Socrates

‘Morata unreachable, Pogba unsellable’ Jan 17, 2014 Beppe Marotta has denied asking after Alvaro Morata and has also reiterated that Juventus do not intend to sell Paul Pogba. http://markting10.nl/ Into the January transfer window and speculation continues to surround the Bianconeri and future market moves. Recent rumours have once more paired them with interest in a Real Madrid striker, this time the Spanish side’s young star Morata. “I believe that Morata is unreachable, but we have never spoken with Real Madrid,” Marotta has countered this week to reporters. http://markting10.nl/ “He is one of those players that will become a champion and so is generating great interest.” Another name regularly making the gossip columns is Pogba, who has been paired with interest from Paris Saint-Germain. “We know his value and we are not going to sell him anyway. So far there have not been any requests from Paris Saint-Germain. http://markting10.nl/ “We are concentrated on this season, which could lead to some extraordinary results and history for the club, even as we are aware there could be some difficulties ahead.” Reports also suggest Fabio Quagliarella is edging towards the exit, but like the player’s agent, the Old Lady’s director general has suggested otherwise. “We have a group of players attached to the shirt and will only make any transfers if someone wants to go.”

Tevez: Juventus can win the double The Bianconeri striker is hoping to complete his collection of continental medals and to help his side close out the Serie A title race. Jan 17, 2014 Juventus attacker Carlos Tevez is determined to help his side triumph in both the Serie A title race and in the Europa League. AMAZONIAN The Argentine moved to Turin in the summer from Manchester City and has scored 11 goals in 19 league appearances as the Bianconeri sit eight points clear of nearest rivals Roma. However, he was unable to prevent a premature Champions League exit but the 29-year-old is determined to make up for it in Europe's secondary competition. "I'm thinking about both competitions. I want them both," he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. AMAZONIAN "I won titles in Argentina, Brazil and England. Italy would be the fourth country. I dream of writing a page in the history of this club. "The Europa League is the only international competition I'm missing at club level." Despite Juve's hefty lead at the top of Serie A, Tevez is adamant that the title race is far from over, given some of their tough trips to come. AMAZONIAN "Unfortunately, it's not finished. We have some of the toughest away matches: Napoli, Roma, Lazio, AC Milan and Udinese, for example," he continued. Finally, Tevez says that playing in Serie A has made him a more complete player following successful spells in England, Brazil and Argentina. AMAZONIAN "It's still the toughest league in the world. It's the university of football. Tactically, it's at the highest level here and we suffer on the field," he said. "Italy is completing me. If you can score goals here, you can anywhere."

PSG preparing Pogba bid? Jan 16, 2014 More reports from France this afternoon insist that Paris Saint-Germain are weighing up a move for Paul Pogba. http://markting10.nl/ With the young midfielder yet to sign a contract extension at Juventus, the rumour-mill has gone into overdrive this month, with publications all over Europe suggesting that the Bleus international will leave Turin. Real Madrid and Manchester United have been linked with the 20-year-old, but France Football claim that it is PSG who are in pole position for Pogba’s signature. http://markting10.nl/ However, the magazine also reveals that the Bianconeri will sit down with his representatives soon to negotiate an extension. It is believed that Antonio Conte’s men would up Pogba’s wages from €1.5m per season to €4m.

Benched or not, I want to help Juve - Marchisio @@ The midfielder is impressed with how the whole team have dug in to win back-to-back Serie A titles and says hard work will secure a third Scudetto . Jan 16, 2014 Claudio Marchisio has stressed he wants to help Juventus to a third straight Scudetto, regardless of whether he is in the first team or not. AMAZONIAN The 27-year-old Bianconeri midfielder is a reported transfer target for Manchester United, with manager David Moyes having watched him score in Juve's 4-1 victory away to Cagliari on Sunday. However, the Italy international has reiterated his desire to help his current club to the Serie A title and insists he is not fretting about being benched for the champions from time-to-time. "After winning the Scudetto two years in a row it's never easy," Marchisio told Sky Sport Italia. "This group have always given their all - even those who aren't necessarily regular starters - and the results are clear to see. AMAZONIAN "My goal against Cagliari was an important one, not because some have been saying I'm unhappy on the bench and the like, but rather because we were in a bit of difficultly in that first half. "Like I've always said, whether I'm on the bench or not I'll always have a great desire to help out the team and the manager, not just in the games but also in training, so I'm completely calm about it.” Juve's victory over Cagliari gave them a half-season total of 52 points, but Marchisio remains focused on winning the league and not reaching a triple-figure points tally. AMAZONIAN "One hundred points is something to aim for, but our main objective is the Scudetto, regardless of the number of points we pick up," he continued. "If we manage the third league title in a row then I think we can talk about the best Juve ever. "We need to concentrate on what we're doing - on our path and the games we've got coming up - as opposed to the first year, when we were in pursuit of Milan for almost the whole of the second half of the season. "If we keep working as hard as we are and maintain our desire to win, we can definitely achieve our Scudetto objective."

'Are they blind?' - Buffon questions Manchester United over Pogba sale The 35-year-old believes that the Frenchman has the potential to win the Ballon d'Or, while explaining why his vote for the 2013 prize went to Andrea Pirlo. Jan 15, 2014 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes Manchester United must be blind not to have recognised the astonishing talent of team-mate Paul Pogba. AMAZONIAN The France international refused to sign a new contract at Old Trafford after becoming frustrated at a lack of first-team opportunities under Sir Alex Ferguson, and left for Turin on a free transfer in the summer of 2012. Buffon believes the 20-year-old Pogba is a future Ballon d'Or winner and cannot understand why United did so little to keep him. "I voted for Pirlo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi [in the 2013 Ballon d'Or vote]," the Italy skipper told Italia 1. AMAZONIAN "Pirlo because he is the best in his role, Ronaldo because he was the best in 2013, Messi because he is the best of all time. "In the future I could vote for Pogba. He is one of those players that leaves you open-mouthed. "Myself and my team-mates, even in the third or fourth training session with him when he was still a stranger, wondered if they are blind in Manchester." AMAZONIAN Buffon has won every honour in the Italian domestic game and was part of the Italy side who claimed their fourth World Cup title in 2006, but the Champions League trophy has continued to elude the 35-year-old, who came closest to it in a penalty-shootout loss to AC Milan in the 2003 final. And, with Juve eliminated in the group stage of this season's competition, Buffon doubts whether his team will win the tournament during his time there. AMAZONIAN "Compared to big clubs in Europe, there's still a little something lacking," he remarked. "When we met Bayern Munich last year, I realised that there was something still to be filled. "Conte is sure we will win the Champions League. I had this thought 20 years ago but it has certainly began to waver a bit."

Marchisio: Bench is tough to take Jan 15, 2014 Claudio Marchisio has admitted that being a substitute is tough to take, but claims that he wants to keep making a contribution. AMAZONIAN The midfielder has found himself on the bench for the last two League games, but with reports linking him with a move to Manchester United, the 27-year-old has insisted that he wants to keep playing his part for the Bianconeri. “It’s normal that my goals increase my estimation [for playing time], however, as I have always said my desire is to be here and be available,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “My teammates know that I am ready to contribute in training and in matches. AMAZONIAN “The bench is never easy to accept, but everyone wants to make a contribution. “Now we must continue to think about the championship, the long road in the second half of the season awaits us. “If we continue like this, with this will to win, we can claim the Scudetto.”

Buffon: Are Man Utd blind? Jan 15, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon has admitted that he didn’t know what Manchester United were thinking letting Paul Pogba go. http://markting10.nl/ The French youngster joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer from the Old Trafford outfit, and has since gone on to become one of the Old Lady’s most integral parts. And the shot-stopper has conceded that it was obvious straight away what a talent Pogba was. http://markting10.nl/ “He's one of those players who leaves you with your mouth wide open,” Buffon told Italia Uno. “We all asked ourselves, after seeing him train with us for the third or the fourth time, when he was still unknown, whether the people in Manchester couldn't see very well.”

Chiellini 'proud' at joining 300 club Jan 15, 2014 Giorgio Chiellini joined the ‘300 club’ for Juventus earlier this season, and the defender has admitted his pride at reaching such a milestone. AMAZONIAN Only 38 players had previously reached that number for the Bianconeri, and at a ceremony on Tuesday evening to mark the occasion, the Italy international revealed his best moments in the famous shirt. “I’m immensely honoured and proud to officially be part of the club’s history and know that my name and shirt will forever remain alongside those of great champions,” he told the club’s official website. “It’s an achievement that repays everything I’ve given to this team. I never would have thought of reaching such a figure when I arrived eight and a half years ago. AMAZONIAN “However, this needs to represent a starting point for other personal and team targets. One was reached a couple of days ago in Cagliari and I hope that soon we’ll be able to write other important pages in the club’s history books.” Chiellini, who joined the club from Fiorentina back in 2005, has experienced a whirlwind of highs and lows throughout the course of his 300 appearances - but had no doubts when asked to name his most memorable game yet. “The victory over Cagliari in Trieste that won us our 30th Scudetto. When I joined Juventus I was immediately part of a winning team, without truly realising how much effort goes in to achieve such results. AMAZONIAN “Then, with everything that happened in the years that followed and the difficulties we came up against, I became aware of how tough it is to achieve success. That title, won without losing a game, was an unbelievable feeling. “The game to forget? One doesn’t spring to mind. Instead I’d probably say the second season we finished in seventh place. The first is something that can happen, two in a row absolutely not.” The centre-back then outlined his ambitions for the years ahead. AMAZONIAN “I want to win with my team-mates and lift further trophies. You need to dig deep to do so, but the taste of victory is wonderful. The first part of the season has been very positive, even though there’s the regret at our exit from the Champions League. “Now we’ve got the Europa League to play for and the final’s in Turin. Getting there would be a small dream, to chase by working hard on a daily basis. I hope that this experience can help us continue our development and gain further awareness also on an international scale. Then there’s the league and Coppa Italia - all targets within our reach, but we need to keep doing what we’re doing. “A personal target? Ending my career wearing the black and white stripes would be a nice achievement. I joined the club as a youngster, have become a man here and Juventus is a family to me.”

Buffon: Pogba could win Ballon d'Or The 35-year-old believes his Juventus team-mate has the potential to win Fifa's prestigious award in the future, while his vote for the 2013 honour went to Andrea Pirlo. Jan 14, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon believes Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has the ability to win the Ballon d'Or in the future. http://markting10.nl/ Buffon named his team-mate Andrea Pirlo as his No.1 selection this year, and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi as his second and third choices, respectively. However, the Italy international feels midfielder Pogba has the potential to win the prize and has questioned Manchester United's judgement in allowing the 20-year-old to join the Turin club. "I voted for Pirlo, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi," Buffon told Italia 1. "Pirlo because he is the best in his role, Ronaldo because he was the best in 2013, Messi because he is the best of all time. http://markting10.nl/ "In the future I could vote for Pogba. He is one of those players that leaves you open-mouthed. "Myself and my team-mates, even in the third or fourth training session with him when he was still a stranger, wondered if they can see well in Manchester." Buffon, who has had spells with Parma as well as Juventus, has won every honour in the Italian domestic game and was part of the Italy side that claimed their fourth World Cup title in 2006. http://markting10.nl/ But the Champions League trophy has continued to elude the 35-year-old, who came closest in 2003's penalty-shootout loss to Milan in the final. And, with Juve eliminated in the group stage of this season's competition, Buffon doubts whether his team will win the tournament during his time at the club. "Compared to big clubs in Europe, there's still a little something lacking," he explained. http://markting10.nl/ "When we met Bayern Munich last year, I realised that there was something still to be filled. "Conte is sure we will win the Champions League. I had this thought 20 years ago, but it has certainly began to waver a bit."

Pirlo has already signed Juventus renewal Jan 14, 2014 Reports in the Italian media suggest Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has already signed a new contract with the club, with an official announcement set to come in early February. http://markting10.nl/ The 34-year-old is reported to have signed a two year contract that will keep him at the Old Lady until 2016. According to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, Pirlo’s deal is for €4 million a year. The paper speculates that the official announcement of the signing will come shortly after the Derby D’Italia between Inter and Juventus on Feb. 2. http://markting10.nl/ The report suggests that there are still few minor issues to be ironed out between the club and its star midfielder, but nothing that would threaten the deal being finalized. Pirlo had been the subject of some transfer speculation this month, including a link with Manchester United whose manager, David Moyes, was in the stands to watch Sunday’s Cagliari-Juventus match.

Manchester City to offer Jovetic in exchange for Juventus star Pogba Jan 14, 2014 Manchester City are the latest in the long line of clubs interested in signing Paul Pogba from Juventus. http://markting10.nl/ Pogba, 20, has flourished at the Turin outfit and has become a vital member of the squad and has recently attracted interest from former club Manchester United as well as Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. The Manchester Evening News has reported that City are prepared to use Stevan Jovetic as part of any deal for the young playmaker as the Bianconeri had shown an interest in the Montenegro international during his time with Fiorentina. http://markting10.nl/ The France international joined Juventus in 2012 on a free transfer from United and quickly demonstrated his ability in the first team and has continued his fine form this season, notching five goals in his 19 appearances in Serie A for the Bianconeri.

'Everybody wants Pogba' - Zidane The Real Madrid assistant coach has hinted at increased interest in signing the 20-year-old and is backing him as a future winner of the Ballon d'Or. Jan 14, 2014 Zinedine Zidane has hinted that Real Madrid could be interested in signing Paul Pogba following his exceptional displays for Juventus. http://markting10.nl/ Pogba, who has been instrumental in helping Juve top Serie A this season with five goals in 19 appearances, has thrived in Turin since his move from Manchester United in the summer of 2012. The France starlet has caught the attention of many of Europe's top clubs this season, with Paris Saint-Germain heavily linked with a move for the 20-year-old, and Zidane has not ruled out the prospect of Madrid entering the race for a player who he believes will soon be in the running to win the Ballon d'Or. "Everybody wants him," Zidane, a one-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. http://markting10.nl/ "In a few years Pogba will surely be among the three finalists. He is still young, but in the future he could win the Ballon d'Or. "It's a major award for a player and it changes your life. I won it in 1998, the same year I won the World Cup and that means that it has changed my life."

‘Allegri should have quit sooner’ Jan 14, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon believes Max Allegri was a scapegoat for Milan’s struggles and suggests he should have quit the Rossoneri when the chance was there. http://markting10.nl/ The tactician was heavily linked with an exit from San Siro in the summer, but stayed on only to be fired on Monday after a miserable first half to the season concluded with a 4-3 defeat at Sassuolo. “Sometimes they look for scapegoats to put in place and feed the fans,” Juventus man Buffon has reflected on Tiki Taka this week. “It was not always so - if Allegri has a fault it is that he did not have the courage to walk away when for over a year he had suffered attacks from inside that were unjustified and too much for what he could do with the squad he had.” http://markting10.nl/ Buffon was asked about Allegri’s second season with Milan, which saw them finish second to Juventus and was the season in which Sulley Muntari saw a goal infamously disallowed in a League match with the Bianconeri. “When Inter won all those championships in a row, I never wondered what would happen if Juve had been there. “With Milan, you have to take the story for what it was. The championship was still wide open and there were many games to go. http://markting10.nl/ “If we won the Scudetto then it was because we deserved it.” Buffon also considered in this interview a number of topics, including motivation for Juve’s club-record 11-game winning streak, and co-owned Bianconero Domenico Berardi’s chances of making the Italy squad this summer. “Definitely he is a 19-year-old kid who has left an imprint so important in a game like that against Milan, but he has also left a mark with every goal that he has scored with Sassuolo. http://markting10.nl/ “He has qualities out of the ordinary. And I do not think that Italy has enough talent to leave him in the shade.” It was a similar impression, says the goalkeeper that Paul Pogba immediately left his Juve teammates upon arriving at the club in 2012 from Manchester United. “Pogba is one of those players that leaves you speechless. But I must say that after three-four training sessions…when no-one had really spoken to him, we saw him from being unknown, introduce himself. http://markting10.nl/ “After three or four workouts, we looked at each other as if to say: ‘in Manchester they are certain to have seen how good he is too, or perhaps someone has had vision problems?’ “We were immediately impressed.”

Buffon: Fiorentina motivated us Jan 14, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon says that the manner of defeat to Fiorentina in Week 8 helped kickstart Juventus’ record-breaking 11-game winning run. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri have set a new club record for consecutive wins in Serie A with their 4-1 result at Cagliari on Sunday. According to their goalkeeper, motivation to go on this run stemmed from the last time they were defeated domestically, 4-2 in Florence back in October. “Fiorentina was a bit paradoxical, because, if I’m not mistaken, it was only the eighth game of the season - we had six wins, a draw and one defeat,” considered Buffon on Tiki Taka this week. http://markting10.nl/ “To me, the reaction afterwards was a little exaggerated. However, it is also true that we have been doing well since because since that disastrous day, we took the energy and the righteous frustration to be able to put together these victories. “Perhaps, if we had not lost in such a manner, we would not be talking now about 11 consecutive wins.” Buffon was asked of the squad and its Coach’s motivation to increase the run further, with Antonio Conte commented recently that to extend it would make it harder to beat for future teams. http://markting10.nl/ “It is true, I think that when you experience such situations, like this positive one, perhaps you do not understand the magnitude of what you are doing, you know, or maybe you will understand in a few years. “Thus, you lose the flavour and the importance of being able to continue, to still improve this record. Eventually, if there is 80 years between breaking records for victories at Juventus, it is clear that we do not take the next games lightly, in all likelihood we could increase this record. “Is this the best Juve? This is the Juve, together with the second year under Marcello Lippi, that plays the best football. The team under Capello was the most clinical and probably the one that was stronger for its individuals.” http://markting10.nl/ Juve lead Roma by eight points in the title race and Napoli back in third by 10 points, but Buffon isn’t ruling them out. “I tell you the truth, I respect them a lot because they both came to Turin and, even though they lost, had played the game head on, proving to have an identity. “Napoli are playing a European style of football, conscious of their own beliefs and abilities. In the long term this will pay off. http://markting10.nl/ “Roma for 60 minutes and up to 2-0 before the red cards, they were a team that if we did not face up to them with due caution, as we did, I think we would have suffered. We were good to have had patience.” Antonio Conte was labelled by director general Beppe Marotta yesterday as capable of becoming Juve’s equivalent to Sir Alex Ferguson. “I believe so, also because I believe that the characteristics of the Coach are those of our club, I think it really is a perfect combination.”

Buffon: Juventus will do well in Champions League next term The veteran goalkeeper is already looking forward to next year's European campaign and wants another Scudetto this season. Jan 13, 2014 Gianluigi Buffon is confident that Juventus will do well in the Champions League next season after they failed to impress this term. http://markting10.nl/ The Serie A champions had to settle for third spot in their group behind Real Madrid and Galatasaray as they crashed out before the knockout rounds and Buffon has admitted that they have not been good enough in Europe this campaign. However, the experienced goalkeeper has little doubt that head coach Antonio Conte can guide them to success in 2014-15. "We know the best way to approach games with all of the Italian sides," the 35-year-old told the official Bianconeri website. http://markting10.nl/ "Maybe in Europe something different is required, but we have a coach who’s so well prepared that next year he’ll be able to find the solution." The Italy international then went on to discuss Juventus' short-term ambitions and stressed that the Serie A title is their main objective. "Our next objective is winning the Scudetto, the third in a row. Almost 80 years have passed since we last did that."

'Pogba was Ferguson's big mistake' Jan 13, 2014 Zinedine Zidane believes that Sir Alex Ferguson's decision to let Paul Pogba leave for Juventus was one of his biggest mistakes. http://markting10.nl/ The French youngster left Old Trafford in 2012 after a falling out with Ferguson, due largely to his request for more playing time and a £20,000-a-week contract. The Bleus international has since impressed with the Old Lady, becoming an integral part of the Bianconeri’s XI under Antonio Conte. "The word 'mistake' is not something you would normally associate with Alex Ferguson's time at Manchester United," Zidane told the Sunday Mirror. http://markting10.nl/ "But I do think it was a mistake letting Paul Pogba leave. "He will go on to be one of the best central midfield players in Europe and he was the natural successor to Paul Scholes, someone they could have built the team around." http://markting10.nl/ Zidane, who now works as sporting director at Real Madrid, also hinted the Spanish giants are keeping tabs on the French international. "He is with Juventus and doing very well but, as always, Real Madrid will be looking to add the best players in the world.”

Bonucci: Cagliari win was vital Jan 13, 2014 Leonardo Bonucci believes that Juventus’ win over Cagliari on Sunday was ‘the most important’ of the season. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri came from a goal down to beat the Isolani 4-1 yesterday, and the defender has claimed that they were vital three points in their bid for their third successive Scudetto. “To finish the first round of fixtures with a win was our goal,” he wrote on his official website. “We beat Roma, but these three points against Cagliari were the most important for me. http://markting10.nl/ “Now, as far as everyone is concerned, the League starts on Sunday with the second round. “We have this margin at the top but we have to maintain it. “A strong team that wants to win its third successive title should only have one thing in mind – win the next game!”

Marotta: No Marchisio issue Jan 13, 2014 Beppe Marotta says that there is no issue with Claudio Marchisio, the club do not want to sell Paul Pogba, and he has commented on Domenico Berardi. http://markting10.nl/ Marchisio has notably dropped out of Juventus’ first-team line-up in recent weeks, whilst yesterday’s effort from the bench was the midfielder’s first goal of the season for the Bianconeri. Whilst Manchester United boss David Moyes was in the stands to see that first hand on Sunday, Juve’s director general has backed Marchisio to stay put. “There is no problem,” Marotta has made clear today on Radio 1. http://markting10.nl/ “Claudio is one of the few guys, along with Paolo De Ceglie, to have worn the Juventus shirt through every level of the youth sector. “He has worn this shirt since he was eight years old and he loves these colours. Over the season there are many commitments and every player experiences periods of fewer minutes, but all is normal. “I know him well and I can say with certainty that there is no case. The example is precisely the embrace between Claudio and Conte.” http://markting10.nl/ Speculation has also surrounding Paul Pogba’s position at the club, with Paris Saint-Germain continually linked with a bumper summer move. “Juventus in its history has always bought many and sold few when talking about champions. From our point of view, we do not want to sell Pogba and so far we have closed the door to any possible buyer. “Our aim is to consolidate the group, we do not want to sell him, but certain assessments must be made later.” http://markting10.nl/ Marotta, who also listed his hope of seeing Coach Antonio Conte become Juve’s version of Sir Alex Ferguson, was inevitably asked about Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi, who scored four times yesterday against Milan and is co-owned by the Bianconeri. “The boy is co-owned with Sassuolo and relations are excellent, whilst I am convinced that we will continue this collaboration. “At the moment I do not know if Berardi will be part of the Juventus squad for next season. http://markting10.nl/ “He is only 19 and a move to Juventus is something that is very heavy for everyone. It is fetched to say that the player will be with us next year, we will talk in the next few months.” Andrea Pirlo is widely believed to be on the verge of agreeing to a two-year contract extension with the Old Lady. http://markting10.nl/ “I told him last week that this is his natural habitat. We talked and in February we will find a solution to continue together. “His will is clear, there is optimism and little to reach before an agreement.”

CAGLIARI 1 - 4 JUVENTUS Mauricio Pinilla (21') Fernando Llorente (31′) Claudio Marchisio (73′) Fernando Llorente (76′) Stephan Lichtsteiner (80') January 12, 2014 - 3:00 PM Sant'Elia Stadium — Cagliari Referee: Marco Guida Attendance:‬ 6000‎ Conte: 'Extraordinary Juve' Jan 12, 2014 Antonio Conte praised Juventus for their “extraordinary achievement” of an 11th straight win in Cagliari. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri set a new club record with 11 consecutive Serie A victories, something they had never achieved. “It’s an extraordinary achievement, the fact in the history of Juventus – knowing the teams they had – never managed this before is amazing. The lads deserve applause, as football can go so quickly that you barely have time to enjoy these moments. “Now we want to continue this positive streak, knowing full well there will be teams lining up to stop us,” he told Sky Sport Italia. http://markting10.nl/ Despite the 4-1 scoreline, Cagliari had a very strong start and took the lead through Mauricio Pinilla. “Our start wasn’t that bad, but we conceded on the first opportunity and risked again on another set play. These are distractions we rarely allow ourselves. I called the team to get their minds on the job, as the mind leads the legs. “Even in moments of difficulty, we held out well and forced Cagliari to use up their energy with a very strong opening hour. This team held Roma at the Olimpico, which shows how good they are.” http://markting10.nl/ Claudio Marchisio replaced Andrea Pirlo in the second half and netted a scorching strike from distance. Manchester United manager David Moyes was in the stands in Cagliari, reportedly to watch both Davide Astori and Marchisio. “Claudio is an important player for us and I must thank him for his professional attitude, he’s a real champion. He has ended up on the bench this season, but behaved like a great champion and has Juve in his heart. You can see he’s in good shape and today I needed a change of pace in midfield, which he provided. http://markting10.nl/ “Pirlo is coming off a serious injury and is training intensely, so it’s inevitable he’ll have dips in form during the game. I am fortunate enough to have Claudio and others on the bench ready to come in. “I try to do my best as a Coach and when I make substitutions I look everyone up and down fully before choosing my players. I don’t look at the names or the faces first. I just try to pick the best available team. Sometimes I get it wrong, others I make the right choice.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CAGLIARI 1 - 4 JUVENTUS Mauricio Pinilla (21') Fernando Llorente (31′) Claudio Marchisio (73′) Fernando Llorente (76′) Stephan Lichtsteiner (80') January 12, 2014 - 3:00 PM Sant'Elia Stadium — Cagliari Referee: Marco Guida Attendance:‬ 6000‎ Juventus can win it all, says Lichtsteiner The defender scored on Sunday as the Bianconeri racked up their 11th straight Serie A win and then targeted a clean sweep of honours. Jan 12, 2014 Stephan Lichtsteiner says Juventus are capable of "winning it all" after coming from behind to beat Cagliari 4-1. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri fell behind to a Mauricio Pinilla strike in the first half of Sunday's encounter - who was later sent off in the dying stages of the game - but Fernando Llorente levelled before the break. The Spain international struck for a second time on 76 minutes, with that strike sandwiched between further goals from Claudio Marchisio and Lichsteiner. Victory for Juventus saw the reiging champions extend their winning streak to 11 games and advantage over second-placed Roma to five points, with the Austria international targeting a clean sweep of domestic honours. http://markting10.nl/ He told reporters: "We need to focus on all three goals. We have quality and incredible organisation and we all believe that we can do it." Lichtsteiner has made nine Serie A appearances so far this season, with his strike on Sunday his first of the season in the league. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CAGLIARI 1 - 4 JUVENTUS Mauricio Pinilla (21') Fernando Llorente (31′) Claudio Marchisio (73′) Fernando Llorente (76′) Stephan Lichtsteiner (80') January 12, 2014 - 3:00 PM Sant'Elia Stadium — Cagliari Referee: Marco Guida Attendance:‬ 6000‎ Player Ratings Goal was present to see a staggering second half, as two goals from Fernando Llorente helped the Old Lady to break their stubborn home resilience. Jan 12, 2014 CAGLIARI Adàn - Terrible performance from the former Real Madrid man, as he parried Marchisio's effort into the back of the net, before spilling Juventus' fourth into the path of Lichtsteiner. Luca Rossettini - Made a few key clearances in the first half, and forced Asamoah to often play the ball infield, as opposed to taking him on. Davide Astori - A commanding performance from the defender, as he threatened from set pieces and marshalled Llorente well at times. Francesco Pisano - Helped to keep Tevez quiet for long periods but couldn't stop Llorente from scoring twice. Nicola Murru - Blocked a number of Lichtsteiner's crosses in the first half, but the Swiss wing-back was left unmarked for his goal and provided two assists. Daniele Dessena - Went close with a back post header that was kept out well by Buffon, but didn't test Chiellini much throughout the game. Daniele Conti - Battled well in the centre of midfield, putting himself around to break up Juventus' rhythm and tempo. Albin Ekdal - Performed well in place of Nainggolan, proving to be a physical presence, as well as providing a few good upfield balls to the isolated Sau. Andrea Cossu - Worked hard in behind the strikeforce to ensure that Juventus' midfield weren't given too much time on the ball, closing angles to force the visitors wide. Mauricio Pinilla - Took his goal well, firing home unmarked at the back post beyond Buffon, and looked to be the Cagliari player who was most dangerous. Red carded for an argument with the referee in the late stages. Marco Sau - Worked hard to get in behind the Juventus defence on several occasions, but Buffon was alert to the danger. When he was substituted, the hosts created nothing. http://markting10.nl/ Substitutions Víctor Ibarbo - Didn't offer much after coming on, but was a willing runner, pressing Juventus' back four. http://markting10.nl/ JUVENTUS Gianluigi Buffon - Made an excellent save to deny Dessena and was alert to danger despite been unneeded for long periods, especially in the second half. Martín Cáceres - Played a few stray passes, but was generally untested. A steady game, as he was often composed enough to bring the ball down and play out from the back. Leonardo Bonucci - His battling attitude helped Juventus to the win, as the defender put himself around, ensuring that the likes of Sau and Pinilla saw very little service. Giorgio Chiellini - A strong, physical performance from the central defender, as he prevented the likes of Dessena from reaching the byline. Stephan Lichtsteiner - Provided two assists from the right flank and scored Juventus' fourth, bundling home a goalkeeping error from Adan. Paul Pogba - A quiet game in terms of going forward, as the Frenchman failed to test Adan from range and generally just helped to keep play moving. Andrea Pirlo - Sat deep and kept Juventus ticking over, offering nothing special but ensuring that the likes of Asamoah and Lichtsteiner saw plenty of the ball. Arturo Vidal - Unfortunate to be caught offside after a few intelligent runs, but was always available for a one-two around the areas, which unleashed Lichtsteiner to deliver for the third. Kwadwo Asamoah - Didn't offer much, as the majority of Juventus' chances came from Lichtsteiner on the opposite flank. Only manage to beat Rossettini on one occasion. Carlos Tévez - Was quiet in the first half, but caused much more problems in the second. Had several good shots, but all were directed too close to the Cagliari goalkeeping. Linked up well with Llorente at times. Fernando Llorente - Took his two goals well, the first of which was a beautifully guided header into the top right hand corner. http://markting10.nl/ Substitutions Claudio Marchisio - Grabbed the all-important goal for the away side, rattling a long-range effort beyond the hapless Adan. Provided energy upon taking to the field too. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CAGLIARI 1 - 4 JUVENTUS Mauricio Pinilla (21') Fernando Llorente (31′) Claudio Marchisio (73′) Fernando Llorente (76′) Stephan Lichtsteiner (80') January 12, 2014 - 3:00 PM Sant'Elia Stadium — Cagliari Referee: Marco Guida Attendance:‬ 6000‎ Juventus achieve 116-year first Jan 12, 2014 "We have done something extraordinary," said coach Antonio Conte after Juventus's 4-1 victory at Cagliari Calcio gave them an 11th straight Serie A win for the first time. http://markting10.nl/ "Records are made to be broken," said Juventus coach Antonio Conte on the eve of Sunday's trip to Cagliari Calcio. Prophetic words as the Bianconeri won their 11th game in succession in Serie A, something the Turin giants had never previously achieved in their 116-year history. The Bianconeri had won ten in a row in 1931/32 under legendary coach Carlo Carcano, who masterminded five consecutive Italian titles from 1930 to 1935, a period known as 'il quinquennio d'oro' – the golden quinquennial – for Juventus. The club record was broken with a 4-1 win at Cagliari despite falling behind early to Mauricio Pinilla. Fernando Llorente's header restored parity in the first half, and Claudio Marchisio, Stephen Lichtsteiner and Llorente all scored between the 73rd and 80th minute to decide the game, maintaining Juve's eight-point lead over last Sunday's victims AS Roma. "We have done something extraordinary," said Conte. "This is a unique feature in more than 100 years of club history so I thanked the players for such a gift. Now our aim is to prolong the run as much as we can." http://markting10.nl/ With such a winning mentality, victories must keep on coming, captain Gianluigi Buffon stressed. "We are proud of the record, hopefully this streak will be a long-lasting one," explained the Italy goalkeeper, who has conceded just two goals in the process. "But above all, our main target is to win a third Scudetto in a row, something that has not happened for the club in around 80 years. "Maybe we won't manage to fully enjoy our great run right now," Buffon continued. "But I'm sure that with time we will appreciate this streak even more. We made history for a club like Juventus, which is a club like no other in Italy." http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri may have not achieved the same success in Europe this season after finishing third in their UEFA Champions League group but with the Juventus Stadium staging the UEFA Europa League final in May, Conte's men have still time to leave their mark beyond the Italian borders as well. Juventus face Trabzonspor AŞ in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 on 20 and 27 February and Buffon believes his side have the potential to also do well in this competition. "We have always been able to make the difference in Italy, the results are proof of that," the 35-year-old said. "In Europe maybe something different is needed but I'm sure Conte will find the answers." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CAGLIARI 1 - 4 JUVENTUS Mauricio Pinilla (21') Fernando Llorente (31′) Claudio Marchisio (73′) Fernando Llorente (76′) Stephan Lichtsteiner (80') January 12, 2014 - 3:00 PM Sant'Elia Stadium — Cagliari Referee: Marco Guida Attendance:‬ 6000‎ Marchisio inspires record-breaking Juve to victory Jan 12, 2014 Breaking records, scoring goals and collecting points is now a given for Juventus. No matter how tactically brilliant, confident or prepared a Serie A opponent is, it seems when the Turin giants want the victory, they get it. Winning 4-1 away at Cagliari, only Antonio Conte's men make a difficult game look easy as there's always an ace up the coach's sleeve, or a player capable of changing the game. Eleven consecutive wins, only two goals conceded. What a team, what a record. http://markting10.nl/ Juventus may be predictable with their strength, but on Sunday Cagliari proved themselves anything but predictable by playing an excellent game to threaten the Champions. Tactically excellent, the Islanders showed no fear, played with confidence and fulfilled the promise their coach made in his pre-match conference. Diego Lopez vowed to deploy a side that would attack the visitors and he did just that. Taking advantage of Juve's slow and laboured movements, Cagliari moved with pace to regularly threaten a hesitant Bianconeri back-line. Without Andrea Barzagli present at the back for the Old Lady, there were lapses in concentration, errors and a lot of confusion, which only served to fuel the home side's confidence in attack. Every time Andrea Pirlo loses the ball in midfield, Juventus struggle and on Sunday, Lopez's men made the most of his error to eventually secure the set piece that led to the opening goal. http://markting10.nl/ Blazing forward, looking for opportunities and closing down the spaces well at the back, Cagliari looked capable of a second, that was until Fernando Llorente made the most of a cross to net the equaliser. Yet for all their attacking excellence, there's little the Sardinians can do about the sheer strength of a Juve side that play until the final minute. Cagliari began to tire, the Bianconeri needed to raise the tempo and thus brought on Claudio Marchisio for Pirlo to help push the team forward. The impact was almost immediate as Juventus played swifter, attacked ferociously and then managed the second, third and fourth goals. With the victory, Juventus broke their record for most consecutive wins in Serie A, set by the 1932 Bianconeri side. http://markting10.nl/ If David Moyes, watching from the stands, admired Marchisio before, he must worship him now. This blog has long hailed the footballing intelligence of the Juve youth product. A man who astounds with his ability to make the right runs, his finishing has suffered this season and his confidence has taken a hit but he's a midfielder worthy of attention and praise. His arrival on the pitch changed the game. His presence allowed the team to quicken their movements whilst his rocket of a goal demonstrated his full range of skills. There is little he cannot do. Versatile enough to be played wide right, on the left as the link behind the striker or as defensive midfielder, Marchisio interprets his roles better than most, simply because he understands the game. Many have criticised the alleged little impact he has made in the final third this season. Yet on analysing his performances, it's clear his teammates often choose to pass to the front two as opposed to the midfielder. His finishing has not been the best this season, but even if he is not being given the ball, his sheer presence and positioning is enough to drag defenders away and allow the likes of Carlos Tevez more room to operate. http://markting10.nl/ Tevez is pure individual quality, based on instinctive play and extraordinary ability. Marchisio on the other hand is the perfect team player, who uses his understanding of the game to unlock opportunities. His true value becomes more apparent when the match being played poses a greater challenge as that is when Juve need to think rather than rely on superior technical quality. Better than all their opponents in Serie A this season, Marchisio has seen less playing time than usual with Conte preferring the exquisite ability of Paul Pogba. However, when it came to the tough matches against Real Madrid, Conte is the first to recognise the quality the player adds to a team unit, describing him as the man he "relates to the most." Was Moyes there for Marchisio? He knows him well and has tracked him before, but Conte is not willing to sell. Besides, who said he's there for only one player? He has also shown an interest in Davide Astori, but one thing that can be guaranteed: he's not there for Arturo Vidal. Juventus have made it extremely clear they will not let Vidal go, not even for all the money in the world. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

CAGLIARI 1 - 4 JUVENTUS Mauricio Pinilla (21') Fernando Llorente (31′) Claudio Marchisio (73′) Fernando Llorente (76′) Stephan Lichtsteiner (80') January 12, 2014 - 3:00 PM Sant'Elia Stadium — Cagliari Referee: Marco Guida Attendance:‬ 6000‎ Initial reaction and random observations Jan 12, 2014 I guess it's a pretty nice problem to have when you play a so-so game and slip four past your opposition. http://markting10.nl/ That was Juventus' reality on Sunday afternoon in Sardinia. For whatever reason, this wasn't the Juventus we had seen during the course of the 10-game winning streak. They lacked that fire we've become accustomed to. It was just...meh. Then, around the 70th minute, Antonio Conte made his first change of the game: Claudio Marchisio for Andrea Pirlo. And with Juve level with Cagliari at 1-1 and needing a goal to keep the winning streak going, there was a collective "Pirlo?" reaction from the masses. Well, there's a reason why Antonio Conte is paid the big bucks to manage the team and I'm sitting here writing about Juventus game after game. (Take that, you nerd!) http://markting10.nl/ Thanks to Marchisio's right-footed bolt of lightning from outside the penalty area a few minutes after his introduction, the flood gates opened about as fast as they could. Three goals in the span of seven minutes saw Juve go from a potentially disappointing draw to recording their club-record 11th straight victory on the trot. The way things ended, you would have never known that it was Cagliari who played the better football for a decent chunk of the match. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen Buffon: It’s a pleasing record to have and our next objective is to set another one by winning a third consecutive Scudetto. #CagliariJuve http://markting10.nl/ Random thoughts and observations • This season hasn't been easy on Marchisio for a number of reasons. He's been hurt, his form has absolutely sucked, and it's become pretty clear that Conte prefers Paul Pogba to him in the starting lineup right now. But this was a game that just seemed to need a dose of Marchisio — and he delivered the goods. His goal was more than just the eventual game-winner. He needed it from a personal point of view, too. I'm not declaring that he's suddenly back to being the Marchisio of old, but I just can't help but feel happy for the guy. He needed that goal badly. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen Conte: @ClaMarchisio8 has Juve in his blood, he’s in good shape and when we needed to shift things up a gear in midfield, I thought of him. http://markting10.nl/ • Seems fitting for this section of the post-game thread: Maybe I should mention Fernando Llorente in my previews more often if he's going to have games like that. Okay, so maybe it's not all my doing, but fact still remains that Llorente scored a brace on Sunday. He got the opener, the game-clinching goal. His first goal was just vintage Llorente. The keeper had no chance. • Llorente and Carlos Tevez have combined for 18 goals in Serie A this season. Not bad, not bad at all. • According to the good folks at WhoScored, Arturo Vidal had seven tackles against Cagliari. Not bad for a guy who had a pretty quiet game overall. http://markting10.nl/ • I love watching Lichtsteiner do Lichtsteiner things. That's not exactly an opinion that is shared by the minority of people who for Juventus. His game today is just a reminder of what Juve are like when they get contributions from the wingbacks. Two assists, a goal and a whole lot of awesome. It's so nice to have him back and healthy again. • Saw a couple people point this out on Twitter after the win: Juventus have dropped five points all season. One loss (to Fiorentina), one draw (to Inter), and that's it. That kind of success equals an astonishing 52 points in the first half of the season. Simple math tells me that Juventus are on pace for 104 points this season. That's just crazy to think about. http://markting10.nl/ • Did you guys hear David Moyes was in the stands? I can't believe nobody mentioned it. • One last winning streak update: 30 goals scored, 2 goals allowed. That's as impressive as it gets, you guys. JuventusFC ✔ @juventusfcen Conte: We’ve reached an extraordinary target and are extremely proud and satisfied with our achievement. #CagliariJuve http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111