-bad-start? Sep 3, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has backed his side to recover from their poor start to the season. Juve have made their worst start to a season since 1912, losing their first two league matches, and are one of five sides without a point at the foot of the table. But Buffon told Sky Sport Italia: "These are actually the challenges which bring the best out of me. "It's great -- fantastic in fact -- to be at the start of a new cycle. Changes are good for you because they give you even more motivation. "Whenever you've got to get your hands dirty, work hard and reinvent yourself, then I really enjoy myself. I've always given that bit more when there has been a difficult challenge. "It can all be remedied, I'm sure. I'm not concerned." The arrival of Hernanes from Inter on deadline day should help, with coach Massimiliano Allegri getting the playmaker he had been searching for since losing Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. "I'm now aware and mature -- I'm in the prime of my career," Hernanes said at a news conference in Turin. The 30-year-old said he felt "stronger than ever before," and added: "My age has given me the experience, and I will get the chance to show my value here. "I'm going to have many great things to experience here, starting with the Champions League, which I can't wait to play in." Hernanes could make his Juve debut when they host Chievo next Saturday, with their opening Champions League fixture coming against Manchester City three days later.

Cause for Juventus midfield concern? Juventus sought to bolster the midfield after a poor showing in Rome. Luca Cetta assesses the heart of the Bianconeri team. http://www.football-italia.net/72501/cause-juventus-midfield-concern? Sep 3, 2015 Hit by a Bosnian one-two punch at the Stadio Olimpico, Juventus have recorded their worst start to a season in over a century. Not even Paulo Dybala’s strike and a late flurry could rescue a point from their Roman excursion. No Juve team has commenced as poorly as Massimiliano Allegri’s side since 1912, when the competition was built on regional groupings. The Bianconeri later finished rock bottom of the Piedmont section after one win in 10 matches. History surely won’t repeat itself, but back then Juventus weren’t coming off a season which so nearly ended with a treble. This was the first true test for either side, between the pair expected to battle intently for the Scudetto. And Allegri got it wrong. The continued inclusion of Simone Padoin in midfield raised eyebrows. The jack-of-all-trades was ineffective against Udinese as Juventus probed without success. Against Roma he did not provide adequate defensive cover. Not that he was alone in that department as Paul Pogba and Stefano Sturaro also struggled, but in stating Padoin was the only player available to play the position, Allegri could not shy from the criticism. The Coach knows he is working with a patched-together midfield. Shorn of Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Kwadwo Asamoah, the Turin club has scrambled for options. And when there are that many absentees, calling on Padoin to do a job isn’t the worst solution – but not in a position of such significance. A lacklustre Juventus could not handle Roma’s intensity. The plan appeared to be to soak up Roma pressure and spring forth on the counter. It’s a tactic teams, including Juve, have used to success against Rudi Garcia’s Giallorossi. But when they needed to get a foothold in midfield to alleviate pressure and begin attacking forays, the plan dissipated. For an hour Mario Mandzukic and Dybala fed off scraps nor had enough support to trouble Roma. A side which likes to dictate was being dictated. Roberto Pereyra’s introduction and the change in dynamic showed what could have been. Given the injuries and results, attention turned to who could help solve the issue. Allegri had requested a playmaker throughout the summer and after the chase for Julian Draxler fell flat, Juventus had to think quickly. Hernanes joined from Inter on deadline day for €11m, while Mario Lemina arrived on loan for €0.5m. The young Frenchman offers a combative edge. Hernanes fits the mould of what Allegri was after, even if he was not on the list of initial targets. He never showed his Lazio best while in Milan, but has the technical ability – and set piece proficiency sorely lacking at present – to make a mark. Not that Allegri is all too concerned about the slow start. He knows there have been mitigating circumstances. The message is it will take time. “I’m not worried about our zero points in the league, that’s something that can happen in football,” he said on Sunday. “Yes, we have to catch up, but we’ve got all the time and quality to do so. We need to remain calm, clear headed and run through what didn’t work for us.” His coaching career has been dominated by slow starts. Last season proved the exception to an Allegri rule. Winning six on the bounce last term bucked the trend. In other seasons, only once has an Allegri-led team gained more than seven points from the opening four games. Khedira is a little off from making his debut, but Marchisio will return after the international break. That should, in-turn, help Pogba. The Frenchman has cut a frustrated figure in the opening matches. The 22-year-old is still adapting to his new role. Where last season he had Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Marchisio alongside, here he’s had to carry the burden. That has resulted in Pogba trying too much to little effect. It will take time to adapt. The Coach has just over a week to work with the squad for the clash against Chievo. He’ll be better suited once those injured return, while the new signings have time to slot into their new surroundings. Allegri will need his midfield to replicate the one of season’s past, a midfield which proved pivotal to Juve’s success.