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Chelsea loan Cuadrado to Juve? http://www.football-italia.net/71448/chelsea-loan-cuadrado-juve Aug 22, 2015 Italian sources claim Chelsea are prepared to send Juan Guillermo Cuadrado to Juventus on a dry loan. The Bianconeri confirmed they are interested in the Colombian if he is available in the right circumstances. Despite reports Jose Mourinho wanted to use Cuadrado as part of a bid for Paul Pogba, Juve will not release their French star. According to Sky Sport Italia, Chelsea are now open to releasing Cuadrado on a dry loan, so with no option to buy. They hope he can rediscover his form and confidence in Serie A, as he has seemed a shadow of his former self since making the move from Fiorentina to Stamford Bridge.

Zoff: 'Cuadrado more than Draxler' http://www.football-italia.net/71393/zoff-cuadrado-more-draxler? Aug 21, 2015 Dino Zoff said Juventus need Juan Cuadrado more than Julian Draxler this season. The former goalkeeper and World Cup winner discussed the interest in both Chelsea winger Cuadrado and Schalke creative midfielder Draxler. “Someone will arrive, seeing as the Juve directors are determined to cover this gap behind the strikers,” Zoff told Itasportpress. “I like Draxler, because he is quick and if he can find regular fitness then is truly very talented. “Cuadrado does not have similar characteristics to Draxler and is coming off a season that was certainly not positive. “However, the Colombian has done well in Italy before and in my view could be of more use to Max Allegri.”

Juventus Closing In On Loan For Chelsea Outcast http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/juventus-closing-in-on-loan-for-chelsea-outcast/? Aug 20, 2015 Juventus are ready to bring to an end Juan Cuadrado’s miserable time at Chelsea by landing the Colombian on a loan deal. The 27-year-old barely featured for the Blues during the latter stages of last season after completing his move from Fiorentina in January, and now manager Jose Mourinho is ready to allow the tricky winger to head back to Serie A. According to a report on Portuguese radio outfit Renascenca, the Portuguese tactician has given Cuadrado permission to look for a move away from the club on loan, with the Bianconeri leading the chase for the former Viola winger. Cuadrado spent two and a half seasons with Fiorentina, scoring 20 Serie A goals before Chelsea opted to splash out €33 million and send Mohamed Salah on loan in exchange.

Mkhitaryan, Cuadrado to follow Sandro? http://www.football-italia.net/71302/mkhitaryan-cuadrado-follow-sandro? Aug 20, 2015 Alex Sandro’s Juventus medical is underway, while reports say the club will target Juan Cuadrado or Henrikh Mkhitaryan if their final Julian Draxler bid is rejected. It was announced yesterday that Porto left-back Alex Sandro had arrived in Turin ahead of a reported €20m move to the Italian champions. The club announced on Twitter earlier today that the Brazilian had arrived at the Old Lady’s Clinica Fornaca to undergo his first tests, before he will later move to the Istituto di Medicino dello Sport. However, the Bianconeri’s spending spree looks set to continue, with giornalaccio rosa dello Sport reporting today that targets have been set if their final offer worth €27m plus bonuses for Schalke 04’s Julian Draxler is turned down. The paper writes that Juve will turn away from Draxler if the bid is rejected, and focus their attentions on either Borussia Dortmund’s Mkhitaryan or Chelsea’s Juan Cuadrado. The report suggests that the imminent arrival of Pedro at Stamford Bridge from Barcelona could free up the Colombian’s return to Serie A after only six months in London.

Chelsea Winger Moves Towards Juventus Transfer http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/chelsea-winger-moves-towards-juventus-transfer/? Aug 19, 2015 Juan Cuadrado is set to leave Chelsea with the west London side ready to cut their losses on the 27-year-old after he has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League. The Blues are willing to allow the Colombian to leave on loan and this has alerted Juventus who are in favour of bringing the ex-Fiorentina player to Turin. According to Sky Sport Italia, Chelsea are prepared to allow the 27-year-old to leave Stamford Bridge on loan to an interested club. The deal would also have a purchase option included, although it is unclear whether the Premier League outfit would want the clause to be mandatory or not. The Bianconeri are set to take advantage of the situation and land their target on a loan deal and the player’s agent is reportedly actively pressing for the move. Cuadrado made 13 appearances for the west London club as they went on to win the Premier League trophy after he joined in January 2015.

Juventus want Chelsea winger on season-long loan http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/chelsea/transfer-talk/news/juventus-want-juan-cuadrado-loan_240029.html Aug 18, 2015 Italian champions Juventus are interested in securing a loan deal for Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado, according to reports. The Colombian international moved to West London from Fiorentina in January, but he has started just four times under Jose Mourinho so far. Italian publication Tuttosport claims that the 27-year-old is pining for a return to Italy and Juventus are keen to sign a new winger before the window shuts. However, Chelsea boss Mourinho will only let Cuadrado leave on a permanent deal, putting the potential deal in doubt. Cuadrado cost Chelsea £26.1m

JUVENTUS LOOK TO MKHITARYAN AND CUADRADO http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-look-to-mkhitaryan-and-cuadrado/? Aug 17, 2015 Juventus will meet with Mino Raiola tomorrow to discuss a possible transfer for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Bianconeri were previously linked with the Armenian play-maker and reports today suggest they will make another effort to sign the Dortmund player. Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Juve will turn their attention to Mkhitaryan, having completed a deal with Porto for left-back Alex Sandro. A meeting is reportedly being held between Juve directors and the players agent, Mino Raiola tomorrow. Another possible option is Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado, who may be available on loan. Reports from Di.Marzio.com suggest that the players agent, Alessandro Lucci, has convinced Chelsea to part with the Colombian on loan for the 2015/16.

Juventus Hoping To Sign Chelsea Duo http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/juventus-hoping-to-sign-chelsea-duo/? Aug 13, 2015 Ramires and Juan Cuadrado are the latest players to be linked with a move to Juventus. The Chelsea duo are not up for sale by the English side but the Italian champions are still hopeful of signing the pair. According to Tuttosport, Juventus have targeted Ramires and Cuadrado to strengthen their midfielder and attacking options. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho does not want to let Ramires go, making a deal for the Brazilian international very difficult. The player himself, however, is not completely against a move to Turin and Juventus are hoping to make contact with Ramires soon. Cuadrado, meanwhile, has barely played for Chelsea since moving to the club in January for €3o million from Fiorentina. Juventus are contemplating taking the Colombian international on loan for the upcoming season. Cuadrado is very much a back up option for Juventus should the club fail in their pursuit of Julian Draxler.

Juve: Draxler or Cuadrado? http://www.football-italia.net/69260/juve-draxler-or-cuadrado? Jul 15, 2015 Juventus could spend the Arturo Vidal money on Julian Draxler, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado or Alex Sandro. Multiple sources claim Vidal is on the verge of joining Bayern Munich for €40m including performance-related bonuses. The question now turns to who will replace the Chile international in midfield. According to Sky Sport Italia, the number one target is Schalke 04 talent Draxler and there has already been some contact with the Bundesliga club. Still only 21 years old, the German international can play in a 4-3-3 or in a trequartista role behind the strikers. His release clause with Schalke is €45m, but Sky suggest he could be sold for as little as €15m to €20m due to recent injury problems. The other options are Chelsea’s ex-Fiorentina winger Cuadrado and Porto man Alex Sandro, though both will cost well over €20m.

Cuadrado future depends on Pedro? http://www.football-italia.net/69217/cuadrado-future-depends-pedro? Jul 15, 2015 Any Juventus move for Juan Cuadrado would reportedly be dependent on Barcelona’s Pedro moving to Chelsea. Cuadrado joined the English side in January from Fiorentina, but struggled to make an impact at Stamford Bridge, and has been linked with a return to Serie A, with the Bianconeri at the head of the queue. Jose Mourinho’s side have been linked with a €30m move for Barcelona winger Pedro, and according to Corriere dello Sport, the Colombian international would only be allowed to leave if that deal goes through. The newspaper reports that although Chelsea are looking to sell outright, the Old Lady would offer a €4m loan, with a mandatory redemption clause set at €24m. However, that €28m total is still some way short of the €34m the Blues are thought to be asking for the former Viola man.

Cuadrado Keen On Juventus Transfer http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/07/chelsea-forward-keen-on-juventus-transfer/? Jul 14, 2015 Chelsea midfielder Juan Cuadrado has opened the door to a Serie A return with Juventus. The 27-year-old winger moved to Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina in January for a fee in the region of €30 million, but has struggled to make an impact with Chelsea since then. According to SportItalia, Juventus have turned their attention to the Colombia international attacker as the Bianconeri continue their search for a creative attacking midfielder. The former Udinese forward still has four years left on his contract at Chelsea but Juve are thought to have accepted defeat in their attempts to sign Oscar from Chelsea and will now focus on securing the services of his teammate Cuadrado. Cuadrado made 12 Premier League appearances last season, with only four as a starter, and failed to find the back of the net since arriving in London.

Chelsea Set Asking Price For Cuadrado http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/07/chelsea-set-asking-price-for-cuadrado/? Jul 13, 2015 Chelsea have set an asking price of €34 million for forward Juan Cuadrado with Juventus keen on the player. The 27-year-old move to Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina in January for a fee of around €30m, but has struggled to make an impact with Chelsea since then. According to Tuttosport, Juventus are hoping to sign a creative attacking midfielder as a priority, but could then move for the Colombian. It is thought the €34m fee is deemed a little high by the Bianconeri, who could ask for a loan with option to buy. Cuadrado made 12 Premier League appearances last season, with only four as a starter, and failed to find the back of the net.

Juventus Make Chelsea Winger Top Target http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/07/juventus-make-chelsea-winger-top-target/? Jul 12, 2015 Juventus have reportedly made Chelsea’s Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado their top transfer target after he has struggled to adapt in England after joining from Fiorentina in January 2015. The Blues are thought to be willing to allow Cuadrado to leave on account of his disappointing start but have set a high asking price for the player. According to Tuttosport, Chelsea have set a deliberately exaggerated fee of €34 million while Juve sporting director Giuseppe Marotta is keen on a loan deal with the option to make the move permanent for €24m. Cuadrado still has four years left on his contract at Chelsea and it is still possible that he will stay at Stamford Bridge despite his limited impact since arriving from the Viola but the Old Lady still want to send representatives to London to discuss a deal. Juve are thought to have been dealt a blow in their attempts to sign Oscar from Chelsea as the Brazilian playmaker has reportedly been reassured of his value to the the team although that could pave the way for Cuadrado’s exit. Cuadrado made 14 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea in the second half of the 2014-15 season and he is yet to score his first goal for the club.

Juventus eye move for Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado? http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/chelsea/transfer-talk/news/juventus-eye-juan-cuadrado_232037.html Jul 5, 2015 Juventus are reportedly keeping tabs on Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado. The Colombian midfielder joined the Blues for a fee in the region of £27m during last season's January transfer window, but is yet to make a prominent mark as part of Jose Mourinho's starting XI. Juve are thought to have held an interest in other Chelsea stars Oscar, Mohamed Salah and Willian, and The Mirror now suggests that the club are also keen on exploring the option of taking Cuadrado on loan with a view to a permanent deal. Cuadrado, who has recently been on international duty with his country, has previously been backed by his agent to remain at Stamford Bridge next season.

Juventus To Pursue Another Chelsea Star After Oscar Rebuff http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/07/juventus-to-pursue-another-chelsea-star-after-oscar-rebuff/? Jul 3, 2015 Reigning Serie A champions Juventus have identified another Chelsea target, after reportedly turning its attention to speedster Willian. Speculation had recently suggested the Bianconeri were keen admirers of fellow Blues midfielder Oscar, but it appears those efforts to acquire the Brazilian have been in vain. Accordingly, the Daily Mirror are reporting that Juventus have ended its pursuit of Oscar and will instead track his teammate and compatriot in Willian from the West London outfit. Rumours have also intimated forward Juan Cuadrado could be sold by Chelsea, following a number of unconvincing performances, with Massimiliano Allegri’s side said to be monitoring the situation. Willian, 26, is under contract until June 2018 and netted two goals in 36 league matches, helping the Blues lift its first English Premier League title in five years.

Juventus Add Chelsea Winger To Their Wanted List http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/juventus-add-chelsea-winger-to-their-wanted-list/? Jun 20, 2015 Chelsea star Juan Cuadrado is being monitored by Serie A champions Juventus, who may bring him back to Italy just five months after leaving. The former Fiorentina winger has reportedly had trouble adjusting to life at Stamford Bridge after joining the west London club in January, and despiting claiming Premier League and League Cup winners’ medals the Colombian could be set for an exit. According to Sport Italia, the Bianconeri may test the Blues’ resolve to keep hold of the former Fiorentina player this summer, though they have yet to table an official bid at this stage. Cuadrado cost Chelsea an initial fee of €32.5 million when leaving Florence during the winter transfer window, having previously featured for Udinese and Lecce earlier in his career. He made 12 league appearances for his new club last season, only four of which came from the start. He also featured once each in Champions League and League Cup action.

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Evra is my idol, says new Juventus signing Alex Sandro The new arrival in Turin has confessed his admiration for the veteran France full-back, whom he will challenge for a place in the starting XI. http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/08/24/14717022/-? Aug 24, 2015 New Juventus signing Alex Sandro has revealed his idol to be Patrice Evra - the very man he will challenge for the starting left-back berth in Turin. Brazil international Alex Sandro arrived at Juventus Stadium from Porto for a fee of €26 million last week and says it has always been an ambition to play for the Serie A champions. "Playing here has always been a dream for me and now it's coming true," he said. "Juventus was the perfect choice for me. Coming here will help me to develop as both a person and player. "Juventus are a team I've always been fond of. As a youngster I admired Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet. "After Porto went out of the Champions League I cheered for Juventus." Discussing his inspirations, Alex Sandro added: "Roberto Carlos and Patrice Evra are the two players who I've most looked up to." Alex Sandro could make his debut when Juve take on Roma this weekend, having been an unused substitute for Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Udinese, and is hungry to play his own part in the club's history. "I always give 100 per cent to win," he said. "I'm confident I'll be able to show my qualities both during games and in training. "Serie A is a tough league and the most tactical in the world. I know playing here will help me to develop. "We're working hard and will strive to win all the competitions we're involved in this season."

JUVENTUS - UDINESE 0 - 1 Cyril Théréau (78') Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Three Talking Points As Injury Ravaged Juventus Suffer Shock Opening Day Defeat To Udinese http://www.thehardtackle.com/2015/three-talking-points-as-injury-ravaged-juventus-suffer-shock-opening-day-defeat-to-udinese/? Aug 24, 2015 A depleted Juventus side got off to the worst possible start as they suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat at the hands of Udinese at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. Udinese pulled off a perfect Italian job on the reigning Italian champions as their French striker Cyril Théréau scored in the 78th minute for the Zebrette with their first and only shot on target in the match. The defeat shattered the Old Lady’s unbeaten streak of 46 matches at home and also saw them suffer their first ever opening day home defeat in Serie A. As expected, Allegri deployed a 3-5-2 formation with Martin Caceres making way for Giorgio Chiellini who returned to fitness, to take up his place in the Juventus back three. The midfield five comprised of Padoin, Pogba and Perreyra, with Evra and Lichtsteiner occupying the wing back positions. 19 year old French striker Kingsley Coman started up front alongside new signing Mario Mandzukic. Juventus started off brightly and threatened the Udinese goal in the opening exchanges with Mandzukic, coming close to scoring. Despite having 65% possession and dominating play in the middle of the park, Juventus were unable to penetrate a well-organized Udinese defence with centre-back Danilo and goalkeeper Karnezis catching the eye. Juventus made all 3 substitutions in the second half bringing in Paulo Dybala, Fernando Llorente and Mauricio Isla, but were still unable to score past Karnezis. Then the inevitable happened. At the end of an Udinese counter attack, Théréau latched onto a perfectly weighted cross from Kone and shot past Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon to send the travelling fans into delirium. Here are the three things we learnt from the match. Juventus Missed Pirlo’s artistry, Marchisio’s assurance and Vidal’s drive in midfield The Juventus midfield was the driving force behind its successful double winning campaign last season. The injury to Claudio Marchisio and the departures of Vidal and Pogba have left the Juventus midfield hollow, with Pogba, Padoin and Perreyra unable to provide the necessary drive and artistry in midfield. Juventus missed the assured presence of Claudio Marchisio in midfield as they struggled to penetrate the well-oiled Udinese defensive machine. Marchisio suffered a muscle injury in training, a week ago and will only return after the International break in September. Simone Padoin, who started in the heart of midfield for Juventus, struggled to dictate the tempo of the play in front of him. Perreyra and Pogba were lively, but lacked coordination and failed to link up well with the front two. Juventus need to fill the gap left by Vidal and Pirlo in midfield soon, if they are to replicate their performances from last season. Mandzukic-Coman partnership upfront lacks creativity and balance Despite dominating 65% of the possession, Juventus failed to pose any real danger to Karnezi’s goal as they mustered a mere 5 shots on target. A large part of the blame for the shocking defeat suffered by Juventus has to be shouldered by the strikers Mario Mandzukic and Kingsley Coman. Mandzukic, in particular, was very rusty in front of goal and failed to bank on 2-3 good opportunities presented to him during the course of the match. 19 year old Coman had a reasonable game, but could not provide the necessary spark in attack. Without the dynamic presence of Carlos Tevez (who left the club) and Alvaro Morata (injured) upfront, Juventus put up a rather lacklustre attack as both Mandzukic and Coman were unable to fruitfully link up with their midfield and failed to complement each other’s play. Paulo Dybala, Juventus’ new €32m signing, came on in the second half and infused dynamism in the team’s play. With Simone Zaza on the bench and the impending return of Morata after his injury, Allegri will have the option to shake things up in attack. He will most certainly need to do so if Juventus are to retain their Serie A crown. New-look Udinese have the necessary resilience to thrive in Serie A this season Udinese put on a virtuoso defensive display to stun Italian champions Juventus in Turin on Sunday. Despite pressure in the final minutes of the match, their backline held firm and came away with all 3 points from the Juventus stadium. The Udinese defence was ably supported by its midfield, tirelessly tracking back and providing cover to its full backs. There were a lot of standout performers for the club including goalkeeper Karnezis, midfielders Bruno Fernandes & Ali Adnan and the match winner Cyril Thereau. Substitutes Duvan Zapata and Panagiatos Kone also impressed for the Zebrette, the latter delivering the pin point cross for Thereau’s winner. The Udinese players displayed the necessary grit and resilience that is required to thrive in the Italian Serie A. After finishing a disappointing 16th in the league last season, Udinese underwent a complete overhaul of their squad. Under new manager Stefano Colantuono, Udinese will be looking to significantly improve upon their dismal 16th place finish from last season and vie for a place in the Europa League. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Juventus a dream come true for Alex Sandro http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2579399/juventus-a-dream-come-true-for-alex-sandro? Aug 24, 2015 Alex Sandro said joining Juventus from Porto this summer was "a dream come true" as he was officially presented as a Bianconeri player on Monday. The Brazilian full-back completed a €26-million move to Turin last week, in time to soak up the atmosphere at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday. Although named as a substitute for the 1-0 defeat to Udinese, Sandro did not feature. He is set to make his first appearance when Juve travel to Roma next weekend, however, having got to know his new surroundings and a club he claims he had always wanted to play for one day. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen Alex Sandro is in the building! #AlexSandroDay "It was always my desire to play for Juventus," he said at a news conference. "I've got a lot of belief in this club and this, for me, is like a dream come true. Once Porto were knocked out of the Champions League, I supported Juve. "I used to watch the likes of [Alessandro] Del Piero and [David] Trezeguet here. It's a perfect choice for me and I'm sure I'm going to gain a lot from it. I've always loved Juve." Sandro faces stiff competition for a starting berth in the Juve starting XI with Patrice Evra settling in well after some initial difficulties last season. Both are set to alternate at left full-back, with the apprentice learning from his master. "Roberto Carlos and Evra are the two players who have inspired me the most in my career," said the 24-year-old. "I've always watched Serie A and I know it's the most difficult league in the world tactically and I'm certain that playing here is going to help me in my career, both as a footballer and a person." After kicking his heels on Sunday, enjoying the occasion only to a certain extent in view of the result, Sandro says he is ready to take his bow next Sunday, when the Old Lady will look to avoid completing a false start to the season when they travel to Roma. "I know what that game means," he said of the battle between the teams who finished first and second in the past two Serie A seasons. "It's a classic and, as such, it's going to be difficult for me, but I'm ready."

Alex Sandro: ‘Ready for Roma’ http://www.football-italia.net/71537/alex-sandro-%E2%80%98ready-roma%E2%80%99? Aug 24, 2015 Alex Sandro says he’s ‘ready’ to make his Juventus debut against Roma on Sunday. The Brazilian international has joined the Old Lady for €26m, but remained on the bench for the duration of the weekend defeat to Udinese. “I’m sure the game against Roma will be difficult,” Alex Sandro told journalists at his presentation Press conference. “It’s a ‘clasico’, and they’re always hard. I’m ready to play, I’m feeling better every day, more confident and more in tune with the team. “I’m ready for Roma.” The 24-year-old believes the move to Serie A will benefit him as a player, especially with regard to the tactical side of the game. “I’ve always followed the Italian League, it’s a very difficult League. It’s the most tactical division in the world. “I’m sure it will help me a lot in my career, it will mould my style of play. I know I can grow up in Italian football, and I know that Juventus will support me in doing that. “Roberto Carlos, and Patrice Evra who is here at Juve are the players who have most inspired me. I imitated them, and I’ll continue to do that.” The left-back has previously stated that he supported the Bianconeri in last season’s Champions League, and was asked where his passion for the club stems from. “It’s true, after Porto were knocked out I was always cheering for Juventus,” Alex Sandro explained. “They were the team left in the Champions League who I liked the most. As a child I saw big names like Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet playing for Juventus. “This has always been a team I’ve liked.”

Alex Sandro: ‘Juventus a dream’ http://www.football-italia.net/71536/alex-sandro-%E2%80%98juventus-dream%E2%80%99? Aug 24, 2015 New Juventus signing Alex Sandro says he’ll ‘give 100 per cent to win’ as he’s officially unveiled. The full-back has joined the Bianconeri from Porto in a €26m deal, and spoke at a presentation Press conference this afternoon. “One of my most important attributes is that I’m someone who always wants to win,” the Brazilian told assembled media. “I’ll give 100 per cent to win, always looking to defend and attack well. I’ll try to show my quality during training and during games. “What brought me to Juve was that this has always been my dream, it’s always been my desire to play for Juventus. This is a dream come true for me.” The Old Lady’s season got off to a bad start yesterday, losing 1-0 to Udinese in Turin, but the new arrival is not overly concerned. “Being at Juventus Stadium? It was a spectacular feeling, fantastic. It’s something that all players would like to experience. 
“Unfortunately we lost yesterday, but we played well and we paid for a mistake.”

JUVENTUS - UDINESE 0 - 1 Cyril Théréau (78') Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Chiellini Calm Despite Shock Opening Day Defeat http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/juventus-defender-calm-despite-shock-opening-day-defeat/? Aug 24, 2015 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini remains unflustered despite his team’s loss to Udinese in their opening Serie A fixture of the 2015-16 season. The Bianconeri endured their first loss in 48 Serie A home matches despite dominating for the majority of the match. The Italian though is confident that the Scudetto holders can still retain their title, however they would need to work harder and be less negligent if they are to achieve that goal. “We are even more united and compact, we know our qualities,” the Italian began. “You need to have patience, but that does not mean we’re not here to win,” he added. “When we have the full squad, it will be another matter.” The 31-year-old has featured a total of 287 times for the Turin outfit. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - UDINESE 0 - 1 Cyril Théréau (78') Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Juventus' Loss Highlights Absence of Leadership and Creativity http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2553786-juventus-loss-to-udinese-highlights-absence-of-leadership-and-creativity? Aug 24, 2015 After a summer of change, transfers and lots of speculation, Italian football returned on Sunday as the Old Lady began the defence of her Serie A crown. Udinese were the visitors on the league’s opening day, pulling off a shock 1-0 victory over a team who they had failed to beat in each of their four previous visits to Juventus Stadium. Indeed, since the Turin giants opened their new home, they had outscored the Friulian side by a margin of nine goals to two, underlining their dominance with a string of impressive victories. Yet, thanks to their diligent execution of coach Stefano Colantuono’s game plan, Udinese were able to leave with all three points this time around. While the Zebrette deserve praise for their own resolute performance, it is difficult not to look at what has happened to Juventus over the past three months and wonder just where they stand today. It is easy to read too much into a single performance, but the game showed at least two key issues that the reigning champions must quickly address. The first is the absence of leadership on the field as with Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal having moved on, a lack of identity in the opening few weeks of the season was perhaps inevitable. It is a matter which is likely to resolve itself as the extensive injury list eases and some key names return to full health, with Sami Khedira certainly falling into that category. Like Pirlo, the German international is a vastly experienced World Cup winner who arrived on a free transfer, and he must look to fill the void left by the former Milan maestro’s decision to move on to a new adventure with New York City FC. “It is my personal ambition to become a leader for this team,” Khedira told As (h/t Forza Italian Football) shortly after signing for the Bianconeri, and his presence will be an important one as the season progresses. Joining him on the treatment table is Claudio Marchisio, with the club’s official website ruling him out for two more weeks with a torn thigh muscle. The 29-year-old signed a new contract with Juventus last month, and club president Andrea Agnelli told a press conference that the midfielder “is already a legend.” Adding that Marchisio “is the point of contact between the Juventus of yesterday and the Juventus of tomorrow,” Agnelli also labelled the Turin native as one of the team's senators. That is undoubtedly true, and his impact on the side was missed on Sunday as the side slumped to defeat against Udinese. Indeed, the loss of his attacking impetus was evident, with the likes of Simone Padoin simply unable to provide a similar spark to the midfield. He is a reliable hand, but he cannot drive the team forward in the way Marchisio can, and it is with that in mind that the club is expected to delve into the transfer market in the coming days. “We needed more quality in the final ball and the finishing,” Massimiliano Allegri told Sky Sport Italia shortly after the final whistle (h/t Football Italia), and Juan Cuadrado might provide that for the coach in the near future. Speaking before the game, director general Beppe Marotta told Sport Mediaset that the Colombian will arrive on loan as soon as Monday, per Guardian Sport. With his pace and invention providing Juventus with elements that were clearly missing and the return of some much-needed leadership, there is no need for panic at Juventus, who will look to get back on track in next week’s clash with AS Roma. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - UDINESE 0 - 1 Cyril Théréau (78') Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Juventus defeat to Udinese not a big deal - Massimiliano Allegri http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/2579024/juventus-loss-to-udinese-not-a-big-deal-allegri? Aug 24, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said he was not too concerned about his side's first defeat at home in Serie A since January 2013 on Sunday. A 1-0 loss to Udinese at the Juventus Stadium was not the ideal start to a season in which the Bianconeri hope to win a fifth straight Scudetto. However, Allegri is refusing to panic, insisting just a little more sharpness is needed from his Juve team. "We did what we had to do for 70 minutes, only really failing to get a goal," Allegri is quoted as saying in giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "Then we should have defended better on their goal. We had five men back there against two, and we were really badly organised. "Then I felt we were too quick trying to react, and we've got to improve this. I don't need to analyse the result, but the performance. And like I've said, for more than an hour I saw a Juve side creating chances, pressing high up the field and not conceding anything. We deserved more. "Let's remember, though, that we're only at the start of the season and a lot of our players are new here and need time to adapt. Like I said, we needed to take our chances better, both in the first half and after the break. [Kingsley] Coman did a good job, but he was just lacking in front of goal. But he's only 19." The defeat to Udinese was Juve's first at home on the opening day of a new season, but Allegri was again quick to play down its significance. "Physically we're in great shape, so it's nothing to do with that," he added. "I think we played well, we just need to have more belief in ourselves because we do have a lot of quality. Our squad is already good enough to challenge for the Scudetto." The Juve squad, however, is still likely to be reinforced before next week's transfer deadline, with general manager Beppe Marotta announcing that Juan Cuadrado is arriving on Monday from Chelsea on a season-long loan. He should arrive in time to play in Sunday's Serie A fixture at Roma. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127