Socrates

Nedved: Chiellini Behaved Like A Child After Being Bit By Suarez Jul 20, 2014 Juventus director Pavel Nedved has voiced his comments on the bite-saga involving Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini and Uruguay and Barcelona forward Luis Suarez. The World Cup saw a lot of good football, but also its fair shown of unwanted events. The recently concluded tournament will be infamously remembered for ex-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez biting Giorgio Chiellini in a group match involving Uruguay and Italy. Shockingly, it was the third time Suarez had committed this act of aggression. The incident took place during the dying embers of the match. Suarez fell down after committing the act and the Juventus defender understandably went to the referee to show the bite mark on his shoulder. However, Juventus director and ex-player, Pavel Nedved has voiced his anger at Chiellini’s reaction and said that he behaved like a child when the incident occured. Nedved did praise the player for being mature over the next days and asking FIFA to reduce the player’s four month footballing ban. “I was very angry with Chiellini for his reaction, as he behaved like a child showing the bite mark to the referee,” Nedved told Denik Sport. “I talked about it with Beppe Marotta and I’ll discuss it with him directly. In any case, Giorgio showed intelligence over the next few days when he asked FIFA to reduce the ban. The ex-Czech international went on to praise Suarez’s footballing abilities and called him a ‘great player and a ‘champion’. He even said that Juventus were close to signing him two years ago. He continued by further defending him and saying he is knows what its like as a player and understands a ‘little tantrum’. “Suarez is a great player and I’d sign him straight away for Juventus. In fact, we were on the verge of getting him two years ago and I was fully in agreement. He’s a champion and that is all. I have played on the pitch, so I know what it’s like to have a little tantrum.” Suarez was banned from all football related activities for four months after his ban for this act. The 27 year old has completed his switch from Liverpool to Barcelona for a reported sum of £75m, as transfer was not part of the list under the sub-clause of ‘administrative ban’ imposed by the governing body. His ban however, has stopped the La Liga club from unveiling him officially as their new number 9.

Why the allergic reaction to Allegri is not healthy The former AC Milan coach was greeted with supporter protests after taking charge at Juventus but his credentials prove he can lead them to another Scudetto. Jul 20, 2014 Such was the turn of events in Turin last week that to call it a shock would be a heavy understatement. Antonio Conte began preparations for his fourth pre-season with Juventus but by the end of its first day he had resigned. Within a couple of days, all hell broke loose when former AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was appointed in his place on a two-year deal – one that was greeted with heavy protests from fans. Given the way the 46-year old was shown the door at Milan, it was rather expected. Given the Rossoneri’s record during his final few months last season, it seems partly justified. But only partly. Milan have been in decline since that mini-revival back in the 2010-11 season when, during Allegri's first campaign in charge, they lifted their first Scudetto since 2004 - breaking Inter's hegemony in the process. Back then, there were credits galore for the former Cagliari boss, who was praised for handling a dressing room full of stars pretty effectively despite it being his first big club assignment. Sending Ronaldinho packing was a brave but correct decision given the Brazilian's decline as a footballer, while replacing Andrea Pirlo in favour of more hard-hitting midfielders like Massimo Ambrosini and Mark van Bommel made sense to critics and fans alike. His first mistake? Concluding that Pirlo was no longer the player he used to be. In hindsight, given the Italian's performances for both Juventus and Italy since that episode, Allegri has been fairly criticised in some quarters. But there were few dissenting voices at the time. Pirlo had not played a key role for Milan that season and, coupled with his injuries, he did look like a player who was past his best. Milan finished runners-up in his second season, with certain events taking place that were out of Allegri's control. An error in judgement by the referee robbed Sulley Muntari of his goal against Juventus and directly tilted the race in Juve's favour, who then went undefeated to rightly lift their first Scudetto since the Calciopoli scandal in 2006. Since then, the seven-time European champions have been catastrophic both on and off the field and Allegri has unfortunately become the face of that failure. When you rob your head coach of players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva and yet ask him to remain competitive, what happened with Allegri towards the end of his Milan tenure becomes almost inevitable. Add to this the departure of a host of leaders like Clarence Seedorf, Pippo Inzaghi, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Nesta - players who virtually bled the club's colours for more than a decade - and the life was sucked from San Siro. A club that once boasted one of the best European teams to have ever taken the field was now being represented by a handful of free signings, including Kevin Constant, Muntari, Cristian Zapata and Bakaye Traore among others. Yet what Allegri achieved under the tight constraints was commendable. Finishing third in the 2012-13 season behind Juventus and Napoli despite losing his best players was an achievement, one that he was never properly credited for. Instead, what he got was uncertainty over his future as the club continued their slide into mediocrity, pursuing summer transfer targets including Valter Birsa, Cristian Zaccardo and Alessandro Matri while rivals bought Carlos Tevez (Juventus), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Mario Gomez (Fiorentina), Kevin Strootman (Roma) and Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina). Despite enjoying a rather fruitful end to the 2012-13 season deploying a 4-3-3, Allegri was forced to revert back to the much outdated 4-3-1-2 by Silvio Berlusconi – a decision suited more to accommodate his vision rather than that of the coach. A fair share of injuries to star players such as Stephan El Sharaawy, who was instrumental when fit, and captain Riccardo Montolivo played their part but that went unnoticed as Milan under Allegri continued to rot. Allegri's failure mirrored the sorry state of the club, not of his own standards. He was a scapegoat who was sacrificed while the club's hierarchy continued their mismanagement. Allegri's achievements before Milan must not be forgotten, either. He was responsible for Sassuolo's rise to Serie B back in the 2007-08 season, before leading Cagliari to a ninth-placed finish in the 2008-09 which also won him the prestigious Panchina d'Oro – an award handed over to the best Serie A coach and voted by his contemporaries in the division. That he beat Jose Mourinho – the self-proclaimed 'Special One' who won the Scudetto in his first season in charge of Inter – made it even more special. "I have explained a thousand times, in the end it just happened. The club, Andrea and I met and he decided to join Juventus and now I am lucky enough to link up with him again after three years. - Massimiliano Allegri" Maybe Allegri wasn't the best option for Juventus – more so given the Bianconeri's thirst for European glory and his own dubious record in the Champions League during his three-and-a-half years with Milan. He is perhaps a step down given the high standards set by his predecessor, who ruled the club from the heart, but he does not deserve the light in which he has been cast in recent days. Give him a good team and he can win the Scudetto - he showed that at Milan, and he could prove it with Juve. Sell your best players and he will still make his team punch above its weight. With speculation rife regarding the futures of both Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal – the two most vital pieces in the Bianconeri midfield – Juventus have surely considered his ability to manage with a team under a tight budget, something that Conte wasn't willing to adjust to. There is a reason why Allegri was in the running for the job at Roma last summer before Milan tied him to a new deal, why he was a favourite to succeed Cesare Prandelli as the head coach of the Italian national team. There is a reason why Milan hired him in the first place back in 2010 and why Juventus were quick to sign him despite the fact it would irk star man Pirlo.

http://www.tuttosport.com/video/calcio/2014/07/17-77856/L%27addio+di+Conte+diventa+una+parodia

Nedved: 'Only Allegri or Mancini' Jul 20, 2014 Pavel Nedved confirms “there were only two candidates” for the Juventus bench: Max Allegri and Roberto Mancini. Antonio Conte’s sudden departure two days into pre-season training, which Nedved put down to “fatigue,” forced Juventus to find a new Coach and they picked Massimiliano Allegri. “We had to react very quickly after his resignation,” Juve director Nedved told Denik Sport in the Czech Republic. “It was very tough, as we were sad to see him go, but there were only two candidates: Allegri and Mancini. “Mancini had the option of becoming Italy Coach, so we reached an agreement with Allegri. He is a quality Coach and a winner.” Conte has been heavily linked with the vacant Azzurri bench, so Mancini could well be left without a job anyway. Nedved also revealed the reason Conte walked away was “fatigue. He was tired of everything. He’d already tried to resign in May, but we convinced him to think it over during the vacation. “I absolutely understand where he’s coming from, as the way he performs his duties is exhausting. He’s a stickler and doesn’t miss a single detail. “He works very intensively, so exhaustion was a natural result. We owe him so much, as in three years he won three Serie A titles. “We will definitely miss him very much and it does weaken us, but we had to deal with the situation and we chose Allegri.”

Marotta: 'Finalising more deals' Jul 19, 2014 Juventus director Beppe Marotta praised Alvaro Morata and promised “we are finalising other deals over the next few days.” The general manager spoke at the presentation Press conference for Morata, who arrived from Real Madrid for €20m. “Morata is a young player born in October 1992. He comes from Real Madrid and is one of the world’s best talents. “He won the European Under-21 Championship with Spain, winning the Golden Boot, took part in the recent Champions League victory and over seven seasons at Real Madrid has developed a winning mentality.” The transfer took longer than expected and the details are still not entirely clear. Juve paid €20m to take Morata, but Real Madrid have a buy-back option of up to €30m depending on the number of games he plays for the Bianconeri. “It was a very difficult negotiation process because Real Madrid wanted to keep him,” explained Marotta. “At the end of the day, his desire to come to Juventus won out. The player signed a five-year contract. For the first two years the player is entirely ours, then there is a very complicated contract that I won’t outline in its entirety here. “We have a very strong rapport with Real Madrid and will discuss it later along the line, but the fact he signed a five-year contract shows we are determined to keep him.” Marotta was naturally asked whether the transfer strategy had changed with Antonio Conte’s sudden departure, to be replaced by Massimiliano Allegri. “There is no revolution, even if the Coach changed. We don’t need massive changes, as this is a winning group that secured five trophies in three years between Scudetti and Super Cups. “Conte was a great leader, we worked with a great club and fans. We will try to work on the market finding the players who are the right mix of quality and price. “We are finalising some other deals and hope to announce them formally over the next few days.” Those are expected to be Roberto Pereyra from Udinese on loan with option to buy for €12m and Patrice Evra from Manchester United.

5 Things Massimiliano Allegri Must Do to Be Successful at Juventus Jul 18, 2014 This week has been shocking for Juventus and the club's fans. The team began preseason training on Monday, and less than a day later, the shocking announcement that coach Antonio Conte was parting ways with the club was made. Less than 24 hours after that, former AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri was introduced as the team's new manager. The true reason for Conte's departure from Juve is likely an amalgamation of several different factors. At this point, however, it's a discussion that will be full of conjecture and contradiction. Time will tell what really went on behind the scenes. It's a subject for another article. But while Juve's fans mourn the departure of the man who brought them three straight titles, the fact is that there is a season to prepare for. The Supercoppa Italiana against Napoli will be on August 23, and the Serie A season starts a week later. The team has to regroup and prepare to do its job. Allegri will also have to quickly adjust to his new surroundings and figure out how to be successful at Juve. What are some of the keys for him to keep Juventus on top of Italian soccer? Let's take a look at some. Mend Fences with Andrea Pirlo This may be what decides Juve's season. Can Allegri bury the hatchet with Andrea Pirlo, the man who he forced out at Milan three years ago? The story is well known by followers of the Italian game. He had spent 10 seasons leading AC Milan to two Champions League titles and two Scudetti, but after an injury-plagued 2010-11, the club thought he was finished. His contract with the club ran out, and Milan made no attempt to resign him. At best, Allegri did not advocate for his return. At worst, he helped push him out in favor of players like Massimo Ambrosini and Mark van Bommel. The results were disastrous for Milan. Pirlo jumped to Juve on a Bosman and turned in three of the most impressive seasons of his career. He added more Scudetti to his name in those three years than he had in 10 at the San Siro. Juve have gone 4-1-1 (W-L-D) in the league against the Rossoneri since the move and have eliminated them from the Coppa Italia twice. Pirlo has been instrumental in that success. Many point to his absence—through injury—from Juve's fateful loss to Galatasaray in December as one of the deciding factors in the team's group-stage crash-out in the Champions League. Allegri cannot marginalize Pirlo the way he did in their final season together in Milan. To do so would be suicidal. So far he has said all the right things. In a news conference (as translated by Goal.com) he said that he had "always enjoyed a great relationship with him [Pirlo]" and said "I can justifiably state that I've never called his qualities into question. Otherwise people could justifiably say that I am a fool." Pirlo, so far, has been silent. Allegri has his deficiencies as a manager, but he is no fool. He has to know how important Pirlo's influence is to this team. The maestro will almost certainly remain on the field, but will a toxic relationship behind the scenes torpedo the season? Allegri needs to take steps to make sure it doesn't. Keep Everyone Where They Belong One of the knocks on Allegri during his time at Milan was his willingness to play people out of position. He tried to convert midfielder Kevin Constant to left-back. The results left much to be desired, especially with Constant blocking the route of young starlet Mattia De Sciglio. Urby Emanuelson was another player who was moved around the field constantly. He played as a winger, a trequartista and a defensive midfielder in his time under Allegri. The squad Allegri inherits have, for the most part, clearly defined roles. Allegri must be sure not to disrupt those roles. There are a few players who Allegri might be tempted to shift. Angelo Ogbonna and Giorgio Chiellini both played left-back early in their careers—indeed, even under Conte on certain occasions. They are not, however, suited for playing that position long-term at this point in their careers. They need to be kept in the middle. Another tempting prospect would be to experiment with the talent of 19-year-old Kingsley Coman. The youngster comes from PSG on a Bosman and is an attacking midfielder by trade, with some experience on the wing. But he is far from a finished product, and tinkerer like Allegri could be tempted to try to mold him into a position he may not be suited for. Juve have been superbly successful in the three years this squad has been together. Allegri shouldn't disrupt that chemistry by trying to move people around. Don't Tinker Too Much with Tactics Allegri's penchant for tactical tinkering goes somewhat hand-in-hand with his tendency to tinker with positions. This tinkering, however, has produced some better results than his positional merry-go-round. Some of Allegri's tactical shifts have been spot-on. Adjustments he made for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Arsenal in 2011-12 saw an unexpected 4-0 pummeling at the San Siro. At the same stage of the competition the next year, his tweaks resulted in a truly stunning 2-0 victory over Barcelona. It can be said that Allegri, like the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal, knew how to win but not to use his victory. In 2012 Milan very nearly squandered that gigantic lead when they lost 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium. In 2013 they allowed Lionel Messi an early moment of brilliance and ended up losing the return leg 4-0. Even then, they were the width of the post away from taking a crucial away goal when the aggregate was standing at a flat-footed 2-2. Much of this tinkering, especially toward the end of his time at Milan, stemmed from the fact that he wasn't being supported by the club's directors with good players. Indeed, the Rossoneri were selling his best players off, forcing Allegri to improvise with a below-par team. Allegri shouldn't have that problem at Juventus. He also comes into a situation where the tactics and player roles have been very clearly defined and very successful. It's natural to see some tactical changes when a new manager arrives at a club. Allegri, however, should make sure those changes are minimal. He isn't an expert on Conte's 3-5-2, but Conte looked primed to switch back to the 4-3-3 after receiving new players on the transfer market. The conventional wisdom over the last few years has been that the 3-5-2 has flaws that won't allow it to compete with elite European competition. The recent World Cup, however, should challenge that notion. Several nations, including Mexico, Costa Rica, the Netherlands and on occasion Chile, put in impressive performances at the tournament playing formations that could switch efficiently between 5-3-2 and 3-5-2 depending on the situation. Allegri should look at the World Cup and re-evaluate whether the 3-5-2—which is still the best fit for the team as it is currently constituted—can compete at that level. If he decides not and wishes to go back to a four-man line, he'll need to wait for the proper personnel in the transfer market. Speaking of which... Salvage the Mercato You won't see many bad things said about Antonio Conte in this space, but one that you will hear is that the timing of his resignation was downright terrible. As late as Tuesday morning Juve was in pole position for landing Hellas Verona starlet Juan Iturbe to play the wing in a revamped tactical setup. Within hours of Conte's departure, Iturbe was sold to one of their biggest rivals to the title, Roma. Two other major transfer targets, Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata and Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra, have paused to re-evaluate the situation. Sky Sport have reported that Morata has already spoken with Allegri and is likely to complete his move (via Football Italia). Evra, on the other hand, seems to be more on the fence. The web site Give Me Sport has relayed a report from Tuttosport that Evra is looking to take a few days to reflect on things now that Conte is gone—although La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (via Football Italia) have claimed that his negotiations are on course as well. The beginning of the transfer window has certainly gotten off to a rocky start. But now that Allegri is in the manager's chair, Juve have drawn up a new list of targets for the rest of Europe's silly season. The same Football Italia item names former Fiorentina man and Juve target Stevan Jovetic as a potential signing. Lucas Moura, Javier Pastore and Tottenham wantaway Erik Lamela are also mooted. So is PSG's Javier Pastore, a tormentor of the team when Palermo filled the role of Juve's bogey team in the mid 2000s. Allegri needs to convince potential targets that there won't be a drop-off in the team's quality under his stewardship. If he doesn't, a team that may have been one good window away from taking the next step will be set back several seasons—and he likely won't be around to see the result. Keep the Squad Healthy Fitness may be the worst aspect of Allegri's management. The injury history at Milan during his reign was horrific. Alexandre Pato went from one of the world's brightest young strikers to hardly ever being fit and exiled to Brazilian club Corinthians. Last year, bright young stars Mattia De Sciglio and Stephan El Shaarawy lost the majority of the season with various muscular injuries. They weren't the only ones. After Milan beat Barcelona in the Champions League two years ago, Allegri used Giampaolo Pazzini, the only striker he had who wasn't cup-tied, in a dull match against Genoa to try to force a result. Pazzini injured a muscle, forcing Allegri to use M'baye Niang at the Camp Nou. With the aggregate tied at two, the young Frenchman broke free behind the Barca defense—and crashed a shot into the post. Barca would score twice more and Milan would be eliminated. Shortly after Milan was eliminated from this year's Champions League, Allegri's successor, Clarence Seedorf, said to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (h/t FIFA.com): "I've said more than once that the fitness levels I found here were not optimal. It's normal to struggle when you have are [sic] behind in fitness since the start of the season." A team can't be successful if its best players cannot play. Juve fans know what a selection crisis is like. Injuries and suspensions forced seven players to play six consecutive games at the height of the Europa League knockout stages, and the team was running on fumes by the end. Allegri was known for not rotating his squad at Milan—although he didn't have as deep a squad as he will be afforded at Juve. Still, he must keep the team healthy. If he doesn't Juve will be doomed—and he will once again be unemployed.

Allegri unveils Juve staff Jul 18, 2014 Max Allegri confirmed his coaching staff at Juventus, including many of them taken from his time at Milan. Allegri was appointed on Wednesday, taking over from Antonio Conte and changed much of the backroom staff too. His assistant manager will be Marco Landucci, who was Allegri’s second hand man at Cagliari and then worked at Milan as goalkeeping coach. Instead, Claudio Filippi is the goalkeeping coach at Juve, now in his fourth year at the club. Maurizio Trombetta is the first team coach, returning to a smaller role after jobs as Coach of Romanian clubs Cluj and Targu Mures. Simone Foletti is the fitness coach and Stefano Grani the physio, both reunited with Allegri after their time at Sassuolo, Cagliari and Milan. Roberto Sassi is the head of Training Check.

Benitez: Juve still the strongest Jul 18, 2014 Rafa Benitez says Antonio Conte’s exit doesn’t change Juventus’ status as the strongest in Serie A, whilst he reflects on Napoli’s preparations. The Vesuviani and others in the League have been handed a boost early into pre-season with the news this week of Conte’s exit from the Bianconeri after three successive title-winning campaigns. However, for the Partenopei’s Coach, talk of his team becoming new favourites for the Scudetto is premature. “I heard about the news, but I am thinking about my team. The squad of Juventus has always been the strongest and it will be again,” Benitez has told reporters today. “It does not change much, I do not think that we have become the favourites. Allegri is a strong Coach like Conte. “We will see what happens but their level will always be high.”

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What Juventus Can Expect from Former Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri Jul 17, 2014 When Massimiliano Allegri walked into Juventus Stadium as the club’s new coach, he looked like a man who was not only fortunate to be there, but also out of place. Everything happened quickly: Antonio Conte resigned two days into pre-season training, and Juventus needed a replacement—fast. Allegri was the most available of all the Italian managers. He had turned down a job with the Greece national team, and he was linked with West Ham (according to Italian magazine Panorama, via Football Italia) but he waited. No one could have expected him to get a top job like this. Allegri was fired as coach of AC Milan in January of 2014 after a 4-3 loss to tiny Sassuolo. He is known for winning the Scudetto in his first year with the Rossoneri, but as the club sold their players and lost their veterans, they started to fall. But Allegri was not innocent in it all: He used reductive and reactive tactics in games that mattered, he would not take control of matches, he would force his players to sit back, he would not allow his team to dictate games and go out to win them and his team played scared on the road—especially in the Champions League. No one player really spoke badly about Allegri while playing under him. The stories since have come out. Gianluca Zambrotta reveals in his autobiography that Zlatan Ibrahimovic almost got into a fight with Allegri during the second leg of a Champions League round of 16 match against Arsenal. They were losing 3-0 by half-time, Milan’s 4-0 aggregate lead almost eradicated from the first leg, and Allegri reportedly said “it doesn’t matter.” In that same game, Allegri kept two goalkeepers on the bench. “I didn’t have problems with Allegri the first year,” writes Zambrotta (h/t Football Italia), “but the second we lost the Scudetto due to mismanagement of the locker room.” Of course, Allegri meets one of those disgruntled players again. Andrea Pirlo left Milan once the manager made it clear that he could no longer play in front of the defence, where Pirlo has always thrived. The 35-year-old midfielder was basically told that “you can’t be Pirlo anymore.” It’s all in Pirlo’s own book, in which he reveals that he had a “normal kind of relationship” with Allegri. But the fact remains: When Milan won that Scudetto in 2011, there was little trust in Pirlo to do his job. So, like any ambitious player, he left. Now the same man who discarded Pirlo says he has a “great relationship” with him. This is a common thing. Allegri tends to say things that do not fit the situation. At Milan, he praised players who did not deserve praise. He criticized his only stars. He did not keep the locker room whole. He simplified the message and reduced objectives to the bare minimum. In 2013, when Milan were struggling to compete for a Champions League spot, Allegri told reporters (h/t Football Italia) that finishing in third place would be like winning the Scudetto. The most successful club in the world should not settle for third. It is this mentality that hurt the fans. There was also a problem with fitness. Clarence Seedorf joined Milan midway through last season, picking up Allegri’s ashes, and the Dutchman told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (h/t FIFA.com) that “the fitness levels I found here were not optimal. It's normal to struggle when you are behind in fitness since the start of the season.” And Allegri is bringing that same fitness team with him. Allegri's lead assistant at Juve will be Marco Landucci & the athletic coach will be Simone Folletti (both worked with Max at Milan). The number of injuries was also inexplicably high while Allegri was coaching Milan. Perhaps he rushed his players back into action too soon. At times he played his stars when he should have rested him. A perfect example: losing Giampaolo Pazzini a few days before a big away game to Barcelona. Allegri decided to play Pazzini in a rather tepid game against Genoa, and the gamble failed. (Pazzini limped off the field that day in March of 2013, and he has never been the same since.) Mario Balotelli could not play in Europe, having already suited up in the Champions League for Manchester City, and so Milan had to rely on M’Baye Niang as their striker. Niang hit the post, and Milan were throttled 4-0. Then there were the times he put players in awkward positions. He turned a tactically naive Kevin Constant into a left-back, wasting Stephan El Shaarawy and forcing him to run back and cover in defence. Allegri played Urby Emanuelson everywhere but in goal. This coach had his pet projects. He would target players in the market who did not fit the team's needs. It was hard to decipher. Conte regularly rotated his squad, and Allegri is lacking in that category. Still, the Juventus squad he is inheriting is miles deeper than the last couple of Milan teams that he managed. He has the cast, and Juventus still have a very good chance of winning a fourth straight Scudetto. This is the best team in Italy with lots of class in defence, midfield and attack. They are not suddenly losing all of that. But there are doubts over the future of major players. Reports vary. Journalists from The Mirror and The Guardian say that no contact has been made between Manchester United and Juventus for coveted midfielder Arturo Vidal, but reports from Marca and elsewhere suggest that a deal is done for €44 million. Of course, Allegri would be “happy” to coach Vidal, Paul Pogba and all the others. That is beside the point. It is whether they are happy playing for him. Allegri does shout off the bench, but he does not inspire like Conte. He does not train like Conte. “When Conte speaks,” writes Pirlo in his book, “his words assault you.” For a group of players still shocked at Conte’s resignation—“I don’t know why he left,” said Gianlugi Buffon, according to Goal.com—the transition to Allegri will be just as jarring.

Former Juventus Sporting Director Questions Decision To Hire Allegri Jul 17, 2014 Former Juventus sporting director Luciano Moggi has questioned the decision to hire Massimiliano Allegri as a replacement to Antonio Conte. Conte resigned from his position as coach of the Bianconeri on Tuesday, after disagreeing with the club’s board. Speaking to Radio Crc show Si gonfia la rete, Moggi questioned the club’s decision to appoint Allegri, while also saying that Juve are still superior to Roma and Napoli. “A coach is not a pope,” he said. “Even if it’s difficult, he can be replaced. “Napoli won the Coppa Italia with a coach [Rafael Benitez] who has always come under criticism. “However, it is not conceivable that Allegri is the one who replaces Conte. “At this juncture, Roma and Napoli haven’t closed the gap on Juventus, but if the club start selling players then this will change. “Juventus will still win domestically, and with this group of players we’re capable of competing with Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich. “Now, both Napoli and Roma will have more breathing space”. Moggi then shifted his focus to Napoli where he spoke about what the Partenopei lack in their squad. “The team is already strong,” he said. “However, Napoli need to recruit a midfielder who can dictate play”.

Allegri’s opportunity, Juve’s gain? Max Allegri’s appointment at Juventus doesn’t have everyone happy, but Luca Persico says the ingredients for success are there. Jul 17, 2014 “The objective is always to continue to win. We want to continue our cycle of victories.” The aim is clear for Massimiliano Allegri. The words of sporting director Giuseppe Marotta at the unveiling of the new Juventus Coach were patent and to the point. Having won the last three titles - one unbeaten and the most recent with a record points total of 102 - Juventus sit head and shoulders above everyone else in Serie A. Last term, Roma came second with 85 points. That would have won them the Scudetto in five of the last seven seasons, yet they were 17 points adrift of the Bianconeri. Departing Coach Antonio Conte has set a benchmark that is dauntingly high and leaves his replacement Allegri with an unenviable task - one that many believe he is under qualified for. Around 300 Juventus fans protested the former Milan man’s appointment outside the club’s headquarters yesterday evening, while a handful of leading ultras were even allowed into the grounds to vent their frustration. The message is clear, yet Allegri believes he can get the tifosi onside. “I understand the scepticism of the fans,” he insisted. “How to win them over? With results, work, respect and professionalism.” His first job will be to repair his relationship with Andrea Pirlo. It was Allegri, after all, who was a leading voice in allowing him to leave Milan for Juventus in the summer of 2011. The tactician started the charm offensive in his Press conference, noting that he is” “lucky to be working with him again.” Allegri gets a second chance with Pirlo due to a managerial resume that is smattered with several notable achievements. His promotion to Serie B with Sassuolo, in 2008, highlighted his potential as a promising Coach and he was subsequently snapped up by Cagliari. His debut season in Sardinia was successful - he led Cagliari to ninth - and he was awarded the Panchina d’Oro. Whilst surprisingly replaced towards the end of his second season with the Rossoblu, Allegri was handed his big break in June 2010, when Milan came calling. The Rossoneri had gone six seasons without winning the Scudetto, but with the goals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexandre Pato and Robinho, Allegri was able to pip city rivals Inter to the title. That victory was supposed to be a building block, but the emergence of Conte’s Juventus, the subsequent sales of Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva and a lack of investment made Allegri’s job increasingly difficult over the next three seasons and he was eventually sacked in January. In those two-and-a-half seasons the followed the Scudetto victory, Allegri did, however, show good aspects of his coaching that will perhaps reassure Juventus fans. His ability to adapt and to find solutions with an incomplete squad and substandard players was vital in securing an unlikely third placed finish in the 2012-13 campaign. His clever, yet subtle tactical tweaks that earned famous wins over Arsenal and Barcelona will also be welcome at a club that has underwhelmed in the Champions League. He also arguably should have broken Juventus’ unbeaten run in Conte’s debut season, when Sulley Muntari’s goal was wrongly disallowed. Despite his successes, Allegri will know he has to adapt. He needs to be more assured and composed at crucial moments, while his training methods that have seemingly lead to injuries and questionable levels of fitness should be tweaked. The 46 year-old inherits a squad that is set in its ways and at its peak. Allegri cannot improve on what Conte’s achieved with them domestically, but he has to continue with the strong foundations that have been built and try to refresh where necessary. He will hope to win over the fans with an improved performance in the Champions League - the only competition Conte fell short in. To do that, he may switch to a back four - a decision that would be risky, but ensure that this is a Juventus that has his stamp on it. The timing of Conte’s departure has given Allegri an incredible opportunity he may not have otherwise got. His appointment is rightly questioned, but he has shown at Milan that when he has a settled squad at his disposal, he can win. Allegri will certainly find that at Juventus, while his ability to balance continuity with the right regeneration will determine whether he keeps the Old Lady at the top of Italian football.

Pirl-d'oh! Allegri takes over at Juventus Jul 17, 2014 After Antonio Conte's shock departure from Juventus, the Italian champions have moved swiftly to appoint former AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri. The news might not go down too well with every member of the bianconeri's squad, though, especially a certain Andrea Pirlo, who worked under the new Juve boss at San Siro. The Italy international, however, was deemed too old by his former team, and manager, and offered only a short term deal, prompting him to leave the club on a free transfer. Pirlo has since won three back-to-back Serie A titles, while Allegri was sacked by Milan, and both will hope their relationship can be more productive this time.

New Juventus Coach Takes First Training Session Jul 17, 2014 Massimiliano Allegri held his first training session as Juventus coach on Thursday, claiming that it is a ‘thrill’ to be back in football. The 46-year-old replaced Antonio Conte in the Bianconeri hot seat after Antonio Conte’s shock resignation on Tuesday. The former Cagliari coach was dismissed as AC Milan coach in January and took to Twitter to display his ecstasy at returning to coaching after his first training session with the club. “What a thrill to return to the field and direct training. I have missed it!,” wrote Allegri. “In the afternoon I took my first training at Juventus; I am charged for this new adventure.” The former Milan coach had been linked with the Italian national team job, but took the reins at the Juventus Stadium on Wednesday despite scepticism from some supporters about the appointment.

Pirlo: Allegri Preferred Other Players Over Me At AC Milan Jul 17, 2014 The arrival of Massimiliano Allegri to Juventus has raised concern as to whether the new coach will get along with former player Andrea Pirlo. Allegri and Pirlo shared a difficult relationship during their time together at the San Siro as the AC Milan coach seemed to prefer Massimo Ambrosini and Mark van Bommel in the midfield position leading to the departure of Pirlo to Juventus in 2011. “The real reason for my transfer was that Allegri wanted to place Ambrosini or Van Bommel in front of the defence and I would have had to change positions,” Pirlo told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport in an interview in May 2012. “I said no thanks and I chose Juve, who offered what I felt was more motivation. It was not an economical issue. “Milan decided I was not needed anymore. I understood that right away during our talks. Allegri preferred other players in my position. The 46 year old coach won the Serie A title in his first year in charge of the Rossoneri in 2010-11 but a disappointing 2013-2014 campaign saw Milan finish eight and Allegri fired before the end of the season.

Galliani: Allegri a lucky man Jul 17, 2014 Milan CEO Adriano Galliani has described Max Allegri as a lucky man after he was hired as Juventus Coach. The new Bianconeri boss joins the Turin club following the resignation of Antonio Conte, having been sacked by the Rossoneri as recently as January. “Max is a lucky man, after four years at Milan he gets Juve,” Galliani is quoted as saying by giornalaccio rosa Dello Sport.

Allegri to start 'new adventure' Jul 17, 2014 Juventus’ first training session with Massimiliano Allegri at the helm is set to begin, and the Coach has revealed he can’t wait to start. The former Milan boss was named as Antonio Conte’s successor on Wednesday following the 44-year-old’s shock resignation on Tuesday. The Bianconeri acted quickly in hiring the ex-Cagliari man, and will this afternoon take charge of his debut session. The squad took part in some medical examinations this morning, but will take to the pitch for the first time within a matter of hours, under the guidance of Allegri. And the tactician tweeted in anticipation over lunch: “This afternoon is my first session at Juventus. The start of a new adventure. Fino alla fine!”

Allegri era begins at Juventus Jul 17, 2014 Training at Juventus at the start of new Coach Massimiliano Allegri’s era takes place for the first time today. The 46-year-old was quickly ushered in as the Bianconeri’s replacement for the departed Antonio Conte yesterday and then presented to the media. On from spending last night at the team hotel where the players are currently based for this first run of pre-season training, the tactician arrived at Vinovo this morning with his new charges. However, reports are that officially the morning training session was handled by the club’s physical trainer, as Allegri familiarised himself with the Turin club’s training complex and finalised details of his new coaching staff. It is believed that Allegri will personally direct a first training session with the team this afternoon, whilst speculation continues to suggest he will not look to change too much in set-up, including keeping the 3-5-2 formation, even if also seeing a switch to a back-four defence as an option to also consider. Allegri took to Twitter to comment on his return to work: “What a thrill to return to the field and direct training: I missed this!” Sky Sport Italia indicate that Allegri’s intention is to take Juve’s pre-season training retreat away from Turin. Yesterday evening saw the new Juve Coach face protests from around 300 angry supporters and apparently briefly meet five ultras, alongside director general Beppe Marotta.

Allegri: I don't have a problem with Pirlo The former AC Milan boss claims that he has a good relationship with the Italy international after they fell out during their time at San Siro. Jul 17, 2014 Massimiliano Allegri has insisted that he does not have a problem with Andrea Pirlo in the wake of his appointment as Juventus coach. Pirlo and Allegri have endured a difficult relationship ever since the midfielder left AC Milan in the summer of 2011, with the Italy international arguing that the 46-year-old preferred to play the likes of Massimo Ambrosini and Mark van Bommel in midfield, thus effectively forcing him out. The influential midfielder eventually went on to join Juventus, whom he guided to three consecutive Serie A titles, but Allegri's appointment as Antonio Conte's successor means the two are reunited three years after they last worked together. "I have always enjoyed a great relationship with him," Allegri said at a press conference. "Andrea was, and still is a champion. When he was at Milan with me, he went through that season which wasn't particularly lucky for him considering that it was plagued with injuries. But, in fact, he always played when he was fit. "Unfortunately, in football sometimes you think that things might go one way but eventually they take an unexpected turn or head in another direction. As I have explained a thousand times, in the end it just happened. The club, Andrea and I met and he decided to join Juventus and now I am lucky enough to link up with him again after three years. "He has enjoyed some unforgettable years here at Juve and now I consider myself lucky enough to find [myself working with] him once again. He had a great World Cup, played three fantastic seasons, so I am lucky. "I've never experienced any problem with Andrea and I can justifiably state that I've never called his qualities into question, otherwise people could justifiably say that I am a fool." Pirlo has a contract with Juventus until June 2016.

Galliani: 'Allegri will face his past' Jul 16, 2014 Adriano Galliani joked the Trofeo TIM will be “Max Day” as Allegri’s Juventus face Milan and Sassuolo. The tournament will take place at the Mapei Stadium on August 23 and is a series of 45-minute games. “Just think, at the Trofeo TIM Allegri will face his two former clubs, Sassuolo and Milan. He’s just missing Aglianese...” joked Galliani on Sportmediaset. “That’s how bizarre destiny can be.” Allegri was sacked by Milan in January and his replacement Clarence Seedorf also axed last month. He was a surprise pick to replace Antonio Conte on the Juventus bench this afternoon. “I spoke to him this morning and saw him leave for Turin,” added Galliani. “I won’t say any more, as he is employed by a different club now.” Milan CEO Galliani had often defended Allegri and reportedly convinced President Silvio Berlusconi to delay the sacking.

Allegri's girlfriend insulted Juve Jul 16, 2014 Max Allegri’s girlfriend may well regret insulting tweets she aimed at Juventus and Antonio Conte in 2012. Allegri was appointed new Coach of Juve this afternoon and Gloria Patrizi will follow her partner to Turin. However, the Corriere dello Sport dug into the archives to find some insulting tweets the ex-Playboy model posted about the Bianconeri in 2012. Milan and Juventus were challenging for the Scudetto when Sulley Ali Muntari’s ‘phantom goal’ crossed the line, but was not spotted by referee Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni. “Juve are the shame of Italy,” wrote Patrizi at the time. “Man of the match: Mazzoleni. #itstheonlywaytheycanwin “Oh just give a cigar and a hat to Conte and he becomes Al Pacino... Simply ridiculous!” Allegri turns 47 next month and has a rather complex history in gossip magazines, leaving his girlfriend on the day of their wedding in 1992, divorced air hostess wife Gloria after four years and in 2011 broke up with his girlfriend of eight years Claudia while she was expecting their son.

Juve fans protest Allegri Jul 16, 2014 Around 300 Juventus fans protested Max Allegri’s appointment as ultras hold talks with Beppe Marotta. The new tactician was presented to the media this afternoon and signed a two-year contract, replacing Antonio Conte. Many Bianconeri supporters are not happy with this choice and around 300 staged a protest in front of the Vinovo training ground. It is widely reported that five ultras representatives were allowed to enter Vinovo for private talks with the club directors, including director general Marotta and Allegri himself. The meeting lasted only a few minutes.

Abate and Astori in Allegri's Juve Jul 16, 2014 Max Allegri is said to have requested Ignazio Abate and Davide Astori for his new Juventus defence. The Coach took over from Antonio Conte this afternoon and, with pre-season training already begun on Monday, time is short to rebuild the team in his image. According to Sportmediaset, the ex-Milan tactician is looking to some of his old favourites to construct a four-man back line. The first target is current Milan full-back Abate, who would cost around €8m for a permanent transfer. Another addition could well be Cagliari centre-back Astori, who is also of interest to the likes of Inter, Southampton and Aston Villa. Players who could be on their way out are Italy internationals Andrea Barzagli and Angelo Ogbonna. Meanwhile, Sky Sport Italia claim Allegri has given the all-clear to go ahead with the purchase of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid.