Socrates

Storari: Allegri Wants Juventus To Keep More Possession Oct 12, 2014 Juventus goalkeeper Marco Storari believes that the approach under new coach Massimiliano Allegri is different compared to what it was under Antonio Conte. The 37-year-old joined the Old Lady in the summer of 2010 for a fee of €4.5 million from AC Milan and has played second fiddle to club legend Gianluigi Buffon ever since. “Let’s say that we try to manage a little bit more of the ball,” said the Italian according to Juventus TV. “We like to keep more possession of the ball and this is what characterizes the teams coached by Allegri.” he continued. The former Messina player then had a few positive things to say on his time with the Bianconeri. “The most important time was perhaps the first year I was at the club. We had finished in seventh place that season so it was an unsuccessful year. “But then Conte arrived and we won the Scudetto. That was a most beautiful moment.” The goalkeeper was asked to recollect the best save he has made so far for Juventus. “I think the one save that has stayed with me was the one in Verona against Chievo Verona. It was a penalty save and we drew the game.” he concluded.

Pogba: Coman Has What It Takes To Follow In My Footsteps At Juventus Oct 11, 2014 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba believes that Kingsley Coman possesses the right qualities to follow in his footsteps at the Old Lady. The 18-year-old has already shown his potential on the pitch for the Bianconeri since his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain over the summer and Pogba remains confident in the youngster’s ability to do well under coach Massimiliano Allegri in Turin. Pogba spoke to the press while on international duty with the France on Friday about Coman’s talent and expressed the faith he has in Allegri to lead Juve to even more success this season. “I’m convinced that Juventus can do great things with Allegri leading us,” said the 21-year-old, who will be helping his national team in their friendly against Portugal in Paris on Saturday. “I also believe that Coman is a fantastic player who has all of the credentials needed to follow my path with the Bianconeri. It’s fortunate that we have him.”

Manchester City to make summer bid for Paul Pogba Oct 11, 2014 Manchester City are planning to make a bid for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba next summer, according to reports. The French international has been heavily linked with a move away from Turin in recent months, with his current contract due to expire in June 2016. According to The Times, Citizens manager Manuel Pellegrini is keen on the ex-Manchester United man, the Etihad outfit seeking a long-term replacement for Yaya Toure. Pogba is also said to be of interest to Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

PSG Ready To Pounce For Asamoah Oct 11, 2014 As he fights summer arrival Patrice Evra for a place on the left side of the Juventus team, it is believed that wing-back Kwadwo Asamoah is considering his future with the reigning Serie A champions as Paris Saint-Germain and several Premier League sides monitor the situation. Since the Frenchman came in from Manchester United he appeared to be the preferred choice of new coach Massimiliano Allegri starting the majority of games, although the Ghanian started the crucial clash with Scudetto challengers Roma last Sunday. According to Tuttosport the Bianconeri have no intention of selling the 25-year-old, but should he start to seriously consider leaving Turin the French giants and their fellow competitors from England would move quickly to secure his services. The Ghana international joined the Old Lady from Udinese ahead of the 2012/13 season and has played a vital role in their last two championship successes making 64 appearances so far scoring four times.

5 Issues Juventus Need to Work on During International Break Oct 11, 2014 With seven wins in eight matches, Juventus and her supporters have had little room for complaint so far this season. So impressive has been the start made by Turin’s grand Old Lady in 2014-15 that finding fault in their performances is extremely difficult. Only two sides—Atletico Madrid and AS Roma—have managed to score against them, with the former the only team to take all three points from Massimiliano Allegri’s men. There is little shame in losing away to the Spanish champions, particularly by the narrow 1-0 scoreline seen at the Vicente Calderon. Yet the Bianconeri will be fully aware that there is always room for improvement, that identifying and reducing issues before an opponent capitalises on them is what separates great teams from the merely very good ones. Over the following pages is a look at five such areas, things Juventus need to work on during before play resumes after the current international break. 1. Finding a Defensive Solution The Bianconeri were rocked by a serious injury this week, the club’s official website noting that Martin Caceres has suffered a torn thigh muscle. With the statement believing the Uruguayan will be sidelined for around a month, Allegri will need a defensive reshuffle in the coming weeks to compensate. Caceres himself had been impressive—his form discussed at length here—but he was only in the starting lineup due to the continued absence of Andrea Barzagli. With both men now unavailable, Juventus have no natural option for the right-sided berth in their back three. That means either playing the left-footed Angelo Ogbonna in an unnatural role, or sliding Leonardo Bonucci across from his usual central position. He has played there on a number of occasions, with Arturo Vidal then dropping back into defence as cover as he has done previously to great effect. The one factor in Juve’s favour is the schedule they face in the coming weeks, with fixtures against Sassuolo, Olympiakos, Palermo and Genoa taking them to the end of October. 2. A Change of System? The arrival of Massimiliano Allegri saw renewed optimism that Juventus may switch formations against certain opponents, an idea pushed by the new coach himself. With the squad comfortable in the 3-5-2 framework Antonio Conte almost exclusively used, the 47-year-old talked up the merits of being able to deploy a back four. “I think it is very fortunate to be able to switch between two formations, even in the same game,” Allegri told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (h/t Football Italia). “There are moments in the season where you can play with three [defenders] and others when it is better to do so with four.” While the coach must be praised for understanding how well the current setup works, the loss to Atletico Madrid once again highlighted the need for variety. He has yet to opt for a four-man back line in a competitive game, but may look to do so going forward. 3. Improve the Team’s Attacking Prowess If the concerns in defence are only slight given the stellar performances thus far, in attack there is perhaps more cause for concern. Juventus have scored 15 goals in all competitions this term, with Carlos Tevez responsible for more than half that total. The club’s leading scorer last term has already found the back of the net eight times in 2014-15, and the other goals have come from much further back. To date, Alvaro Morata is the only other Bianconeri forward to have scored, with the form of Fernando Llorente particularly worrying. In order to fully maximise their potential, Allegri needs to get the Basque striker, plus Kingsley Coman and Sebastian Giovinco firing as quickly as possible. 4. Find an Alternative at Right-Back Of Juve’s outfield players, only Leonardo Bonucci, Claudio Marchisio and Stephan Lichtsteiner have started all eight games this season. With injury and rotation likely to see the former pair soon earn a break, the non-stop style of the latter means he too will need to be rested very soon. His natural replacement in the squad is summer-signing Romulo, but the former Hellas Verona defender is out of action following surgery on a sports hernia, per the official Juventus website. With Martin Caceres also unavailable, Allegri may opt to use Roberto Pereyra in that role, with the international break providing time to plan such a switch. With Lichtsteiner never the type of player to coast through games, giving him time to rest now could prove vital later in the campaign. 5. Calming Tempers and Preparing to Resume Competition Perhaps the most vital issue facing Allegri and his players is the manner in which the clash with Roma played out, with tempers on both sides boiling over. The match was hugely controversial, with referee Gianluca Rocchi’s decisions coming in for criticism from all sides, particularly over the two penalties he awarded to Juventus. With two weeks away from the action, the Bianconeri must recompose themselves, preparing calmly for domestic action to resume. With a three-point cushion over the Giallorossi and two Champions League ties against Olympiakos on the horizon, their mental focus could prove essential in the coming weeks.

Allegri: Vidal must change his attitude The Juventus boss wants his star midfielder to move on from the night club incident and insists he is against the use of TV replays during matches. Oct 11, 2014 Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri has called on Arturo Vidal to change his attitude in the wake of his omission from the starting XI against Roma. Vidal was reportedly involved in a night-club brawl in the build-up to the Serie A clash last weekend and was subsequently left out of the side after further rumours that he turned up late to training. Allegri has always maintained his decision was purely a tactical choice but has nonetheless urged the Chile star, who was fined €100,000 for his breach of club conduct, to improve his behaviour. "Vidal's omission against Roma was a technical choice. He'd played a lot of games and I had[Andrea] Pirlo. What happened off the pitch has nothing to do with it, that's a problem for the club," he told Tuttosport. "Now, however, he must have a different attitude." The 3-2 win over Rudi Garcia's men was Pirlo's first Serie A appearance of the season and Allegri is now hopeful he will regain full fitness while on international duty with Italy. "As for Pirlo, I can say his call-up didn't surprise me," he said. "Andrea needs to play. He's only played one game and if he can play for the national team in this break I'll only be too happy." Juventus have enjoyed a 100 per cent start to the new season under Allegri and the former AC Milan boss admits he did not expect such a flying first few weeks. "I admit I didn't expect to start like this in the league - we won at San Siro against AC Milan and at home against Roma," he said. "In the beginning, a bit of scepticism is normal, as a coach who won three league titles has gone. Conte represented more than a coach for Juventus, but in life, you need balance: players, coaches all go, but the club remains." Juve's win over Roma has continued to make headlines during the past week after the controversial penalty incidents and red card during the game, but Allegri is adamant the introduction of slow-motion replays would not benefit the game. "I'm opposed to using slow-motion replays. After five days, Juventus-Roma is still talked about in penalties and centimetres, there was little respect for the players," he added. "But replays have not been able to show who was completely right and who was completely wrong. And, in the end, it wouldn't be a computer who decides it, but a human being, and then he'll be told he was wrong. "In short, I don't think slow-motion would solve this problem."

Everton and Southampton target Kwadwo Asamoah Oct 11, 2014 English Premier League duo Everton and Southampton are monitoring the progress of Juventus star Kwadwo Asamoah. Reports claim the Premier League duo are keeping tabs on the out-of-favour Ghanaian, and could launch a loan offer as soon as January. Once a mainstay of the Juventus midfield, Asamoah has found it difficult to retain his position in the starting eleven. The arrival of former Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra has ousted the 25-year-old from his usual role, with manager Massimiliano Allegri preferring the Frenchman’s experience. Asamoah joined Juventus from Udinese for £15m, and is now valued at a whopping £19m – so any move from the Saints or Toffees is likely to be temporary. Everton’s recent spate of injuries may force Roberto Martinez to enter the transfer market. Attacking star Kevin Mirallas is set for a long spell on the sidelines – and without a fully fit Steven Pienaar or Gerard Deulofeu at Goodison – Everton are lacking a cutting edge. Meanwhile Southampton have money to spend and my want to capitalise on their early success.

Allegri against video replays in Serie A With Juventus' controversial clash with Roma last weekend still a talking point, the coach does not believe that being able to review decisions mid-match would be a good thing. Oct 11, 2014 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is against video replays and hopes that Serie A continues to trust referees' instincts. The Scudetto holders required a late stunner from Leonardo Bonucci to settle an intense top-of-the-table clash with Roma, which finished 3-2 to the Bianconeri. Much of the talk since that game in Turin has been on the fortuitous Juve goals, with Giallorossi boss Rudi Garcia heavily critical after the game of the penalty decisions and Allegri himself admitting that Arturo Vidal's offside position hindered the visitors for Bonucci's winner. Referee Gianluca Rocchi has been suspended for two matchdays for his questionable officiating in the Italian tussle, but Allegri is determined that mid-match replays are not the answer, with some of the decisions in the clash still dividing opinion nearly a week since the full-time whistle. "I am against video replays," he told Tuttosport. "Why? Because you can see that five days after Juventus-Roma - and I am very sad about this - there is still talk about whether they were penalties. "There wasn’t enough respect towards those who played the game and the game has since been reduced to its refereeing decisions." Juve - top of the Italian table - are back in action after the international break with a visit to Sassuolo, who are bottom of Serie A after six games.

Chiellini: It went wrong for Italy up front After edging a narrow win over minnows Azerbaijan, the Juventus defender believes that the spirit is strong in the Azzurri camp even if their accuracy is not. Oct 10, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini conceded that Italy's attacking left a lot to be desired after they needed a late goal from the defender to beat Azerbaijan 2-1 on Friday. The Juventus centre-back stole all of the headlines by netting the first goal just before half-time, bumbling in the equaliser for the visitors - who mustered just two shots all evening - after 77 minutes and then saving himself and Italy from embarrassment by heading in the winner in the final 10 minutes. Following the narrow European Championship qualifier victory in Palermo, Chiellini said Antonio Conte's reign continues in a positive fashion because of his goals and laughed off his own-goal by insisting he could not dodge the ball. "The ball came out of nowhere, I couldn't get out of the way!" he told Rai Sport. "Oh well, I did everything tonight - good and bad! "It would have been a shame if it had finished with their equaliser, we risked compromising the win we deserved. "It is an important victory for our new era. We got it wrong up front with our finishing, but our attitude is the right one." Italy are back in action as they pursue one of 23 available places in the Euro 2016 finals with a trip to Malta on Monday. They top Group H after two games, ahead of second-place Croatia on goal difference.

Giorgio Chiellini rescues himself and Italy against Azerbaijan Oct 10, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini went from hero to zero, and back again, as his late header rescued Italy three points from their Euro 2016 Group H qualifier in Azerbaijan tonight. The Juventus defender was the only name on the scoresheet as he gave the Italians a half-time lead which was cancelled out when he found his own net on 78 minutes. However, Chiellini popped up with another at the right end to earn Italy their second successive victory of the campaign and ensure that they maintained their 100% record under new manager Antonio Conte. Claudio Marchisio and Leonardo Bonucci were each twice denied by the busy Kamran Arhayev in a first half in which the visiting keeper made five saves to keep the domiannt Azzurri at bay. Arhayev's best save kept out Ciro Immobile's close-range strike, but the Azerbaijan stopper undid all of his good work when he flapped at a 44th-minute corner to allow Chiellini to head into an empty net. Chances continued to fall Italy's way upon the resumption of play, but Arhayev responded strongly to his costly mistake to keep out Alessandro Florenzi, while Simone Zaza had a shot blocked from 10 yards. It appeared as though Italy's inability to find a second would prevent them from closing out what was expected to be a routine victory when Chiellini bundled an Azerbaijan corner over the line on 76 minutes. The centre-back made amends within six minutes by powering home a header from eight yards after his Juve teammate Sebastian Giovinco had picked out his run with a delivery to the near post. Giovinco nearly made the final moments more comfortable for Conte's men when he hit the crossbar in stoppage time, but Chiellini's eventful night ended with only his name on the scoresheet.

Allegri: 'Against video replays' Oct 10, 2014 Several Serie A Coaches have come out in favour of technology in football, but Juventus boss Max Allegri is “against it.” The debate has been raging since Juve beat Roma 3-2 on Sunday and even FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio wrote a formal letter to FIFA asking for the go-ahead to introduce video replays. “I am against it, because you can see that five days after Juventus-Roma, and I am very sad about this, there is still talk of penalties and centimetres,” Allegri told Tuttosport. “There wasn’t enough respect towards the players and everything was reduced to the refereeing decisions.” Roma complained all three of Juve’s goals were invalid, as there were two penalties that may or may not have been inside the box and Arturo Vidal was possibly interfering with play while offside on Leonardo Bonucci’s winner. However, even with numerous video replays from multiple angles, it has been almost impossible to clarify all three situations.

Clubs monitoring Asamoah, but… Oct 10, 2014 Paris Saint-Germain and sides from England are said to be monitoring Kwadwo Asamoah’s contentment at Juventus, even if the Bianconeri won’t sell. The versatile midfielder faces competition for his regular left-wing-back slot in Turin this season from Patrice Evra, and Tuttosport have reflected on the impact of a recent favourable run for the Frenchman. Max Allegri’s decision to field the former Manchester United man in three consecutive games ahead of Asamoah, against Cesena, Atalanta and Atletico Madrid, has apparently not gone down well with the Ghana international. Tuttosport reflect that teams in England and France, including PSG, ‘continue to monitor the situation’, with a view to a potential development down the line. However, it is also reported that Juve do not intend to sell the 25-year-old and that whilst he remains happy to continue to fight for a place at the moment - and he did start the key match against Roma - he is after more first team football than recent weeks have provided.

Iaquinta: Allegri commands respect Oct 10, 2014 Vincenzo Iaquinta says Juventus made the right choice in bringing in Max Allegri as Antonio Conte’s replacement, as he talks regret. The striker spent six years on the books of the Bianconeri, but struggled with injury and competition for places in the final few years. It was a situation that has the 34-year-old harbouring only the one regret to his playing career, having failed to make an appearance under Antonio Conte. “The only regret is that I was not a protagonist in Conte’s Juve. A team with an extraordinary mentality,” Iaquinta has told Tuttosport today. “I departed from the scene just at their height. I failed to make the field? It is true, but Conte doted on me. “I remember the words he said to me that summer: ‘Vincenzo, let me see that you are what I think, then I am convinced the club will keep you’. Unfortunately I got injured. “Why did I have so many injuries? For sure, in 2009 after knee surgery, I tried to return too quickly. They told me to try too soon, I had a leg as slim as my son’s.” For his respect for the current Italy CT, the former Udinese man believes Juve were right to turn to Max Allegri as replacement this summer. “I honestly did not expect it. But Allegri was the right choice and compared to the three years under Conte little has changed, Juve seem to me to be as aggressive as before. “The fact that the players have not dropped is confirmation of the quality of Allegri. He is a Coach who commands respect.”

Conte Heaps Praise On Juventus Star Oct 10, 2014 Italy coach Antonio Conte has praised Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, saying that he can be a very important player in the dressing room. Conte coached Pirlo in his stint as Bianconeri coach between 2011-2014, and the former Juve captain took the time to praise the midfielder. “I am honoured to have coached Andrea [Pirlo] for three years,” he told Sky. “We experienced some good moments together, and some painful moments too. “From the moment I became coach of the national team, I have always said that Pirlo can be a very important member in the squad. “I even wanted to call him up in September in spite of his injury, he can be an integral member in the dressing room.” The former Juve coach then went on to explain his relationship with social media, as well as giving insight on the upcoming games against Azerbaijan and Malta. “I’m not really a fan of computers as a whole, not just social media,” he said. “Germany found things hard against Scotland, and Portugal lost to Albania; as far as we’re concerned, we will play against motivated sides. “We’ll play with both [Gianluigi] Buffon and [Andrea] Pirlo who will definitely benefit the side, but I have to put into account that we will play again in three days. “However, I’m not really sure about the line-up.” Conte then went on to state that he knows the Azerbaijan side well, in addition to praising the overall atmosphere in the squad. “We know them well,” he said. “I watched the game against Bulgaria, and the one against the United States before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. “The boys are working well and are getting a better idea of the style of play we want to implement. “The atmosphere in the side is great.”

JUVENTUS 3 - 2 ROMA - Carlos Tévez (Pen. 27') Francesco Totti (Pen. 32') Juan Iturbe (44') Carlos Tevez (Pen. 45'+) Leonardo Bonucci (86') Sunday, October 5th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Moggi: Totti Is A Problem For Roma Oct 9, 2014 Former Juventus director Luciano Moggi believes that Roma captain Francesco Totti was the capital city club’s biggest problem during their defeat to the Old Lady on October 5. The Bianconeri’s controversial 3-2 win over the Giallorossi in Turin has been the subject of criticism since the final whistle was blown and while the 77-year-old admits that the referee had made a couple of wrong decisions, he feels it was Totti’s attitude that caused more of a dilemma. Moggi recently spoke to LiberoTV about the match between Juventus and Roma and some the calls that had an effect on the outcome of the game, while also expressing his views on the Lupi captain. “The game was great, but the ref had so many things wrong,” said the former general manager. “He exchanged a regular punishment for Maicon with a penalty, while Totti’s penalty was not caused by a foul. “On the field it seemed as if it should have been a draw, but Roma have a problem: Francesco Totti. “Slow motion replays on the field? It’s a shame these things have to happen. But in this moment I say that we should have it, just to avoid all of the theatrics.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 2 ROMA - Carlos Tévez (Pen. 27') Francesco Totti (Pen. 32') Juan Iturbe (44') Carlos Tevez (Pen. 45'+) Leonardo Bonucci (86') Sunday, October 5th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Juventus better served by staying above Roma war of words Oct 9, 2014 It may be the time to temporarily forget club football and enjoy the development of Antonio Conte's Azzurri side, but Italy can still not forget or recover from Sunday's evening match between Juventus and Roma. With embarrassing comments made by everyone who feels they are worthy of an opinion, the Italian league may be that bit more interesting to watch, but is now, once again, clouded by a sense of suspicion. After the match, Francesco Totti, a symbol of Roma but also one of, if not the greatest number 10s Italy has seen in the past two decades (apologies to Roberto Baggio and Alessandro Del Piero fans), thought it wise to say that Juventus always win 'by hook or by crook'. Outrightly stating that his opponents are cheating, his poor choice of words was not only beneath a legend of his status but ridiculous and harmful to a league that is staving off critical voices from disinterested parties. Besieged by anger, one can perhaps understand why Totti resorted to spouting venom. The match against Juventus represented Roma's chance to demonstrate the development of their side and perhaps a chance to prove that they were the best, capable of beating the team that has dominated Serie A for the last three years. To stand so close to unimaginable victory and have a referee snatch it all away is bound to lead to complete frustration. Forever in the shadows, consistently referred to as a side that can play beautiful football but rarely capable of victories, this was their time to shine, their time to stand at the top of the podium and claim they did it the hard way but got there in the end. A wonderfully constructed side, a beautiful style of play and incredible results to boot, how annoying must Juventus be to sit at the top of the league having just won a poorly officiated match. Having heard what was said, the Old Lady fought back, through the words of Emma Winter, wife of Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, Leonardo Bonucci's tweet and of course, Pavel Nedved's words. The latter's comments were in a word, silly. Public opinion may be against Juventus but to say referees are "are almost afraid to give anything in our favour" is hardly accurate even if the squad were rarely given a penalty in their first season under Conte. The truth of the matter is that Juventus were victorious and are the biggest club in Italy and should act as such at all times. That means silence, accepting the criticism and taking the higher road. Those who make ill-advised comments should do so at their own peril, but retaliations should not be permitted simply because this isn't a small club with a point to prove; this is a side that represents a country and should they lose one match, or for an entire season, they must always hold on to their prestige. Referee Gianluca Rocchi may be highly regarded among his peers, but no one can forget the blinding errors he's made in the past. He has sent off seven Inter players in 16 matches including Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2006-07 season for shooting the ball after the whistle had gone. This is the same referee who was acquitted for charges relating to calciopoli, who apologised to Bologna for the mistakes he made in their match against Milan and a man who has drawn the ire of former Inter president Massimo Moratti, the Pozzo family of Udinese and Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini on a consistent basis. "The Rocchi horror show" is one of the most popular headlines in Italy and his errors made prior to Euro 2012 is the reason why refereeing peer Nicola Rizzoli was chosen ahead of him. That Rocchi was given the chance to officiate the biggest match of the season is surprising to say the least as both he and Paolo Tagliavento have shown how error prone they are in the big matches. Thus if we consider all the mistakes he has done in the past, it's incredible to think that because on this occasion, one of the sides is Juventus, that the victory was suspicious. It is for that reason, those like Bonucci are understandably tired of having to consistently respond to claims they have cheated their way to victory and have chosen to make silly remarks. The successes of the last three seasons have been achieved the hard way, through blood, sweat and tears and regardless of what Totti claims, not even he can dismiss reality. Beating Juve does not make Roma better, winning the title would change opinions and the pressure is on Rudi Garcia and his men to prove they are capable of the kind of consistency required. As for Juventus, Europe is their priority, they have nothing left to prove on a domestic level. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 2 ROMA - Carlos Tévez (Pen. 27') Francesco Totti (Pen. 32') Juan Iturbe (44') Carlos Tevez (Pen. 45'+) Leonardo Bonucci (86') Sunday, October 5th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Italy asks FIFA to host TV replays experiment Oct 9, 2014 Italy wants to host an experiment on the use of TV replays in football. Following a controversial top-of-the-table clash in the Serie A, the president of the Italian football federation wrote to FIFA on Thursday asking to trial video replay. The letter came four days after Juventus recorded a 3-2 victory over Roma that saw the Turin club awarded two disputed penalties and score the winning goal while offside. Carlo Tavecchio said that while the FIGC was dedicated to preserving the traditions of football, "at the same time it supports modernisation that allows our beloved sport to maintain a winning global consensus." The fallout from the Juve-Roma match made studying the use of replays "a priority" to uphold "credibility in the referee," a statement from the Italian federation added. Last month, Blatter said he wanted to test replays in a domestic league, and at the Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand next year. Coaches would have the right once or twice in each half to challenge a refereeing decision. Blatter has portrayed himself as a champion of technology since reversing his opposition to goal-line aids, which were used at the World Cup in Brazil for the first time. Separately, UEFA banned Tavecchio for six months on Tuesday following a racist comment during his election campaign. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 2 ROMA - Carlos Tévez (Pen. 27') Francesco Totti (Pen. 32') Juan Iturbe (44') Carlos Tevez (Pen. 45'+) Leonardo Bonucci (86') Sunday, October 5th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Storari: Two horse title race Oct 9, 2014 Marco Storari concedes Roma have ‘come on leaps and bounds’ this year, and the title race is most likely between Juventus and them. The Bianconeri narrowly defeated the Giallorossi 3-2 in Week 6 to maintain their 100 per cent start to the season, in a match their back-up goalkeeper admits could be an indication of the season to come. “It seems this year will be a two-horse race for the title,” Storari has told JTV today. “Juventus and Roma are the division’s most competitive sides. We’ve won three consecutive titles and they’ve strengthened after pushing us last time around. “It was a different game to last season because they’ve come on leaps and bounds. It was a very difficult match and we’re very happy to have won it.” Juve hold a three point advantage over Roma, who otherwise have won every other game so far in Serie A this term. “We’ve already broken clear of the others and I think in the end it will be just us two in the running. “However, I hope that another team is able to get back in it, perhaps Napoli, who have got off to a slow start, or Inter and Milan. It would only be a good thing for the League.” The 37-year-old reflected on life so far this term under Massimiliano Allegri. “[Antonio] Conte’s departure was a blow for everyone because it was unexpected. “Having said that, he’s been replaced by an excellent Coach and our strong reaction is down to him. “Allegri is a smart and intelligent manager who has already won honours in his career.” Storari also had a word for his and Gigi Buffon’s goalkeeping Coach at Juve, Claudio Filippi. “His job isn’t easy because there are many aspects to take care of and he’s always very well prepared. I’ve worked with many goalkeeping coaches in my career and I think Filippi is certainly up there with the best.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 2 ROMA - Carlos Tévez (Pen. 27') Francesco Totti (Pen. 32') Juan Iturbe (44') Carlos Tevez (Pen. 45'+) Leonardo Bonucci (86') Sunday, October 5th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Marelli hits out at 'crazy' Rocchi punishment The man at the centre of a refereeing storm in Italy's top flight has found an ally who believes the authorities need to do more to help the officials. Oct 9, 2014 Former Serie A official Luca Marelli has questioned the lack of transparency at the Italian Referees’ Association and labelled the decision to suspend Gianluca Rocchi following his controversial display in Sunday’s clash between Juventus and Roma as "crazy". Rocchi awarded the Bianconeri two penalties during the game in Turin – both of which were converted by Carlos Tevez – while he also failed to notice Arturo Vidal standing in an offside position in front of Roma goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski for Leonardo Bonucci's late winner. His performance has been widely condemned and it is understood he will now miss the next two rounds of Serie A fixtures as punishment. But the lack of official word from the referees' governing body (AIA) frustrates Marelli who believes his former colleague is being harshly treated. He told Goal : "The AIA is not transparent at all. They haven’t made any official statement about this. The news comes from informal talks between (former referees and current AIA chiefs) Marcello Nicchi and Domenico Messina and some journalists. "In my opinion, a referee should only be suspended for a serious technical error, such as awarding a direct free kick inside the penalty area, something like that. But to suspend Rocchi after Sunday's game … that's crazy." Marelli is concerned Rocchi's judgement may suffer in the short-term. He added: "When he’s back on the pitch next month, he'll be afraid to make the wrong decision, he'll be scared, he might lose confidence. "I know Rocchi very well, he's been a referee for 26 years, he’s strong enough to get over this but it's a crazy decision. "In a perfect world Rocchi would have stayed quiet for a week and then restarted with a Serie B game, rapidly going back to his usual standard." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 2 ROMA - Carlos Tévez (Pen. 27') Francesco Totti (Pen. 32') Juan Iturbe (44') Carlos Tevez (Pen. 45'+) Leonardo Bonucci (86') Sunday, October 5th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Diamanti: 'Too much controversy' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyorKr7nd2E#t=76 Oct 8, 2014 Alessandro Diamanti told Francesco Totti he “should not have talked” to reporters after Juventus-Roma. “I am in China, but I do read the websites and watch the Italian television programmes. All I hear is controversy,” the Guangzhou Evergrande star told Radio Kiss Kiss. “Unfortunately, that’s what Italian football is like. We are just getting worse and worse.” Diamanti was particularly disconcerted by Roma captain Totti’s comments that “by hook or by crook” Juventus always win. “In my view Italian football remains the best in the world, even if we are behind the rest in terms of culture. That’s true in general and not just in football. “As for Totti, it’s best not to talk straight after a game. There is too much tension, you say things that you wish you hadn’t and that become twisted by other people.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

PSG Want Juventus Star Pogba Sep 8, 2014 Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly the latest club interested in signing Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba once again after having previous bids for him turned down by the Italian giants. The 21-year-old, who is currently on international duty with France, has been a main target of several European giants as of late besides the Parisians including Chelsea and Manchester United, though it seems the Bianconeri are ready to do whatever it takes to hold on to him for quite some time. According to Tuttosport, French international and PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi has even expressed his wishes to play alongside Pogba on a club level and admitted that he would favour the Juve man’s move to Paris. “I want to play with Pogba,” he said. “He’s a great guy, it would be a pleasure to play with him at PSG.” Juventus have plans of their own, however, as director general Beppe Marotta has apparently already begun the process of arranging a contract renewal with the midfielder’s representatives.

JUVENTUS 3 - 2 ROMA - Carlos Tévez (Pen. 27') Francesco Totti (Pen. 32') Juan Iturbe (44') Carlos Tevez (Pen. 45'+) Leonardo Bonucci (86') Sunday, October 5th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Rocchi Gets One Month Off After Juventus V Roma Controversy Oct 8, 2014 Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi has been suspended for a month after some controversial decisions made in the Serie A match between Juventus and Roma. The Bianconeri won the Sunday fixture 3-2 in Turin but there were some refereeing calls made that outraged Giallorossi players and fans. According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Rocchi has been banned for one month by the CAN (National Referees Commission) while they analyse the penalty decisions awarded to Juventus. Rocchi is expected to return on November 2 but he could return a couple days earlier on October 28 or 29. Both of the penalties awarded to Juve were given in the first half of the Serie A match. The first incident was when Roma’s right-back Maicon was deemed to have made a handball after an Andrea Pirlo free-kick. The second incident occurred just before half-time when Bianconeri midfielder Paul Pogba was fouled by Giallorossi playmaker Miralem Pjanic and Rocchi pointed to the penalty spot. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS 3 - 2 ROMA - Carlos Tévez (Pen. 27') Francesco Totti (Pen. 32') Juan Iturbe (44') Carlos Tevez (Pen. 45'+) Leonardo Bonucci (86') Sunday, October 5th, 2014 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Gianluca Rocchi Morata: Totti should have kept quiet The Spain under-21 international feels the Giallorossi skipper was wrong to claim that his side had been beaten by the officials in Turin - and not the Bianconeri. Oct 8, 2014 Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has accused Roma captain Francesco Totti of sour grapes following Sunday's controversial game between the sides. The Bianconeri triumphed 3-2 in Turin but Totti was enraged by the fact the hosts had been awarded two contentious penalties by referee Gianluca Rocchi, and that none of the match officials had noticed Arturo Vidal had been standing in an offside position in front of Giallorossi goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski when Leonardo Bonucci scored the winner with four minutes remaining. The 38-year-old forward sparked controversy by stating Roma know that they are destined to finish second again this season because of the alleged preferential treatment reigning champions Juve receive from referees - an allegation Morata feels Totti should not have made. "If they had won, they would not be saying anything," the Spaniard told Goal. "It could be that he was just upset about the game, as it's not easy to take when you lose such an important game in the closing minutes. "Totti is a great player, a historical one, but perhaps he should not have said that." Morata was involved in another one of the game's flash points, with the forward receiving a straight red card after clashing with Roma defender Kostas Manolas, who was also dismissed. The 21-year-old had been guilty of fouling the Greece international close to the touchline just seconds beforehand, prompting a furious reaction from his opponent, but Morata, who has been hit with a one-game ban, remains mystified by Rocchi's decision to give him his marching orders. "It was really weird," he said. "I did not do anything. I was strong [in the tackle], but only because it was a game in which you had to be strong. "It was what my team needed: to stop the game; be aggressive. On the previous play, he pushed me against the barrier. But this is football. "I do not know why Manolas had this reaction because they were also kicking us. "I did nothing and I hope they can do something to reduce it yet but the important thing is that we won." Morata revealed he is settling in well at Juventus following his summer switch from Real Madrid - but the €20 million signing admitted he is only now getting used to the demanding nature of the Italian game. "Everything is going well," he said. "The only thing is how they train here: it's like you're preparing for war! "There is no recovery time. It's very physical. But I'm coming along. "At first, it takes its toll on you. I remember when I had to just sit down after the exercises instead of stretching because I couldn´t do any more! "But it is all for the good of the team. And we have a great team. We can do great things." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Bonucci: I Have Nothing Against Roma Oct 7, 2014 Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci say he has nothing against Roma after responding to a tweet he posted on Monday night. After tweeting ‘Winning is the only thing that matters’ and ‘Rinse your mouth’ on Monday night, Bonucci’s words have garnered criticism as they appear to have been directed at Giallorossi defender, something the defender denies. “It was for my and the clubs followers,” Bonucci told reporters at an Italy’s press conference ahead of the Azzurri’s matches. “I do not want to attack anyone, I don’t score too many goals and was just so happy with the win. “I have massive respect for Roma and there was no desire to offend but simply to cheer up my followers. “I always write ‘Winning is the only thing that matters’, it’s in Juventus’ DNA.”

Marotta: Roma Have Bridged The Gap With Juventus Oct 7, 2014 Juventus general director Giuseppe Marotta believes Roma have closed the gap to the Bianconeri as he states the two sides will fight it out for the Scudetto. The Bianconeri defeated Roma 3-2 on Sunday to inflict a first defeat of the season on Rudi Garcia’s men and send Juventus three points clear at the top of the table. “Roma and Juventus are the two best teams in the league,” Marotta told RAI Sport 1. “Roma have strengthend a lot since last year and the Giallorossi have bridged the gap with Juventus.” Marotta also went on to state that Juventus deserved their victory on Sunday as Gianluca Rocchi made the right calls. “There was maybe a slight doubt with the handball but even in slow motion you would not change anything. “Juventus had more hunger than Roma in the final minutes and found the winning goal.” Roma captain Francesco Totti has accused Juventus of receiving favouritism but Marotta says his comments were ill-advised. “I appreciate Totti and all he has done but what he has said is very serious and he does not understand what went on before. “Juventus have deservedly won the last three league titles and he must respect us and our fans. “His judgement is misplaced and is not based on facts.”