Socrates

Serie A 2013/2014 Season Review: Juventus Triumph Once More May 28, 2014 Serie A season ended expectedly with defending champions Juventus retaining their crown for the third time. Although there were many ups and downs overall, at the end, Conte proved once more why he is so revered by millions worldwide. The season started with Roma running away with the competition. With 10 victories in the first 10 matches, it seemed Garcia had found a magic formula. Roma defeated everyone and everything in their path but as the season progressed, they found their adventurous journey come to a stuttering halt. Roma avenged their Coppa Italia defeat to Lazio in their first derby of the season. Their progress was halted by injuries to key player, most notably Strootman, who is going to miss the World Cup due to his ACL tear. Where Roma’s form dipped, Juventus took flight. Although they started the season a little sluggishly, Juventus proved their mettle as time progressed. A successful transfer window saw the arrival of Ogbonna, Tevez and Llorente while they dumped Matri to Milan and Giaccherini To Sundeland. While Milan took up Matri gleefully, claiming that their youth product has come home, they were quick to realize their folly and he was shipped off to Fiorentina during the winter transfer window. This season Juventus set the Serie A record for the most points in a season, breaking the 100-point barrier on their way to the top. Although they were stunned by Fiorentina, who recorded their first victory over Juventus at Florence since 1998, they had their eyes set on the Serie A crown right from the word go. After defeating the erstwhile undefeated Roma during New Year, the rest of the teams suddenly took notice of them and realized how strongly they have to play against Juventus. Conte rightfully led the club to their third successive Serie A crown, although they exited the Europa League quite bitterly. Milan had a horror season and rightfully, they have been named as the most disappointing team of the season. After finishing third last year, much was expected from the red half of Milan, who staged an amazing comeback during the second half of the previous season. However, internal turmoil wreaked havoc in their setup as Barbara Berlusconi suddenly claimed superiority over Galliani. With rumors of Galliani leaving the hierarchy, a semblance of stability appeared at Milan when he was forced to stay and an arrangement was drawn up on their roles at the club. Change of managers did the team no good, as they realized how much this team has fallen in the recent years. From the days of Nesta to Thiago Silva to now Constant, the Milan back-line is a horror story for one of the erstwhile powerhouse of Europe. Although they have still hung on to their “most successful club in the world” tag, it is only a matter of time before they lose that too. Out of favor coach Benitez found a home at Napoli and in his very first season in charge, led the team to the third place in the Serie A table. The loss of Cavani to PSG led to the arrival of Higuain and Callejon from Real Madrid and Pepe Reina from Liverpool. A loss of impetus in the middle of the season saw them drawing matches more than usual. However, all in all, Benitez had indeed settled in well with Napoli and the next season will surely see them challenging for the crown. Mazzarri left Napoli for Inter and although for some portions of the season, it seemed that they might be a contender for the Champions League spot, Inter faded away only to rise strongly during the ending rounds of the season. Elsewhere, Donadoni led Parma to the sixth position in the league. An amazing run of 17 unbeaten matches saw them climb the table faster than any other team. Amazingly, their steak was started and ended by Juventus – while a loss to Juventus started their unbeaten run, it was the same team who ended the streak. The relegation battle saw Sassuolo, Catania, Bologna and Livorno fighting for survival. At the end, it was the team in green who managed to stay afloat for a second successive season. Capocannoniere Ciro Immobile (Torino) Immobile was a hit when he led Pescara to promotion two seasons back. However, when given the first-team opportunity last to lastJuventus season, he failed to deliver the goods. When Torino acquired Immobile at the start of this season, they were unaware of what they were getting in him. 22 goals later, he is one of the most-sought after players in Serie A, reportedly on his way to Dortmund once the World Cup ends. In only a single season, Immobile proved his detractors wrong with intelligence and movement in front of goal. The 24-year-old is a hot property now and the transfer market will surely throw up some interesting bids for the Italian. Most Valuable Player Carlos Tevez (Juventus) Tevez’s arrival from Manchester City to Juventus took a detour via Milan. Although it was rumored that Galliani had a previous dialogue with the Argentine, he failed to make the right move at the right time. While Milan ended up with duds in the transfer market, Juventus gleefully accepted Tevez as one of their own and even bestowed on him the number 10 jersey, left empty by none other than Del Piero. Tevez not only embraced that jersey with both hands, he proved beyond doubt that he was a striker Conte was searching for. Although Immobile overtook the Argentine in the overall goal tally, no player had a greater impact on the Serie A title race than this Argentine. Often he single-handedly turned a match on his own with either his goals or by setting up his team mates for scoring. He has been an instant hit at the Juventus stadium and with him not playing the World Cup, he will surely be more hungrier for the next season. Team of the season Buffon (Juventus); Chiellini (Juventus), Benatia (Roma), Lucarelli (Parma); Pogba (Juventus), Vidal (Juventus), Pjanic (Roma), Cerci (Torino), Cuadrado (Fiorentina); Tevez (Juventus), Immobile (Torino)

Juventus 2013-14 Season In Review: The Goalkeepers May 27, 2014 I sit down after every season and think the same thing: "What the hell haven't I said about Gigi Buffon that I have already put down on the keyboard three or four times already?" It's the inner monologue of a Buffon-obsessed writer, you could say. But at the same time, when dealing with such a legendary figure, it's hard to think of new things to say when so much attention has been throw in his direction. I throw this out there: A season ago, Juventus 24 goals in Serie A. This season? They allowed 23 goals. Without looking it up online and going solely off of your own memory, would you have believed that Juventus' defense was statistically better this past season compared to a year ago? I wouldn't have thought so as all those memories of Juve allowing stupid goal after stupid goal the first three months of the season roll back into my mind. But a big reason as to why Juventus' defense allowed on fewer goal in Serie A this season was the play of one guy. Yeah, Buffon. As much as it makes us rage and scream whenever one of Juve's defenders screw up, it's pretty nice knowing that there's the GOAT laying there in waiting to pick up his teammate. And Buffon was again damn good in a record-breaking season for Juventus. Not that should surprise us at all. It's Gigi Buffon we're talking about here. Gianluigi Buffon - 8 I like stats, so I'm just going to throw this one out there. Saves made in the 2011-12 season: 79 Saves made in the 2012-13 season: 75 Saves made in the 2013-14 season: 87 A couple saves here and there isn't that big of a deal. But when you are forced to make a good number of saves one season compared to last, then something is up. Buffon is never going to make as many saves as other goalkeepers in Serie A simply because of how good the players who are in front of him are. There's a reason why Juve have had the best defense in Italy for three seasons in a row, and a big reason for it is because of the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, Martin Cáceres and Angelo Ogbonna. But would you say that Juventus' defense was better this season — especially the first couple months of the year — compared to the previous two under Antonio Conte? I'm not so sure of that. And that's why Buffon had much more to do than in previous seasons. More shots faced, more shots needing to be saved. It was the third straight year that Juve statistically had the best defense in all of Serie A, but they also had a decent amount of hiccups. The consistent player in all of it was Buffon, who is heading to the World Cup on really, really good form. He stayed completely healthy for the second straight season, playing in 47 games in all competitions. Not exactly something you might expect out of a goalkeeper who is entering his late 30s, but this is San Gigi we're talking about here, so... Just another stellar season from the best we've ever seen. Never change, Gigi. Never change. Marco Storari - 6.5 I like stats, so I'm just going to throw this one out there. In the last two — count it, TWO — seasons, Marco Storari has played all of 16 games in all competitions. That's in Serie A, the Coppa Italia, the Champions League and the Europa League. We know Storari hasn't played in the Champions League and Europa League, so that leaves only domestic competitions. Even with the lack of playing time the past couple of years, Storari has continued to be one of the most reliable backup goalkeepers in European football. His contract is up this summer, but seeing as he seems perfectly happy to be Buffon's backup, there's no reason to think Storari will choose to play elsewhere next season. And who doesn't like seeing Storari frustrate the hell out of Roma every time he plays against them? So much fun. Just don't ask him for a high five afterwards. We gotta work on that, Marco. Rubinho - s/v One appearance, no goals allowed, plenty of unibrow. They call this "The Rubinho Special" around Turin. Could this be the last we've seen of the man who sports a unibrow so proud in a Juventus goalkeeper jersey? Who knows. Juve could either bring him back for another year as the No. 3 goalkeeper, sign another veteran keeper who knows that he's barely going to play because of who is in front of him, or give an opportunity to a younger player — Nicola Leali, maybe? Laurentiu Branescu, perhaps? — to learn under Buffon and Storari.

Bonucci hails Prandelli extension May 27, 2014 Leonardo Bonucci believes that Cesare Prandelli’s contract extension with the FIGC can only be good news. The Italian national team Coach confirmed on Monday that he had signed an extension with the federation to stay on until the European Championships in 2016. And the defender has claimed that that consistency will help going into the World Cup this summer. “Prandelli’s renewal is great news,” he told a Press conference. “We’ve been on an exciting path and we hope to keep growing. “The second place at the Euros [in 2012] and the third place at the Confederations Cup were, in large part, down to the Coach and his staff. “For many us, this is going to be our first experience of a World Cup. And as Prandelli said, we have to be united, together as a group. “It’s been a long and tiring season, but playing in a World Cup is a great motivation for any player.” The 27-year-old then commented on his future at Juventus and Antonio Conte’s decision to stay on as Bianconeri boss. “I’ll think more about Juve after the World Cup, but I think we’re all delighted that he’s decided to stay on. “My future is very simple – I want to stay at Juve. When the club don’t want me, that’s when I’ll make new plans. “But right now, my only thought is to stay with Juventus.”

Alexis should be Juventus' top priority, says Moggi The 76-year-old has urged the Old Lady to make a move for the Chile international and rebuild their squad this summer. May 27, 2014 Former Juventus director Luciano Moggi believes the Serie A champions should make the signing of Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez their main priority this summer if they want to be competitive again in Europe. The Chile international has been strongly linked with a return to Serie A after three seasons at Barcelona and Moggi feels the winger is exactly what Juventus need, while also urging the Turin giants to further rebuild their squad ahead of next season. "Juventus' main priority this summer should be the signing of Alexis Sanchez," Moggi was quoted as saying by Tuttosport. "He has already shown in the past that he can add something extra in Serie A during his time at Udinese. "From there one, you will have to be ready to sell important players and replace them with even better alternatives. Back in 2001, we sold Zinedine Zidane and got back Pavel Nedved, Lilian Thuram and Gianluigi Buffon. "The Juventus of Fabio Capello had leaders of various national teams, like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Emerson and Fabio Cannavaro, players who could change a team. "I would never sacrifice Arturo Vidal, though, and the same goes for Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Giorgio Chiellini." Juventus failed to advance from the Champions League group stage this term, while they were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Marchisio: Juventus cycle not over yet The midfielder is confident the Serie A champions can continue to dominate domestically for several more years. May 27, 2014 Claudio Marchisio believes Juventus' dominance of Serie A is by no means nearing its conclusion and has set his sights on winning more silverware in the years to come. Antonio Conte's men were crowned Italian champions for the third year in succession this season, but teams such as Roma and Napoli are desperate to close the gap with their rivals and end Juve's hegemony. Nevertheless, Marchisio is confident that the Old Lady can continue to dominate Serie A for the foreseeable future. "Juventus' cycle is not over. The last game of the season said it all. It was not just about reaching 100 points for us, but also about not conceding a goal to cap another strong year defensively," Marchisio told Tuttosport. "This just goes to show that we still want to grow and improve and you cannot speak about the end of a cycle in these circumstances. "Some people are already speaking about how next season will be difficult for us, but each season has been hard. "At the beginning of the season, it did not look like it was going to be this easy, but in the end everybody had to admit that Juventus were the strongest. It's only normal that we won Serie A and we will try and repeat it once more next term." Marchisio scored four goals in 29 Serie A appearances in 2013-14.

Juventus Season Review 2013-14 : Records Tumble In Front Of The Bianconeri Juggernaut A look back at the record-breaking campaign of the Bianconeri as they captured their 32nd Scudetto. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCoZHR16yew May 26, 2014 Another great season for Juventus concluded with them winning the Scudetto for the third consecutive year. The relentless threat posed by Roma kept them on their toes throughout the season but in the end Juventus proved too strong for the chasing pack. The defence was in top form once again having conceded only 23 goals all season. With only two losses in league play and a perfect 19-0-0 record at home, it seems that Juventus will not stray far from the pinnacle of Serie A in the years to come. A high-octane attack has produced 80 goals, led by Carlos Tevez (19) and Fernando Llorente (16), along with Chilean international midfielder Arturo Vidal (11). There were minor hiccups along the way, away defeats to Fiorentina and Napoli being amongst the notable ones but ultimately, it was another convincing league display from the Italian giants. Given their devastating league form, Juventus’ Coppa Italia performance was quite a disappointment. They strolled past Avellino in the round of 16 but once again were knocked out in Rome, this time by Roma. Gervinho settled the contest with a well-taken goal in a tightly contested match. Juventus faced Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana at the start of the season. They lifted their first silverware of the season with a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing which was a sign of things to come for their rivals in Italy.This was their sixth triumph equalling AC Milan’s record. Things were a lot different in Europe, though. For the second season in a row Juventus got off to an unconvincing start. They failed to register a win in their first four games, wasting numerous chances in front of goal and making some criminal mistakes which cost them dearly. Needing only one point in their last game at Turkey, Juventus were shown the door by former Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder who grabbed the winner in the 87th minute. Even though the pitch in which the game was played was not suitable for a match of that magnitude yet Juventus have only themselves to blame for not getting the points on board in what was a pretty straightforward group. Interestingly, Juventus recorded the second highest number of shots on goal in the group stages of the Champions League this season. Juventus were demoted to the Europa league and it might have been a consolation for some of the fans had they won a continental trophy after a gap of almost 15 years. They started the campaign by professionally seeing off Turkish club Trabzonspor before narrowly edging out Fiorentina in a closely fought encounter in Florence. Juventus reached the semifinals thanks to an unconvincing victory over a very young Lyon side. But they could not proceed further as they agonizingly lost 2-1 to Benfica over the two legs. Juventus failed to break down a resolute Benfica defence in the second leg and lost the opportunity to play the final in their own backyard. The Coach: Antonio Conte Recall the time Juventus were in when Antonio Conte was appointed. They endured back-to-back seventh-place finishes. The objective set to him by the club in Year One was to get Juventus back into the Champions League, in the second year it was to challenge for the Scudetto and in the third year to win the title. A hattrick of titles in these three years was beyond the imagination of any Juve fan. Yet he achieved the unthinkable which has led him to question himself - Can this team do any better? A shrewd tactician who has transpired his grit amongst his players, Conte has the maximum respect from his troops. Although criticized sometimes for his lack of turnovers in league games, the contract renewal of Juventus manager is the absolute priority this summer for the Juventus board as they look to build on their successful domestic campaigns to mount a challenge in Europe. His celebrations after goals show passion and a deep involvement with his comrades. Players often run across the field to greet Conte after a goal. Conte, an inspirational figure on the pitch during his playing days, never accepts defeat and he has instilled the same spirit in his players. Finally the strikers come good Arriving amidst the customary skepticism usually associated with a free signing, Llorente went through a period of extreme difficulty, as the heavy workloads seemed to take a toll on him both physically and mentally. Just when it seemed that he would join the flops like Amauri and Boriello, El Rey Leon turned the corner. With the confidence of his coach and teammates Llorente stepped up to the plate and his injury time winner against Udinese was a decisive moment in his first season in Italy. He was a reference point for the team and his 18 goals this season marked an excellent debut campaign for the Spaniard. A prima punta which was missing since the departure of David Trezeguet, Fernando Llorente is not ‘only beautiful’ but pretty effective in front of goal as well. Grit, determination, leadership and sacrifice for the team – Carlos Tevez did it all for Juventus. A model professional who faced numerous questions for inheriting the iconic number 10 jersey, Tevez looked like a seasoned customer in his first season in the peninsula. And to think that he had arrived with the reputation of the bad boy, Tevez did not get involved in any sort of controversies and missed only four games this entire season. Twenty goals and eight assists plus the relentless chasing down of opponents, coming back to help out his defence and fighting for each and every ball, Tevez was a buzzing influence in every game he was involved in. His teammates were full of praise for his attitude on the pitch and Carlitos himself has recently declared Juventus as his ‘new home’. Voted the MVP of this season by the Bianconeri fans, Tevez will look to enjoy his summer holidays before continuing his journey with the Old lady. Pablo Osvaldo joined on a free loan from Southampton and began well by scoring two goals in his first two starts. Unlucky not to add any more thanks to some dubious offside calls, Osvaldo would score the winner against his former club Roma in the Stadio Olimpico. Time will tell whether his stay would be made permanent though Osvaldo did not impress that much during his six month stay. Record breaking campaign ◾ Juventus have won 33 games this season – a new record in Serie A. ◾ The Bianconeri have won all 19 home games this season – 57 points from home games beating Milan’s 55 points in 2005-06 ◾ 14 away wins this season equalling their own previous record set in 1940. ◾ Juventus have beaten every opponent at least once this season- never happened before in Serie A. ◾ Juventus have scored in every single match this season except the 2-0 loss at Naples – first time ever in Serie A. ◾ 12 wins in a row from 9th round to the 20th, Juve’s previous best was 10 during 1931-32. ◾ Scoring 88 goals in 43 consecutive games- a new record in Serie A. ◾ Juventus kept 22 clean sheets this year. A seasonal record over the top five European leagues. ◾ Juventus have 102 points this season; surpassed the previous one (97 points) set by Roberto Mancini’s Inter in 2006/07. Highest number of points in a major European league. Some individual accolades ◾ Win against Atalanta was the 100th victory for coach Antonio Conte (in all competitions). ◾ Antonio Conte has equalled Mourinho’s record of 83 wins in three years. ◾ Carlos Tévez and Fernando Llorente , along with Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci , are the pairs of the most prolific attack of this Serie A (35 goals). ◾ Tévez has won the championship in all nations in which he played: Argentina, Brazil, England and Italy. ◾ Gianluigi Buffon did not concede a goal for 745 minutes between October and December 2013: sixth longest streak by a goalie in the history of Serie A.He made 86 saves in 33 games this season. ◾ Fernando Llorente has the highest number of headed goals this season in Europe’s top five leagues (7). ◾ Fernando Llorente is the highest scoring Spanish player ever in Serie A. ◾ Andrea Pirlo has won the league title in the last four seasons : one with AC Milan and three with Juventus. ◾ This season, Pirlo scored six goals: all direct free kick . ◾ Arturo Vidal is the highest scoring midfielder in Serie A having scored 18 in league and cups. ◾ Stephan Lichtsteiner had eight assists this season- highest for a defender. Best Player –Carlos Tevez Despite having won successive Scudetti going into this season, Juventus no doubt possessed a weakness in attacking department. Alessandro Matri was the top-scorer with just 10 goals in 2011-12, while Mirko Vucinic topped the charts with only 13 last season.This all changed with the arrival of Carlos Tevez from Manchester City at a bargain price of just €9 million. Domestically, the Argentine has been absolutely unstoppable – forming a productive partership with fellow new arrival Fernando Llorente.Nineteen Serie A goals tell only half the story for a player who has found the net, assisted, run, relentlessly pressed and fought for every ball from the first whistle to the last. He has fitted seamlessly in Conte’s system – his spectacular long range strike versus AC Milan at San Siro perhaps his highlight of highlights.The only black mark against Tevez was his failure to break his five-year European scoring drought until the semi-final Europa League game against Benfica. But that should not disguise what a brilliant campaign the 30-year-old has had. Best Goal –Paul Pogba (Juventus 3-0 Napoli) A goal of unbelievable quality from the Frenchman as he planted an unstoppable volley past the hapless Pepe Reina. The first touch was a bit shaky to say the least but the aplomb with which the dropping ball was smashed into the net was simply a sight to behold. Defining moment – Pirlo stunner against Genoa Under the cosh for most of the match and seemingly hanging on for a solitary point, Juventus would have counted themselves lucky to get a point out of their game against Genoa but Andrea Pirlo had other thoughts on his mind. He stepped up to take a freekick from 30 yards out of Mattia Perin’s goal with just seconds remaining at the Luigi Ferraris. A superb hit into the top right corner of the Genoa goal sparked wild touchline celebrations which showed how vital those three points were. This was a pivotal moment in the league which was ultimately decisive in favor of Juventus. Top Five Best Individual Performances ◾ Fernando Llorente (Juventus 2-0 Livorno) ◾ Carlos Tevez (Juventus 4-0 Sassuolo) ◾ Arturo Vidal (Juventus 4-1 Lazio) ◾ Gianluigi Buffon (Genoa 0-1 Juventus) ◾ Paul Pogba (Juventus 1-0 Bologna) Top Three Team Performances ◾ Juventus 3-1 Inter ◾ Milan 0-2 Juventus ◾ Lazio 1-1 Juventus Flop of the season : Angelo Ogbonna Much was expected from the ex-Torino captain after his big money move in the summer. But so far Ogbonna has failed to live up to the high expectations from him. Comfortable on the ball and very confident while moving forward, Ogbonna lacks the game reading skills and subsequently has been caught out on a number of occasions most notably against Lazio when he lost sight of Klose behind him which led to the dismissal of Buffon in goal. Ogbonna has to step up his game next season to justify his price-tag. He was a squad player and he rarely impressed in the 16 games he appeared in. But it must be kept in mind that Leonardo Bonucci had a similar first season at Juventus. Ogbonna has plenty to improve but it would be a mistake to discard him this early. Catastrophic moment of the season With just three minutes left on the clock, a flick on from Didier Drogba set through Wesley Sneijder who expertly placed the ball in the back of the net with the help of the inside post. A heartbreaking moment for the Juve fans which no doubt has slightly overshadowed the record breaking campaign of the Bianconeri. Keeping aside the debates regarding European experience and budgets, this Juventus team is capable of doing much better and surely this early exit at the hands of a team who only finished second in the Turkish league was a very bitter pill to swallow. Most Disappointing Performance of the season (Napoli 2-0 Juventus) Absolutely toothless display from Conte’s men who lacked ideas and were second best in every area of the pitch. Only the heroics of Gigi Buffon gave the scoreline a respectable look. It was definitely a night to forget for the champions. Youth Report Extremely positive season for a number of co-owned players of Juventus who most likely will be a part of the main team within the next couple of years. Ciro Immobile (Torino): 22 goals, 3 assists, Capocannoniere – Phenomenal. Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo): 16 goals, 6 assits – Star in the making. Manolo Gabbiadini (Sampdoria): 8 goals, 4 assists, tactically sound – Impressive. Honorable mentions : Richmond Boakye (Elche), Nicola Leali (Spezia), Simone Zaza (Sassuolo), Daniele Rugani (Empoli) and Fausto Rossi (Real Valladolid). Lessons for next season The disappointment of missing out on a continental silverware took the sheen off an extraordinary domestic campaign and while Juventus will lament their elimination at the hands of Benfica and Galatasaray, the thought that 2013-14 has been anything other than a success for the Bianconeri is pretty disrespectful. Juventus lifted the Scudetto for a third consecutive time, an achievement they have only managed once in their history way back in the 1930s which meant Antonio Conte has done something which neither Giovanni Trapattoni nor Marcello Lippi managed during their trophy-laden years with the club. Supporters and observers demand and expect La Madama to contest the latter stages of the Champions League, but it must be kept in mind that this is Conte’s third year in the job. And also it is only the second campaign of his career where he has needed to balance domestic and continental obligations.Doubts remain over his choice of formation, with the 3-5-2 criticized as unsuited to challenge in Europe. Juventus will enter next season with similar insight into what is required of them at the highest level, and they will be expected to contest much longer in the Champions League. This year’s group-stage exit was hugely disappointing. To do so they may yet need one more attacking option such as Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez who can make the difference in the final third against a team as resolute as Benfica were in Turin. Manchester United’s Nani has also been linked with the club while their co-ownership in Sassuolo starlet Domenico Berardi hints that the club management are looking at this type of a player. Delivering one (or even two) of those should be Beppe Marotta’s main priority this summer. They will also benefit from having their star forward Carlos Tevez enjoying a summer off. Strike partner Fernando Llorente struggled in the early part of the season but he has flourished since, adding 18 goals of his own and forming an excellent tandem with Tevez, which bodes well for next season. Their performance in Europe may have been extremely disappointing this season, but the experience, combined with having Tevez and Llorente together and another attacking option to come, should make 2014-15 an even better year for Juventus. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Monaco enquire on Juventus defender May 26, 2014 Juventus centre back Leonardo Bonucci has emerged as a summer transfer target for French club AS Monaco and it appears the Monegasques could make the Italian international one of their top targets of the upcoming transfer window. Reports emerged in La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport suggesting the Ligue 1 side, who finished second last season, could contact reigning Italian champions Juventus in an attempt to seal a deal for Bonucci. It is unclear whether the Bianconeri would be willing to let Bonucci go however, and they are yet to respond to Monaco’s alleged interest. If he were to depart, the Italian defender would compete with veterans Ricardo Carvalho and Eric Abidal for a first team place. Bonucci is currently with the Italian national side preparing for the upcoming World Cup where he is expected to feature for Cesare Prandelli’s side alongside Juventus teammates Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini. Bonucci has made 119 appearances for the Bianconeri since joining from Bari in 2010 for €15.5 million and has scored on six occasions.

Asamoah: I'm happy at Juve May 26, 2014 Kwadwo Asamoah has reiterated his desire to stay at Juventus, despite rumours of interest from Arsenal. The Premier League side are said to be keen on signing the Ghana international this summer. But the wide man has insisted that he wants to stay with the Bianconeri until the end of his career. “Arsenal? I have only recently signed an extension with Juve and that’s all that counts,” he told football441. “My wish is to finish my career here. Everything else is just a rumour. “I’m proud to wear the shirt, as I always have been. “My objectives? Right now I am thinking about the World Cup, but after that I want to do well in Italy and in Europe next season.”

Pirlo & Storari to sign extensions May 26, 2014 Andrea Pirlo will sign an extension with Juventus after Italy’s friendly against Luxembourg, it has been revealed. Tuttosport believe that the midfielder will take a private jet to Turin after the game on June 4 to pen a two-year extension with the Bianconeri. All the details are thought to have been agreed, with the Azzurri international set to earn €4.5m per season. The 35-year-old will then return to the rest of the squad, before they travel to Brazil for the World Cup. The paper also claims that Marco Storari will also pen a new one-year deal with Antonio Conte’s men.

Llorente 'adapting well' to Italy May 26, 2014 Fernando Llorente believes he has adapted to life in Italy very well, but admits that he can improve ‘every aspect’ of his game. The Spanish striker enjoyed a superb first season in Serie A with Juventus, netting 16 goals in 34 appearances following his arrival from Athletic Bilbao. “I think, for my first year in Italy, it was a good one,” he told AS. “As a group we achieved something spectacular in winning the League with over 100 points. “On a personal note though, I want to improve everything. The changes haven’t been easy, but I’m convinced I can still grow as a player and adapt fully to the club and Italian football. “Tuin is very nice, you can walk around very easily. I’ve adapted to Italian life very quickly. I don’t regret any decisions that I’ve made.”

Pogba eyeing World Cup glory with France The Juventus midfielder believes he has made great strides as a player this season and wants to prove that on the biggest stage of all next month. May 25, 2014 Paul Pogba says he is targeting winning the World Cup with France this summer and cannot wait for the competition to get started. The 21-year-old Juventus midfielder tasted victory with Les Bleus at the Under-20 World Cup in 2013 and was named as Player of the Tournament in Turkey. Pogba is now eager to replicate that experience with the senior side in Brazil and is enthusiastic at the prospect of testing himself against the world's best players. "For me it is a dream to play the World Cup," he told Telefoot. "Hopefully we will go all the way and win the competition. I played in a World Cup last summer so I'm a little used to what it is like. "It is a long time away so I am going to have to do little tricks off the pitch to keep up morale, playing things like Playstation and table football. "Ever since I was a kid I have been thinking of playing at the World Cup – I am super excited." The former Manchester United midfielder has been linked with a big-money move away from the Serie A champions this summer, but believes his experiences with Juve in 2013-14 have improved him as a player. Pogba continued: "I have made great progress this year. I played in a lot of games, which is something that I was not used to. "I have gained a lot of experience and I am happy with myself." France, who last won the World Cup in 1998, are up against Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in Group E next month.

Ghana ace Kwadwo Asamoah wants to end career at Juventus Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah wants to end his career at Italian champions Juventus. May 25, 2014 The 25-year-old has been an important piece to the side since he joined two years ago, helping them to win the Scudetto back-to-back. The former Udinese man has been linked with a number of stellar clubs in Europe with English and Arsenal believed to be among the serious contenders. But the Ghanaian international does not see himself leaving the Italian giants. “I have signed a new contract with Juventus and that is what delights me,” he said “I don’t see myself playing for any club, am into this club so well to the extent that if I end my career at Juventus I will be ok. “How many players get the opportunity to be with Juventus and play week and week out, that is how this club is. A lot of legends have played for Juventus and I love it here. “The future looks bright for me at Juventus and we are hoping that after the world cup things will go on well for us both in Italy and in Europe. “We have not performed well in Europe but if we are able to forget what happened last season and move on, things will be ok for us.”

Pogba: I've progressed as a player May 25, 2014 Paul Pogba hopes that the progress he has made at Juventus this season will stand him in good stead at the World Cup. The young midfielder has become one of the lynchpins of the Bianconeri XI this term, and is confident that his club form can translate on to the international stage this summer. “I have made great progress as a player this season,” he told Telefoot. “I’m not used to playing so many games, but I think that experience will help me as a player. “I’ve been excited by the World Cup ever since I was a kid. It’s been my dream to play at one ever since I can remember.”

Spain: Reina & Albiol in, Llorente out May 25, 2014 Pepe Reina and Raul Albiol have been included in Spain’s 18-man squad for their friendly with Bolivia. Coach Vicente del Bosque has announced the list that will take part in the match next Friday at Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. And the Napoli duo are amongst the players who will play on May 30. There is however, no place for Juventus’ Fernando Llorente or those who took part in the Champions League final. Goalkeepers: Pepe Reina (Napoli), David De Gea (Man Utd) Defenders: Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Alberto Moreno (Sevilla) Midfielders: Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Pedro, Cesc Fabregas (Barcelona), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Ander Iturraspe (Athletic), Juan Mata (Man Utd), David Silva (Man City) [Gerard Deulofeo, Barcelona] Forwards: Fernando Torres (Chelsea)

Mavuba backs Pogba for WC stardom May 24, 2014 Rio Mavuba has claimed that his France international teammate Paul Pogba has the quality to shine at the World Cup. Didier Deschamps’ men have been drawn in Group E for the tournament, alongside Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras. And the Lille midfielder has insisted that the Juventus youngster has everything to set the world alight this summer. “It’s really nice to see Coach Deschamps putting faith in [Paul],” he told Tuttosport. “He’s exploded with Juventus and with France in recent times. “Paul has great potential and is good with dealing with pressure, so I’m sure he’ll be fine at the World Cup. “We’re great friends. I’m always with him – even at the dinner table!”

Chelsea to go for Pogba? May 24, 2014 Chelsea are reportedly considering using their cash windfall from selling David Luiz to make a bid for Juventus’ Paul Pogba. The sale of the Brazilian defender to Paris St Germain for £40m has been agreed, with the player now free to discuss personal terms with the big-spending French outfit. Once the deal has been completed, the Telegraph claim that Jose Mourinho will make Pogba one of his major summer transfer targets. It is said that the French midfielder is one of a three-man shortlist, which also includes Atletico Madrid’s Koke and Tottenham’s Paulinho, that the Portuguese has put together as he seeks to strengthen his midfield for next season.

Lichtsteiner: Juve the priority May 23, 2014 Stephan Lichtsteiner has outlined his ‘priority is Juventus’ with regards to a new contract, as he builds up Paul Pogba’s ability. The 30-year-old’s current contract in Turin expires in June 2015, meaning that talks over a renewal are likely on the agenda in the coming months. Whilst speculation in parts had paired him with moves to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, the defender has made clear where he wants to be. “It will probably be my last big contract,” Lichtsteiner has reflected in today’s edition of Tuttosport. “And my priority is Juventus. What counts is trophies, winning is the most important thing. “I still see myself at a good level for three or four more years, then I can close [my career] in Switzerland and then become a Coach.” Lichtsteiner had a word on teammate Paul Pogba, who has enjoyed a prominent season for the Bianconeri. “His quality is the best I have seen in a young player in my career. And he is incredibly strong technically, physically he is robust and he is fast. “He has a turbo shot. And then he also plays with extreme passion.” The full-back will be at the World Cup this summer with Switzerland. “We have quality this time in our team. And I feel I am a leader on the field. Also, what counts will be the form of the individuals.”

Juventus Sets New Serie A Points Record to Nab 3rd Straight Scudetto May 22, 2014 With a dominant 3-0 win over Cagliari on Sunday, Juventus reached 102 points on the season, setting a new Serie A record, per Sky Sports (via FoxSports.com). The dominant performance was especially notable given that Juventus had already clinched their third straight Scudetto two weeks earlier. Juve won their 32nd title in club history back on May 4 when AS Roma lost 4-1 at Catania. Nevertheless, the Bianconeri finished the season on a high note, winning all three games after capturing the title, including a 1-0 victory over Roma at Stadio Olimpico on May 11. While Juventus had an excellent domestic season, they failed to make it out of the group stage in the UEFA Champions League. Playing in tough Group B, Juventus finished third behind Spanish side Real Madrid and Turkish club Galatasaray. However, their finish did qualify them for the Europa League, where they ultimately made it to the semifinals before losing to Portuguese club Benfica. Making matters worse, the Europa League final was held at Juventus Stadium in Turin. On the plus side, manager Antonio Conte, who was rumored to be leaving the club this summer, will return next season with the goal of winning a fourth consecutive title. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Chiellini: Racism fought in silence May 22, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini has commented on tackling racism in the game and why footballers may say they don’t know any homosexual colleagues. The Juventus defender took part in a Twitter question and answer session today and was notably asked about the continued rhetoric surrounding racism in the game. On from the incident in La Liga recently that saw Dani Alves garner support for picking up a banana thrown at him and eating it, Milan’s Kevin Constant had a banana and knife thrown in his direction by Atalanta, whilst Mario Balotelli was reportedly racially abused by a handful of young men at Coverciano just yesterday. Chiellini was asked, given he has previously celebrated goals by beating his chest ‘like King Kong’, if would he eat a banana to show his support against racism. “I am not one who likes gestures that are too obvious and constructed,” the 29-year-old responded. “Racism is fought in silence and in everyday life.” Chiellini was asked why footballers say they do not know any gay footballers in the game. “Because it is true, no gay player has ever said so…” The centre-back tackled a number of other topics too. “Why are Juventus disliked by so many? Every team that wins is disliked. “Deschamps says Italy are among the favourites for the World Cup? Certainly he knows us well and there is mutual respect, I hope it is a good omen. “What’s life like with a twin? Great, it is a unique experience that I really wish everyone could have.”

Reviewing Fernando Llorente's 2013-14 season May 21, 2014 Much like the way they arrived in Turin, Carlos Tévez and Fernando Llorente began their 2013-14 season in completely different scenarios. Juve's new No. 10 came out full guns blazing, scoring the game-winner against Sampdoria on his official Serie A debut. Llorente, on the other hand, was essentially shaking off the rust of his lack of playing time the season before, having to wait his turn before Antonio Conte felt he was truly ready to play. Many wondered, why, exactly, Conte wasn't going with Mirko Vucinic rather than Llorente alongside Tévez. The Italian press went on a full-court press, thinking of every possible scenario as to why Llorente wasn't playing. Remember those rumors two weeks into the season that Fernando was off to London to sign with Arsenal? Yeah, those were pretty hilarious. Okay, cliche time: Good things come to those who wait. Llorente admitted that it would take time to get up to speed considering everything he had been trough the previous season with Bilbao. And it was no fault of his, of course. There's only so much you can do when you're basically frozen out of a squad for an entire season. But that was Fernando's reality no matter how much work he put in during training. Scoring between 15 and 17 goals in his first season with Juventus wasn't exactly out of the question based on his career accomplishments in Spain. Llorente, pre-Bilbao exit, was one of the better prima puntas La Liga had to offer. And when you consider the squad he was joining, it's not like there was going to be a lack of scoring opportunities to take advantage of. The end result in Llorente's first season in Turin? Glad you asked... Sixteen goals on 63 shots on goal? I'd say that's a pretty good ratio. Llorente started 29 league games, played 2,502 minutes total in his 34 Serie A appearances. So basically, he scored a goal every other game — which is something that I'd take pretty much every day of the week. And then when you consider the season he was coming off of, one where he seemingly strapped to the Bilbao bench, it's even that much more impressive. Even with the outside factors, Llorente's first season with Juventus has to be considered pretty good ... right? I remember sitting down to write the preseason Llorente post and basically having three possible outcomes of how things might go pop into my head. 1. Llorente will light Serie A on fire and score goals like they're basically going out of style. 2. Llorente will be good, but not great, scoring a decent amount goals - some of which being decisive. 3. Llorente will be completely meh, sprinkling in sporadic quality performances around a bunch of so-so outings. I guess in that scenario listing there should have been a fourth option, something between No. 1 and No. 2. Llorente didn't light Serie A on fire and score goals like a mad man. But Llorente wasn't "good, but not great," either. Llorente was great at times — that's a definite way to describe Llorente in the middle part of the season as he scored goals in both Serie A and the Champions League. There were other times when Llorente was so-so and really didn't have huge impacts on games. The final verdict was something that is undoubtedly really good. And compared to what Juve were getting from their lead strikers in previous season, I makes Llorente's season look that much better. The biggest thing for Llorente going forward is that now he gets to have a "normal" summer — even if he ends up going to Brazil with the Spanish national team. There won't be the extra incentive to knock the rust. He will be in the same boat as everybody else whenever he starts preseason training. "E' SOLO BELLO?" huh, Tuttosport? I think Fernando Llorente is having the last laugh. And he should be.

Season Review: Juventus May 21, 2014 Domestically, this has been Juventus' best ever season. Breaking records, Juve amassed more points than any other team have managed in Europe's top five leagues. Undefeated at home, they scored 80 goals overall and conceded only 23. As far as Serie A goes, the Old Lady was imperious. In Europe, the Bianconeri harbour regrets. Their Champions League exit was humiliating for a side that, at the very least, had the means to qualify out of their group, but their lethargy at the start of the season impeded their progression. When it came to the Europa League, mental and physical exhaustion took its toll on a side that relies on intensity to secure wins. Yet they cannot complain since domestic success was the priority. Star Pupil: Carlos Tevez Statistically, one must acknowledge the impact Carlos Tevez has had on the side, even if Arturo Vidal is the man who makes Juventus tick. The Argentine's hard work off the ball coupled with his technique has allowed the side to be more efficient. Wearing the number 10 shirt, Tevez coped with the pressure and immediately understood the soldier mentality at the club. He fought for the wins, developed his understanding with Fernando Llorente and improved the overall quality of the side's play in the final third. Top scorer with 19 goals and seven assists, he is ambitious, creative and lethal and now the proud winner of Juve's "Player of the year" award. Detention: Angelo Ogbonna Unlike most teams, it's incredibly difficult to pick "the worst" player at Juventus simply because they all contributed to this unprecedented success. However, as a new arrival that cost the club a large sum of money, Ogbonna has not lived up to expectations. Erroneous, panicked and tense, the composure one requires at the highest level is missing while it seems he is still uncomfortable with the team’s style of play. However, his potential is evident and this is only his first season. With a little continuity and continued belief, Ogbonna will undoubtedly grow into his role and better demonstrate his skills. Teacher's notes: What can we say about a coach who created history with Juventus and can count on the support of all the Bianconeri fans around the world? His ability to motivate and develop players is what makes Antonio Conte a truly remarkable coach and one the club will hope to retain. Effectively rotating a side so that they could cope with the heavy schedule, he has created a team that play entertaining and attacking football, yet they are defensively strong to secure results. While he has faltered in Europe despite the talent in the team, demanding better men to challenge effectively, one cannot reasonably claim the tactician is not the best Italy has seen in a long time. Final Grade: A Only the Champions League exit prevents this year's from one that deserves an A+. A record-breaking season domestically, from next year the focus will be on performing better in Europe to progress both on a sporting level as well as to develop the brand worldwide. While the team is capable of more than they actually managed, the squad must be bolstered to allow for various tactics. Greater mobility at the back as well as better quality in the wide areas is important to raise the level of play while an intelligent forward would be icing on the cake -- someone capable of making the right runs or of pushing opposing defences back to create room for midfield insertions. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS Serie A Pts..P.. W.. D. L. F.. A 1st ... 102. 38. 33. 3. 2. 80. 23 Coppa Italia: Quarter-finals / Team rating: 10 / Top scorer: Tevez (19) Europe: Champions League group stage, Europa League semi-finals The history makers Antonio Conte’s Juventus did what no-one at the club had managed to do in 80 years and win three consecutive Scudetti. Luca Cetta recaps another successful season for the Bianconeri. May 21, 2014 A third Scudetto, won in record-breaking fashion, has etched Antonio Conte’s warriors into Juventus folklore. It proved a devastating Bianconeri side, one which swept away all challengers placed before them. The Old Lady defeated each one of its Serie A rivals, most both home and away. They were irresistible in front of the vocal Juventus Stadium support, winning every game – a League record. Conte spoke at length in pre-season about the possibility of doing what no other Juventus side had done since the 1930s and win three Championships in a row. To continue the progression in Europe was also important, but the Coach’s primary focus was domestic. While Conte talked of creating history, questions were asked about whether Juve would be motivated for another long haul. With a number of challengers – Napoli welcomed a number of new faces, Fiorentina strengthened and there were rebuilds at Inter and Roma – how would the Bianconeri fare? Gianluigi Buffon warned of the task ahead: “It won’t be easy to reclaim our title. In fact, this year will be even harder than the previous two.” Their work in the transfer window went some way to alleviating those questions. They finally secured the ‘top player’ in attack when Carlos Tevez joined from Manchester City. Tevez showed he was up to the challenge ahead, taking the No 10 shirt left vacant by Alessandro Del Piero. “In truth I feel absolutely no pressure. I don’t think about the shirt number at all,” he quipped. Giuseppe Marotta completed another shrewd piece of business in acquiring Fernando Llorente on a free transfer. “Our most important objective is to win a third consecutive title,” the new signing said. Angelo Ogbonna crossed the Turin divide to strengthen the defence. Making way were Alessandro Matri to Milan and Emanuele Giaccherini to Sunderland. Juve started ominously, crushing Lazio in the Super Cup. An amazing six-minute spell in the second half had the Bianconeri four goals to the good by the hour mark and primed for the challenge ahead. Tevez was on target in Rome and followed it up with a debut League goal, netting the winner against Sampdoria. Lazio were lambs led to the slaughter again, this time in Turin, a 4-1 result and Again the Argentine scored. Juve’s winning start was halted by Inter, but they remained unbeaten until the Week 8 visit to Florence. Along the way were wins against Verona, Chievo, Torino and Milan. Not always convincing, but a near perfect start. However, it wasn’t enough to occupy top spot. In the early stages Juve had to contend with a record-setting Roma and the new-look Partenopei. Further questions were asked following an astonishing afternoon on the banks of the River Arno. Juventus had not lost in Florence since 1998 and looked set to continue that run when Tevez and Paul Pogba scored. They may even have forged further ahead, but an amazing 15 minute spell washed away 15 years of purple pain. Giuseppe Rossi’s hat-trick and Joaquin’s goal inflicted a first defeat on the Champions. Juventus recovered domestically, enjoying a long winning run, but attention turned to the faltering Champions League campaign. A stuttering start could not be recovered and amid a snowstorm and two-day affair with Galatasaray, Juve were eliminated. That was a failure, but the Bianconeri roared on in Serie A. From Fiorentina to the winter break Conte’s men won all nine matches, conceding just once. This included victory over Napoli, as Llorente started to get in on the scoring act. That set up a New Year showdown with Rudi Garcia’s Roma. The previously unbeaten Giallorossi were brushed aside with an emphatic 3-0 result. If unbeaten Roma could not stand up to Juve, who would? Yet Conte wasn’t taking anything for granted. “I am only ever moderately satisfied until we achieve our targets, so this remains a stepping stone, but nothing definitive. There’s an entire second half of the season to go and we must do well.” The Bianconeri showed their human side with draws at Lazio and Verona, but then returned to winning ways. Tevez sealed another Derby della Mole triumph, while he and Llorente were on target at gallant Milan. “These are three very important points, but we’ve got to be very careful,” Buffon noted, with Roma still within touching distance. A series of slender triumphs followed, as Juventus mixed domestic duty with Europa League progress. Single-goal wins against Fiorentina, Genoa and Catania were matched by Juve’s passage to the last eight. These games were won through moments of individual brilliance, such as Andrea Pirlo’s sumptuous free-kick at Genoa. It led Conte to declare Juventus ‘50 per cent Champions of Italy’. Their 22-game unbeaten run eventually came to an end against Napoli. The Stadio San Paolo continues to haunt Juve, now without a win there in 14 years. As they marched to the last four of the Europa League –only to be denied a home final by Benfica – wins against Livorno, Udinese, Bologna and Sassuolo put Juve within reach of that historic achievement they craved. “I believe that a fundamental shift was the victory at Genoa with the last minute goal from Pirlo,” Giorgio Chiellini commented, “and then perhaps that win in Udine, because it was one of the last occasions in which Roma could have hoped we would drop points.” In the end, they won it while watching on television. As Roma faltered in Catania, out came the champagne bottles in their Turin hotel. Juventus were crowned Champions even before taking the field against Atalanta. They finished the season with victories over the Bergamaschi, Roma and Cagliari. Juve’s final tally of 102 points set a new record, breaking Inter’s 97-point mark from 2006-07. They also won 33 games this term, another record. It left Conte to honour his players: “These lads tore up records upon records and people will talk about this Juventus side for a long time to come.” An incredible Juve, one which proved their domestic supremacy. As Andrea Barzagli summed up: “The first Scudetto? Surprising. Second? Confirmation. Third? Devastating.” The Coach - Antonio Conte Antonio Conte stressed in pre-season his main aim was to create Juventus history. He wanted to match Carlo Carcano and the 1930s golden era and did just that. The former Bianconeri captain oversaw a dominant outfit and will look to lead them to greater heights next season and beyond. Player of the Year - Carlos Tevez The Argentine joined from Manchester City and was immediately hailed as the ‘top player’ Juventus had craved. He assumed responsibility of the No 10 shirt and lived up to the tradition of past greats with a fine season. Tevez has become a fan favourite thanks to his committed performances and goals. Did you know? - Juventus became the first team in Serie A history to win all home matches, completing a 19 from 19 Juventus Stadium clean sweep. - With 102 points, Juventus not only broke the Serie A record for most points in a season, but also joined Real Madrid, Barcelona and Celtic in claiming more than 100 points in a term from major European leagues. - Juve’s 12-game winning run from October through to January set a new club record for most consecutive victories. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS Juventus’ season in Review – Domination and Despair May 21, 2014 It’s been a long and wild season for Juventus. In Serie A, they dominated amidst a record breaking Scudetto winning season. This is despite Roma having one of the best seasons in their club history. Meanwhile in Europe things were less easy. Juve fell out of the Champions League group stage, and then made it to the Europa League semi-final where they fell just short of beating Benfica. The end of the season was then clouded by speculation over whether or not Antonio Conte would stay with Juventus. Spoiler alert: he did. Just as I wrote he would last week. This season also saw some interesting changes in the strengths and weaknesses – relatively – of the side. The arrivals of Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez gave Juve two very talented strikers, and the goals flowed – at least in Serie A. The changes in Juve’s build up play were subtle, but this was the best Juve attack we have seen in years. Though we also saw the declines of Fabio Quagliarella and – to a lesser extent – Sebastian Giovinco and Mirko Vucinic as important parts of Juve’s attack. Finally, we also saw a reduced need for the midfielders to score goals, as Tevez and Llorente were scoring them by the dozen. Speak of the midfield, the dynamic there shifted as well. Arturo Vidal, in my opinion one of the best players in the world, had a poor season by his standards. He wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t brilliant every match as we’ve come to expect. However, Paul Pogba continued his rise – in fact he led the team in appearances. It was due to Pogba that Juve were able to seamlessly move forward despite Vidal’s dip in form, though of course much credit is due to Claudio Marchisio and Andrea Pirlo. Pirlo, though not the end all be all of the Juventus attack like he was two years ago, had yet another great season with Juve, and his free kicks bailed Juventus out in numerous situations. Then there is the defense, which is supposed to be Juve’s biggest strength. The defense did not start the season off very well, but they regained form – in Serie A – and managed to only get better in the league as the season went on. In fact, even when Andrea Barzagli was injured late in the season, Martin Caceres filled in and Juve kept a run of clean sheets. While that was a highlight – and Martin Caceres named himself as Barzagli’s eventual replacement – I can’t ignore Juve’s defensive woes in Europe. Time and time again, they fell victim to a late goal after taking the lead, or a silly defensive error led to a goal that should not have been. Say what you will about formation and Antonio Conte’s ability as a manager, but the defensive woes in Europe have been under-looked compared to other aspects of the team’s play. However, the starting wingbacks had another stellar season, and Kwadwo Asamoah truly excelled down the stretch. Speaking of which… Player of the Season It’s a tie – between Kwadwo Asamoah and Carlos Tevez. Tevez was a revelation, not only did he score but he worked hard all over the field, hassling opponents and closing them down. He even broke his European scoring drought, even if it took until almost the very end. His form in Serie A was sensational, it was a nice upgrade from having a rotating cast of strikers who sometimes scored. I honestly do not know how Juve were able to win two Scudetti without a striker on the level of Tevez or Llorente. Tevez decided so many matches for Juve, and even if he didn’t score he was always contributing to the side’s total effort with his defensive work and help in the build up play. Then we have Asamoah. He had been a fine wing back his first season with Juve, but just that. He started off slowly, playing well but not amazingly, until exploding in 2014. He had a fantastic run in the first three months of 2014, and he hasn’t looked back since. I had thought that perhaps Juve would need an upgrade in the left back or left wing back department, but Asamoah’s growth has proven me very wrong. Goal of the Season Many options for this one. Pirlo had a number of free kicks that decided games – including the one versus Genoa – and Tevez and Llorente both scored their fair share of game winning late goals. However, I’m going with flair for this one. When Juve played Napoli in November, they scored early via Llorente. They stayed in control, and Pirlo added a second goal later on. It was a standard Juve beat down of a Serie A side, until THAT Pogba goal. Pogba received a pass, flubbed the first touch – thus launching the ball in the air – and then volleyed the ball in for a fantastic goal. It was some beautifully fast thinking by Pogba, and it showed what he is capable of at any moment. Best and Worst Signings This is a tough decision. On the one hand, Tevez was huge for Juve this year. On the other, Dani Osvaldo was quite the bargain! Just kidding, Tevez is my choice for best signing. Fernando Llorente deserves a shout, but more so for the fact that he was signed on a free. Tevez only cost 12 million euros – compare that to the price Milan paid for Alessandro Matri – and he has re-invented both himself and Juve’s attack. I will stress that this is mostly due to the money spent – but – Angelo Ogbonna. He could very well develop into a strong centerback, but he had an inconsistent first year at Juve and the club spent 13 million euros on him. Time will tell for this signing, but in the meantime it has to be Juve’s worst this season. That’s all for this year folks, until September. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

‘Italy will cause headaches’ May 20, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon admits that Italy may not be outright favourites to win the World Cup, but sees them capable of causing a few headaches. The Azzurri today begin training in preparation for the summer tournament, which their captain and 139-cap veteran believes they can carry optimism into, even if tempered with a bit of reality. “This is an Italy that certainly will not start on the front row, but perhaps in the second row, yes,” Buffon has explained this week to Sky Sport Italia. “In the second to third group we are there, because we have deserved it, because at the last two international competitions we have been at we have two medals - a silver at the European Championships and a bronze at the Confederation Cup. “It signifies something good and that we are on a rising path. And we hope that we can reach the climax of this journey at the World Cup. “We know that to win another World Cup, you have to eliminate other national sides like Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany, and for this it is very complicated. “With this I say that, if we were to progress and then one day we have to meet one of them, I am convinced that they too will have their headaches and will not be happy to meet us. “In short, we shall see…” Buffon, who also considered Antonio Conte’s influence at Juventus, reflected on his season at club level and from a personal viewpoint. “I think that from October, so after Florence, it has been a great season, full of satisfaction for the team, but also personally, because I think I have been at a consistent performance level. “In all this I think I have some of the credit, because in the end I am 36 and after a start in which I could have been criticised, I wanted to sweep away all doubt in the best way, the most suitable way. “That is, once again demonstrating, if there was any need, my worth and what I can do.”

VIDEO: Party animal Pirlo! May 20, 2014 Andrea Pirlo, the Juventus and Italy man who never loses his cool, calm, collected demeanour. Unless he’s partying on an open-top bus!