Socrates

Allegri set for Juve job Jul 15, 2014 According to Sky Sport Italia, Juventus are in negotiations with Massimiliano Allegri to replace Antonio Conte. Allegri had already been named as one of the candidates for the Bianconeri job along with Roberto Mancini, Luciano Spalletti and Zinedine Zidane. This evening Sky Sport Italia claim Juve are in talks with Allegri and he could even be at the Vinovo training ground on Wednesday morning. Conte left the club this evening, terminating his contract by mutual consent and is widely expected to become Italy Coach. Allegri was fired by Milan in January after the worst first half to their Serie A season in decades.

Buffon: 'Conte bolt from the blue' Jul 15, 2014 Juventus captain Gigi Buffon admits Antonio Conte quitting two days into pre-season training is “a bolt from the blue.” The announcement was made this evening with Conte recording a video message on the club’s official website, even though pre-season training only began yesterday. “It was an unexpected decision, a bolt from the blue,” said Buffon at a Press conference that had already been organised for the club he owns shares in – Carrarese. “Seeing the words used and the tone of the messages, we can see both the Coach and club reached this decision by mutual consent without any type of anger. “Probably it is something that matured over time and had been brewing for a while until it reached its epilogue today. “The reason? I don’t know, as I haven’t spoken to him, though I will do as soon as possible. When you reach decisions like this, the only reason can be you no longer want to continue this type of work.” Conte had a contract until June 30 2015, but renewal talks faltered and the sudden decision to terminate by mutual consent occurred very quickly, considering pre-season training only began on Monday. “Maybe something happened over the last few days that destabilised the situation,” mused Buffon. “Juventus lose a great deal, because it’s pointless denying what our Coach truly brings to the team and how much of the credit he deserves for the last three years. “It is true that over these years we have all matured, so we have a solid club and directors who will be able to cover this serious loss. “We players also need to do everything we can to find that sense of responsibility and prove we can do it too. It is important to send that signal.” Among the candidates to replace Conte are Luciano Spalletti, Massimiliano Allegri and Roberto Mancini. “It is not Year Zero, as over the three years we have all matured, thanks also to the Coach and club. It is exciting. “Am I worried? We don’t know who will arrive, so I look to the present and say we have lost a wonderful Coach, an extra value, but the fundamental players remain and a solid club that will be able to work towards a great Juventus. “These are the certainties the fans should rely on and relax knowing they are there.” Buffon was asked whether Conte would now become the new Italy Coach, replacing Cesare Prandelli after the dismal World Cup. “I am certainly not surprised by your fervid fantasies, in fact I have to smile because you know your jobs. “I think the Coach is not thinking about the future, but in a very calm and relaxed manner is discussing his irrevocable decision. “Will he reconsider? I really doubt it, as when official statements with video messages are released, that’s pretty much it.”

'Conte's departure leaves me enormously sad' - Agnelli The Juventus president wrote an open letter to the departing coach, praising him for his work over the last three years but insists the club will continue to improve. Jul 15, 2014 Andrea Agnelli has written an open letter to Antonio Conte, saying his departure leaves the Juventus president "enormously sad". The club confirmed on Tuesday that the 44-year-old has departed the club after handing in his resignation, bringing an end to a successful stint in which the Italian giants won three consecutive Serie A titles. And Agnelli praised the coach for his service and returning silverware to the club in each of his three years in charge. "Dear Antonio, you were a great leader for our players and this news leaves me enormously sad," wrote Agnelli wrote on the Juventus website. "I think of the three years we spent together, three years that brought us to write history with this club: three consecutive Scudetti, two Italian Super Cups, but above all exponential growth." The 38-year-old reassured fans that the club will continue to improve instead of regress without Conte. "Only two months have passed since the last great victory and Juventus must continue their journey. "This club is gifted today with a young, ready and cohesive group of directors who over the years have been able to find the ambition and determination to achieve any target. "Juventus begin again from a very talented and professional group of athletes, who will be at the disposal of the new coach in order to continue writing the present and the future."

Llorente: I want to be at Juventus for as long as possible The Spanish striker hopes to stay with the club for many years and is looking to improve on his impressive goalscoring record next season. Jul 15, 2014 Fernando Llorente says he would love to play for Juventus for "as long as possible". The Spanish striker enjoyed a bright first season at the Italian giants as they secured a third consecutive Serie A title ahead of Roma. And Llorente insists he is hoping to improve on his goalscoring rate of 16 goals in 34 appearances and says he would love to stay at the club for many years. "For me, staying at this great club is something incredible. I am very happy to be here and I hope I can have another great season," he told reporters. "I hope can do even better than last season, I would love to stay as long as possible." Despite signing a one-year contract at the end of the season, coach Antonio Conte's long term future is still in doubt at the Italian giants and Llorente maintains that it will not affect him or the rest of the team. "There have been other times I have played in teams with coaches who only had one year on their contract. "In Italy you are used to coaches having many years on their contract, but many prefer for that not to be the case. There is no difference, in the end the moment could come this season when he renews. "Conte is a great coach and he will give everything for the team as he has always done."

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Lichtsteiner set for Juve deal? Jul 15, 2014 Juventus have reportedly rejected an offer from Paris Saint-Germain for Stephan Lichtsteiner and will commit him to a new contract. Apparent issues in negotiations to extend his current deal beyond its June 2015 expiry had raised the possibility and speculation that the Switzerland international could be sold this summer. However, reports in the defender’s home country indicate that a push from PSG to pick up the 30-year-old has proven unsuccessful. It is understood that Juve and Lichtsteiner are instead closing in on an agreement for a two-year extension.

Llorente: Conte contract no problem Jul 14, 2014 Juventus’ Fernando Llorente says the fact Coach Antonio Conte has only a year left on his contract will have no influence on the Old Lady. The Bianconeri tactician’s future was placed into doubt towards the end of last season, but he eventually agreed to remain in Turin for another year. “There have been other times I have played in teams with Coaches who only had one year on their contract,” Llorente told a Press conference. “In Italy you are used to Coaches having many years on their contract, but many prefer for that not to be the case. There is no difference, in the end the moment could come this season when he renews. “Conte is a great Coach and he will give everything for the team as he has always done.” Llorente also passed comment on Italy’s poor performance at the World Cup and said he was surprised at the Azzurri’s failure to reach the knockout stages. “I am sorry for Italy, because I thought they could have gone on for longer. The match with Uruguay was very even. “Italy had chances to win, but that’s football.”

‘4-3-3? Only if Conte says so’ Jul 14, 2014 Fernando Llorente has not ruled out the possibility of Juventus switching to a 4-3-3 formation this season. The Old Lady deployed a 3-5-2 system last year in another successful defence of their Serie A title. However, at a Press conference today, it was put to the Spanish forward that the teams who have enjoyed success in European competition of late have tended to operate with a 4-3-3. “For me it’s the same, the only thing I want is to play to help the team,” Llorente said. “I will do everything the boss tells me to. “We will play in the way he says. We’ll see how we play best, we still have a lot of work to do in training. We will see in the end. “We need to have the possibility of playing in other ways. We’ll see if the boss believes the 4-3-3 is possible with the players we have and the ones who could arrive. “As I said before, we still have a lot of work to do. We need to see whether we’ll still be a strong team if we change system, if we do it well we will see.”

Llorente explains early return Jul 14, 2014 Fernando Llorente says he began pre-season training before the rest of the Juventus squad because he needs more time to gain fitness. The Bianconeri returned to begin preparations for the new campaign today, with the exception of the Spaniard who started a week ago. Speaking at a Press conference today, the forward admitted he struggled physically in the early part of last year and revealed his decision was based on a desire to avoid a repeat. “It’s true that I have already been training here for a week,” Llorente told journalists. “I think that for me it’s important because I am a player who takes a bit of time to get into shape physically. “Given that at the start of last year I had some problems at the start, I wanted to train a bit earlier. “Hopefully now I will suffer a little less at the start, where we will work a lot. I hope it all goes well.” Llorente then spoke of his desire to remain an Old Lady player for years to come. “For me, staying at this club is something incredible. I am very happy to be here and I hope I can have another great season. “Hopefully I can be even better, because for me staying here for all the years I can is very important.”

Llorente: Serie A the priority Jul 14, 2014 Juventus forward Fernando Llorente says confirming their supremacy in Serie A will remain the Old Lady’s priority this season. The Turin side have won the Scudetto in each of the last three campaigns. As such their performances in Europe are set to come under greater scrutiny this year. However, speaking at a Press conference today, the Spaniard warned his side against complacency in domestic competition and said Serie A would remain the club’s barometer of success. “Confirming our domination in Serie A is very important for us, it’s a very difficult League,” Llorente stated on the first day of Juve’s pre-season training. “In the first year it was very hard and we suffered against the smaller teams too. “Roma have strengthened and then there are very big teams like Napoli and the new Milan. There is Inter too. “For us it will be very important to confirm ourselves again as the best in the League. Concentrating on the League will be important because if we do well in Serie A, we will also do well in the cups.” Llorente also insisted the Old Lady would be able to compete in Europe despite their lack of financial clout and discussed perspective new signing, compatriot Alvaro Morata. “There is no need to be worried. We saw Atletico Madrid, without a lot of money they had a spectacular season. That’s the path to follow. “Morata has done great things in Madrid. We’ll see what happens, these are things that concern the club. “However, he still hasn’t called me.”

Pogba: Happy for this award Jul 14, 2014 Paul Pogba has briefly commented on being handed the Best Young Player Award at the close of the World Cup. On from Germany’s success in defeating Argentina after extra time on Sunday night, the Juventus man was announced as having beaten out France teammate Raphael Varane and Memphis Depay of the Netherlands to be voted best young player of the World Cup. “Happy for this award,” Pogba responded through his Twitter account overnight. “Thanks @equipedefrance who without whom it would not make sense. The goal remains #EURO2016!!”

Juve start preseason today Jul 14, 2014 Juventus begin preparations for the defence of their Serie A title on Monday, with Fernando Llorente the first due to face reporters. The Bianconeri have called up 27 players to meet at Vinovo for a first session to be held this afternoon, as the club begin preparations to try to win a fourth successive League title. Absent from training will be Fabio Quagliarella, and those players who were involved with their countries at this summer’s World Cup. Before training, it will be striker Fernando Llorente to face reporters. Juve reported last week that training for the next two weeks at Vinovo will be held behind closed doors, in the interest of public safety ‘as the infrastructure surrounding Juventus Center is unable to support the large amounts of fans who traditionally follow the team’s summer preparations’.

Rodriguez, Messi, Neuer and Pogba awards Jul 13, 2014 James Rodriguez won the Golden Boot, Leo Messi the Golden Ball and Paul Pogba voted best young player at the World Cup. The tournament concluded in Rio de Janeiro tonight with Germany beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time. There were other trophies to be handed out, as Rodriguez of Colombia is the top scorer with six goals despite going out in the quarter-final stage. German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer received the Golden Glove as best goalkeeper. Messi was on the losing side in the Final, but was handed the Golden Ball after he was voted best player of the competition. Juventus midfielder Pogba beat France teammate Raphael Varane and Memphis Depay of the Netherlands to be voted best young player of the World Cup.

Il Cristo tedesco.

BIGLIALO N'GOULO!

Messi di testa, alto.

Götze 1-0

Aguero giá ammonito ha colpito di proposito Schweini. Rizzoli non dice niente.

Interista fallimentare.

Inizio notevole del primo extra-time.

Entra Palacio.

Cos'é, un sonnifero?

Peres e Kroos si guardano in cagnesco. Rizzoli cerca di calmarli.