Massimiliano Allegri

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

Juventus' Max Allegri: Talk of replacing

Arsene Wenger at Arsenal 'not true'

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/3076019/juventus-max-

allegri-talk-of-replacing-arsene-wenger-at-arsenal-not-true

 

 

Mar 6, 2017

 

 

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has denied claims that he is set to take over from Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

Wenger suffered another defeat at the weekend when Arsenal lost 3-1 away to Liverpool, putting him under renewed scrutiny with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Allegri, 49, has led Juventus since 2014 and is on course to guide the club to a third consecutive Serie A title despite Sunday's 1-1 draw at Udinese.

While he has maintained that he has not spoken with Arsenal, Allegri did not rule out a possible switch in the future.

Massimiliano Allegri has denied rumours that he is in talks to coach Arsenal next season.

"I repeat what I have already said before -- it's not true," Allegri told his postmatch news conference.

"The second thing, even if there was something in it, the first to know and learn my wish to leave would be Juventus... I'm contracted until 2018.

"I'm not the one to decide my future -- Juventus will. It is they who decide because it's the way I work and have worked previously.

"When time passes, as we did last year, we will evaluate what to do.

"And if these rumours were true, Juventus would be the first to know and I haven't talked to Juventus yet."

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Barca: 'Allegri? It's top secret'

 

http://www.football-italia.net/99281/barca-allegri-its-top-secret

 

 

Mar 6, 2017

 

Barcelona sporting director Ariedo Braida was coy over suggestions that Max Allegri could replace Luis Enrique, declaring ‘it’s all top secret’.

 

Speculation has been mounting that the Juventus Coach could leave the club in the summer, and has also been strongly linked with Arsenal.

 

After the announcement was made that Enrique would vacate his position with Barca at the end of the season, the Tuscan Coach was immediately touted as a potential replacement.

 

But what does Braida have to say about the rumours?

 

"Allegri? We know him well, but at this time we cannot talk about it," Braida told Radio Anch’io Sport.

 

"It's all top secret.

 

"In the press every day new names come out, from [Ernesto] Valverde to [Jorge] Sampaoli, to [Ronald] Koeman to Eusebio of Real Sociedad and this is from the Barcelona family."

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Barcelona's Ariedo Braida coy on Max Allegri

as Luis Enrique replacement

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/barcelona/story/3076411/barcelona-director-

ariedo-braida-coy-on-max-allegri-as-luis-enrique-replacement

 

 

Mar 6, 2017

 

 

Barcelona director Ariedo Braida said the search for Luis Enrique's replacement is "top secret" and wouldn't confirm whether Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri is a candidate.

Luis Enrique announced last week he would leave Barca when his contract expires in June. Allegri is one of a number of managers to have been linked with the post since then, although Athletic Bilbao's Ernesto Valverde and Sevilla's Jorge Sampaoli are the early front runners.

Braida worked with Allegri during his time at AC Milan and did little to play down reports that the Italian coach could be an outside bet to take over at Camp Nou.

"Allegri is a friend and we know each other very well, but it's really not something we can talk about," he told Italy's Radioanch'io Sport. "It's all top secret.

"There's a different name coming out every day in the Spanish media, from Valverde to Sampaoli, from [Ronald] Koeman to Eusebio [Sacristan], who is coach of Real Sociedad and is a part of the Barcelona family. Everything is possible. It's something I would prefer not to talk about."

Barca's sporting director, Robert Fernandez, has suggested a manager with a link to the Catalan club would be favoured. That would push Valverde, Koeman and Eusebio to the front of the queue.

"We have time to look over all the possibilities that exist and we will do the work that we have to do," Fernandez said in an interview with Esport3.

"It would be good if the future manager knows the club, of course. [Managing Barca] is a very special position in terms of understanding the football and the methodology."

However, he was keen to nuance that didn't mean managers with no inside experience, like Allegri and Sampaoli, would be ruled out.

"I don't think that's what I said and if I did, that's not the case," he added. "We won't rule out anyone just because they haven't had a connection with the club."

Barca have time on their side in their search for a new manager and, as well as being grateful for the timing of Luis Enrique's announcement, Braida is now hoping that his departure will not affect the security at the club.

"Luis Enrique made this announcement very early probably to give the club the time to find a replacement," Braida said.

"He's a really great coach and has a philosophy that is a bit of Barcelona and a bit of those who have preceded him. He is [doing] a great job and I am sorry to lose him because we're losing a bit of security which we hope to find [with the coach] who replaces him."

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Marotta: ‘Allegri will stay at Juventus’

 

http://www.football-italia.net/99300/marotta-‘allegri-will-stay-juventus’

 

 

Mar 6, 2017

 

Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta says Max Allegri will stay - “we’re happy with him, and he with us”.

 

The Bianconeri Coach has been linked with Arsenal and Barcelona, but it appears he will remain in Turin for next season.

 

“Is Allegri 100 per cent certain to stay?” Marotta considered, speaking Mediaset.

 

“I think so, right now there are no impediments to that. We’re always very close with Allegri, there’s a great relationship with him.

 

“We’re happy with him, and he with us, so the problem doesn’t even arise.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

ARIEDO BRAIDA SAYS 'EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE'

AMID MAX ALLEGRI, BARCELONA RUMOURS

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2696561-ariedo-braida-says-

everything-is-possible-amid-max-allegri-barcelona-rumours

 

 

Mar 7, 2017

 

 

Barcelona director Ariedo Braida has refused to rule out Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri as a possible replacement for Luis Enrique, insisting "everything is possible" in the club’s search for a new boss. 

Enrique confirmed last week this season would be his last in charge of the Catalan giants. Plenty of speculation has been triggered as a result, and when asked about recruiting a new manager on Radio anch'io Sport (h/t Football Espana), Braida was adamant they’re ruling nothing out yet.

"Allegri is a friend and we know each other very well, but it's really not something we can talk about—it’s all top secret," said Braida. 

He continued: "There’s a different name coming out every day in the Spanish media, from [Ernesto] Valverde to [Jorge] Sampaoli, from [Ronald] Koeman to Eusebio [Sacristan], who is coach of Real Sociedad and is a part of the Barcelona family. Everything is possible. It's something I would prefer not to talk about."

 

As noted in the report, Braida and Allegri have worked together in the past during a spell at AC Milan.

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Who's getting the coveted Barcelona job next?

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Allegri is not among those named, although there has been speculation linking him with a possible move to Catalonia. According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Alex Wood of the Daily Star), the Italian would be keen to make the switch should the offer come in. As noted in the piece, the coach has also been linked with a move to Arsenal.

 

Allegri has enjoyed plenty of success at Juventus.TIZIANA FABI/Getty Images

Although eyebrows aplenty were raised when Allegri was named as the successor to Antonio Conte in Turin in 2014, Juventus would be hugely disappointed to lose the 49-year-old tactician.

Since arriving at the club Allegri has made Juventus a stronger force in European football, continued the Bianconeri’s stranglehold at the top of Serie A and has added some superb attacking players in the likes of Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain.

 

As these numbers illustrate from the Sky Sports Statto account, Allegri has also turned Juventus into a juggernaut on home soil:

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Juventus extend their unbeaten home record to 44 games in all competitions & their winning run in home domestic fixtures to 35

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While Barcelona’s chances in the Champions League are hanging by a thread following the 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their last-16 tie, Enrique could still finish the season with a double; the Blaugrana are top of the table in La Liga and into the final of the Copa del Rey, where they will face Alaves.

As such, while he’s been maligned at times this term, Enrique will be a difficult man to replace at the Camp Nou. Per La Liga journalist Rik Sharma, he’s popular at the Camp Nou too:

 

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Rik Sharma 

 

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Barcelona fans now chanting for Luis Enrique to stay. Those who were whistling and jeering the chant for him last week now clapping gently.

10:30 PM - 4 Mar 2017

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Sampaoli and Valverde, who have both had success in La Liga playing an aesthetic brand of football, look to be the standout candidates for the Blaugrana at the end of the season. Koeman and Eusebio, while legendary former Barcelona players, still have a lot to prove as managers before they should be considered serious options.

Allegri would be a fascinating choice for Barca. As was the case at Juventus, he’d be stepping in to take over a successful manager and challenged with moving an elite team up another level. The Italian champions will be hopeful their boss sticks around until at least 2018, though, when his contract is set to run out.

 

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Allegri requests improved deal?

 

http://www.football-italia.net/99362/allegri-requests-improved-deal

 

 

Mar 8, 2017

 

Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly laid out his contract demands in order that he remain with the side next season.

 

The Livorno-native has been subject to much speculation of a move to Arsenal in the summer, with Arsene Wenger’s position in doubt.

 

Also linked with the soon-to-be vacant spot at Barcelona, the Bianconeri are said to be keen to tie down their valuable asset.

 

According to Il Tempo, Allegri has requested a new four-year deal worth €5m per season and full authority when it comes to first-team matters.

 

This would provide an extension on his current agreement, which is due to expire in summer 2018.

 

The newspaper reports that the Coach has set a deadline of the end of March for the club to respond to his proposal.

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Will Max Allegri leave Juventus or stay

on? And why all the mystery?

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/12/blog/post/3078090/max-allegri-

refusing-to-be-drawn-on-whether-or-not-he-will-stay-on-as-juventus-manager

 

 

Mar 9, 2017

 

 

When Juventus play Milan on Friday, Max Allegri will once again come face-to-face with an old flame from his past. But what of his future? Nobody other than "a few people" are interested in this, Allegri said last week. On the contrary: "Juventus fans are interested in their team going all the way and winning everything there is to win."

Nevertheless, speculation about whether he'll still be in Turin next season refuses to go away. It continues to rumble on, even though Allegri said at the weekend that there is "no truth" to rumours that he has given his word to Arsenal in case Arsene Wenger resigns at the end of the season.

It carries on, irrespective of Juve's key decision-makers' expressing their confidence that Allegri isn't going anywhere. Asked Monday if the coach is 100 percent staying in Turin, general manager Beppe Marotta said, "I really think so. At the moment, there isn't any compelling reason [to believe he won't be]. We have a great relationship with him. We're happy with him. He's happy with us. There isn't any problem."

Why, then, does the story keep bubbling away?

Publicly at least, Allegri hasn't come out and announced unequivocally that he will be at Juventus next season. He has been very coy, a bit of a tease. Allegri has said in the past that sooner or later, he would like to coach in England. He makes no secret of starting English lessons during his time at Cagliari, though he did recently reveal "I've given them up."

You might recall that Allegri spent some time in London between the Milan and Juventus jobs in spring 2014. He was a strong candidate to become Tottenham manager before the board settled on Mauricio Pochettino. It's clear that he would like to experience the Premier League in the future, just as Diego Simeone is adamant that "one day I'll manage Inter," but that isn't to say it will happen this summer.

After his 100th game as Juventus manager in February, Allegri had no problem telling journalists: "I hope there are another 300 or 400." Before last week's Coppa Italia semifinal against Napoli, he made a joke about the media's obsession with the level of his English.

"Honestly, I found learning Italian hard enough because I didn't go to school all that often," said Allegri, laughing. "What counts is I can now speak Torinese [the local dialect] quite well."

Why hasn't Allegri nipped this in the bud once and for all and put pen to paper on an extension?

For a start, he says repeatedly that it isn't up to him; it's in the club's hands. But Juve's mind is made up. They want to keep him. Above all, they don't want a repeat of what happened with his predecessor, Antonio Conte. Conte committed to seeing out the final year of his contract without signing a new deal. He then quit in July just as preseason was starting and left Juventus with little time to react. Allegri has said he would never do that to the club.

Quizzed about his future a year ago, while the papers were linking him with the Chelsea job on an almost daily basis, Allegri let it be known that if he planned to leave, Juventus would be made aware of his intentions in March so they would have plenty of time to identify a successor. Those words are now being used against him, but Allegri isn't troubled by them.

On one hand, it looks like he is playing a waiting game. He wants to see what opportunities present themselves. Last week, La Stampa claimed that Italy's World Cup qualifier with Spain in October, played at the J Stadium, had been the setting for an approach by an intermediary who suggested to Allegri that when the time comes and Luis Enrique moves on from Barcelona, maybe they should have a chat.

Allegri isn't among the favourites for that particular position, but that doesn't mean he isn't the best man for the job. Brilliant at managing superstars with big egos, Juve's latest formation change, with five attackers on the pitch at the same time, is a style that would no doubt appeal to the Barça hierarchy even if their preference is for someone schooled by Cruyff, a former player willing and able to reassert the identity they seem to have lost.

It also hasn't escaped people's attention that this is Allegri's third year at Juventus. The last Juventus manager to either make it this far -- or be willing to continue into a fourth season -- was Marcello Lippi, back in his first spell from 1994-99. It's unusual for one man to stick around at this club for that length of time. More generally, today's managers seem to put greater stock than ever in Bela Guttman's three-year rule. The gist is that familiarity breeds contempt, players no longer believe they can learn anything new from the coach, they think they've heard it all before, and the message stops getting through.

Make no mistake: There have been tensions at Juventus this season. Allegri was overheard telling the club's directors that he would like to kick all his players up the backside after they lost the Italian Super Cup. Paulo Dybala refused to shake his hand when substituted against Sassuolo, but the most high-profile incident of all was his argument with Leonardo Bonucci three weeks ago. Allegri used it, quite masterfully, to reassert his authority in the dressing room and show everyone who's boss after smaller displays of dissent from Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic and Stephane Lichtsteiner.

Allegri has downplayed these incidents as things that happen at every football club, and Lippi recently recalled how his clashes with Fabrizio Ravanelli (and later, Christian Vieri) blew over. But is that the case here? Publicly, Allegri and Bonucci have said it's all behind them. In fact, they're better for it and would never allow it to get in the way of Juventus' making history this season. But it remains to be seen if the peace is genuine or insincere and whether there are hard feelings or long-term damage.

Allegri says: "It's not necessarily the case that after three years, you have to change." He went into a fourth season with Milan, only to be sacked half-way through it, and while that experience might play on his mind when considering his future, the circumstances here are completely different. Milan were raging against the dying of the light and making big cuts in spending and wages.

Juventus, by contrast, keep showing ambition. They're getting richer and richer and continue to invest in this team's future. Allegri knows he's onto a good thing. But it's March, and other than saying he is happy at Juventus and still has 18 months on his contract, he hasn't declared his intentions.

Of course, this year is different from last year. A year ago, Juventus were out of the Champions League. Allegri had fewer demands on his time and could meet the club to sort out his future. Right now, Juventus have one foot in the quarterfinals, and the treble is very much on. Frankly, there are more important things to worry about. Now is not the time to discuss his future.

"I'm not even thinking about it," he said. Microphones on the sidelines at Juventus games often pick up Allegri bellowing at his players to be "patient," and it looks like fans wishing to know what his plans are will have to be too.

"Max is a poker player," Gennaro Gattuso, Allegri's former player, told Sky Italia at the weekend. He keeps his cards close to his chest. Knows when to hold 'em. Knows when to fold 'em.

 

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

'Having Barcelona in the quarter-finals is not pleasing' -

Allegri frustrated with PSG collapse

 

The Juve boss felt the Catalans' Champions League comeback was

"beautiful" but bad news for the other teams still vying for glory.

 

http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions-league/2017/03/09/33462272/-

 

 

Mar 9, 2017

 

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri says Barcelona's stunning progression to the Champions League quarter-finals is bad news for the rest of the teams bidding to win the competition.

 

Barca completed the greatest comeback in the competition's history against Paris Saint-Germain at Camp Nou on Wednesday, overturning a four-goal first-leg deficit to win 6-1 on the night and 6-5 on aggregate.

 

Three of their goals came from the 88th minute onwards and Allegri conceded it was an occasion for the history books.

 

But he felt Barca's progression to the last eight means there are now three teams who should be considered favourites over his Juve side.

 

"With all due respect to Paris Saint-Germain, to have Barcelona in the quarter finals – and I know we still have to get there ourselves – is not pleasing," he told reporters ahead of Friday's home Serie A match with AC Milan.

 

"Something like what happened to Barcelona in Paris, where they lost 4-0, doesn't happen every year, or even every five years.

 

"So it is normal that now Barcelona are favourites to win the Champions League along with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

 

"It was a beautiful evening of football which I think will remain in the annals of football history, because I don't think any team has ever pulled off such a good comeback.

 

“It wasn't easy for them, it was a good and very intense game. It wasn't great technically, compared to what Barcelona have always shown the world, but that is why football is beautiful and strange - there are situations no-one can predict."

 

 

 

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.@OfficialAllegri: "#BarcaPSG was a great night of football. This can be a strange game at times, but beautiful at the same time."

12:07 PM - 9 Mar 2017

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Allegri wants Barcelona's thrilling turnaround to serve as a warning for Juve when they play their own second leg against Porto in Turin on Tuesday with a 2-0 lead in hand.

 

He continued: "Above all, that should make us understand and reflect that on Tuesday we have a game in which we have a two-goal lead and in the league we have an eight-point lead but it is not over.

 

"So we have to take things one game at a time, without looking at what might happen in three months."

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

CdS: Spalletti has Juventus deal

 

http://www.football-italia.net/99494/cds-spalletti-has-juventus-deal

 

 

Mar 11, 2017

 

According to the Corriere della Sera, Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti already has a verbal agreement with Juventus to replace Max Allegri.

 

The well-respected Italian newspaper claims that Allegri is going to leave the Bianconeri at the end of the season, even though he hasn’t yet chosen his destination.

 

Options include Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and even Barcelona for the former Milan tactician.

 

As for Juve, the Corriere della Sera claims that Spalletti has already reached a verbal agreement with Juventus to take over next season.

 

His contract with Roma is due to expire in June and he has repeatedly refused to discuss a renewal, insisting he would have to leave if they failed to win any silverware.

 

Roma President James Pallotta flew in to Rome this morning and is expected to demand some clarity on the situation in a meeting with Spalletti.

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Spalletti: 'I haven't signed for anyone'

 

http://www.football-italia.net/99508/spalletti-i-havent-signed-anyone

 

 

Mar 11, 2017

 

Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti was asked about his future after Juventus reports. “I have not signed any pre-contracts with anyone.”

 

The Corriere della Sera newspaper, which is not a sports publication and was the first to break the Gonzalo Higuain to Juve story, claims today that Spalletti has a verbal agreement to replace Max Allegri in Turin next season.

 

“I have not signed any pre-contracts with anyone,” replied Spalletti in his Press conference.

 

Technically, that doesn’t rule out the existence of a verbal agreement and the wording of his response will be analysed carefully.

 

Spalletti’s contract with Roma expires in June and he has so far refused to even discuss an extension.

 

“If you want to ask me about my contract… The President got (director Mauro) Baldissoni to say something to me. I have nothing to hide.

 

“If I win, then I will remain, if I don’t win, then I will not remain. You can ask anyone you like, I stay consistent on this issue.

 

“I am behind my players and I’ll show you that all the way, because I believe in them, I consider them to be strong, I accepted them, wanted them and right now contracts don’t matter.

 

“Nobody in the squad is asking me about my contract, because what counts now is the sporting result, those who love Roma are focused on tomorrow’s result.

 

“In any career, if you don’t get results, your future will always be limited. Right now we need to focus on tomorrow’s result against Palermo, as that is all that matters.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Juventus Maxed Out? Massimiliano Allegri’s

Uncertain Future At The Bianconeri

 

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2017/03/juventus-maxed-out-

massimiliano-allegris-uncertain-future-at-the-bianconeri/

 

 

Mar 13, 2017

As Massimiliano Allegri reaches the end of his third season at Juventus, it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will enter into a fourth. Were he to do so, however, he would be the first Bianconeri boss to go into a fourth season in charge since Marcello Lippi.

Rumours have been rife since the turn of the year that Massimiliano Allegri is set to leave Juventus at the end of the season and, while nothing has yet been confirmed, it would bring the curtain down on yet another period of Bianconeri dominance were he to do so.

Allegri arrived at Juventus in a whirlwind. On 15^th July 2014, Antonio Conte left his post as Bianconeri coach, and the following day Allegri took the reins. They were big boots to fill, yet he would leave the Turin side in better shape than he took over.

It would be a familiar state of affairs for the champions; while each Juventus side may feel like a dynasty, the turnover of coaches is steady. Not since Marcello Lippi’s first spell, from 1994 to 1999, has the same man sat on the bench for more than three campaigns. By that rationale, Allegri’s time is up.

Should he choose to leave his post, there would be no shortage of offers. He has enjoyed success with both Juventus and, previously, Milan, winning his domestic league with both.

Indeed, despite seeming imperious under Conte, there is something of the immortal about the Juventus of recent seasons. In Serie A, though they may suffer flesh wounds, they do not wear the scars anything like as heavily as their rivals.

The improvement of the Bianconeri under Allegri has been palpable, however difficult it was to imagine before he took charge. His side’s domestic record is second to none – other than Luigi Bertolini, who sat in the dugout for just 10 games, no coach has a higher win percentage with the club – over 71 percent.

Yet there was scepticism following his appointment, using the record of a poor Milan side to suggest Allegri was not good enough to improve his new club. It took time to assert his ideas onto the side, but his belief in youthful players and attacking football were present from the start. To reassure supporters, the results were almost immediate.

The Juventus side of 2014-15 was very different to today’s. While their defensive line remains firm, most of the other fundamentals have changed and the players’ names moved from selection to folklore.

It seems an age since the days of Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez, but they were the stars – along with Arturo Vidal – of Allegri’s side back then. Perhaps it is illustrative of the need for experience in a team that the Bianconeri reached the Champions League final that year, Allegri’s best result so far.

Anaxarchus advised Alexander the Great (who considered himself immortal) that there were infinite worlds, reportedly causing the ancient king to weep – he had not yet conquered one world, so his ambition to rule everything became even more remote.

Allegri may have conquered Italy, but he has not yet raised his standard in Europe. Reaching a Champions League final is one thing, but winning it – proving that you can coach a team that outdoes all of the monsters of the European game is quite another.

Another club in another country may enable him to further those horizons, though with Juventus’ current Champions League campaign not yet written, it would be difficult to imagine Allegri choosing to leave if he is able to break the 21 year drought for a third crown.

Should there be doubts in his ability to build a team, he can point to his overhaul of Juventus in 2015; with the arrivals of Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado key to the continued excellence of the side. Dybala’s vision and creativity have marked him out as one of the best forward players in the world despite his youth, while Cuadrado’s previous inconsistency has been levelled out, making him a more reliable performer, especially in big games.

Of course, it took a little while to get things right in 2015-16, but after 10 hit and miss games, it was all hit – just five points dropped after November.

From then on, it has been business as usual. Allegri’s charges have peaks and troughs of form, but always seem to win. Sometimes they sparkle, other times they shine.

It is clear that Allegri has unfinished business, both with Juventus and with football. Whether he is able to resolve that remains to be seen. Certainly, the Champions League will not be an easy task to win.

With that in mind, it is perhaps logical to move on. He has built a team now that should have no trouble continuing to be successful, though there will soon be a significant change required in the defensive unit. Replacing such players as Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Barzagli will create issues of its own, even with the options already in place in the shape of Daniele Rugani.

Allegri has shown he can do that level of remodelling once, but it seems increasingly likely he will not be around to do so again. Whatever happens, those fans who doubted his appointment at the start have been made to eat humble pie since then. This Juventus, Allegri’s Juventus, are one of the best.

 

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Please stay, Max

 

While Arsenal or Barcelona talk continues, Adam Digby warns

Juventus fans don’t appreciate Max Allegri’s importance. 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/99589/please-stay-max

 

 

Mar 13, 2017

 

For such a charismatic and charming Tuscan, Max Allegri has certainly proven to be a divisive figure.

Even now, more than three years since his dismissal, Milan supporters struggle to agree on the lasting legacy and accountability of his Rossoneri tenure. How much of their slide into mediocrity was his fault is balanced against how deeply was he undermined by the club’s desperate internal problems, the failure to replace ageing players somehow blamed on a man only ever in charge of on-field issues.

Yes, he made mistakes, and his time in Turin has shown that he has learned from many of them. Now more tactically aware during matches and much-improved in his use of substitutions, he has still split the judgement of the Juventus fanbase as to how much credit he deserves for the success the Old Lady has enjoyed on his watch.

Every time Daniele Rugani or Marko Pjaca is omitted from the starting XI, Allegri is taken to task over a perceived reluctance to field youngsters, as if his work in developing Mattia De Sciglio, Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala happened in spite of him rather than because of him. Even when decisions as bold as changing to a back four in 2014-15 or to 4-2-3-1 this January paid off in spectacular fashion, his tactics and team selection continue to be second-guessed by armchair experts who believe their success on FIFA 17 or Football Manager give them a level of insight beyond that of a three-time Scudetto winner.

To those fans, I offer six words of advice, one for each league title this record-breaking team appears certain to have won by the end of this season; be careful what you wish for.

Simply put, Juventus were damn lucky to land Allegri back in July 2014. Antonio Conte walked away that summer, replaced just 24 hours later by the former Pescara midfielder, and they proved to be the perfect match. Where the current Chelsea boss failed to balance the demands of multiple competitions, his successor showed incredible skill, as he deftly steered the side to a first League-and-Cup double in two decades and ended a 12-year wait for a Champions League Final berth.

Despite a complete overhaul of the playing staff ahead of the following season, he once again swept over Juve’s domestic competition, but came up short in Europe after giving Bayern Munich a scare in the last 16. This year – with another influx of talent – the Bianconeri seem much-improved yet again, holding their rivals at home at arm’s length and seeking to go much further in the Champions League once more.

Rumours of discord within the squad came to the fore as tensions with Stephan Lichtsteiner, Leonardo Bonucci and Dybala all boiled over in full view, but the team’s performances rubbish that narrative comprehensively. A group divided in the manner many insist Juventus have been would not fight so strongly for their Coach. Allegri turned around a number of matches that appeared to be lost with the help of a cohesive unit that so clearly believe in themselves and the man on the sidelines.

Talk of a summer exit has continued for months, with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain or even Barcelona touted as possible destinations. Luciano Spalletti and Paulo Sousa have been mentioned as replacements, two names which should terrify Juventus supporters, each seeming more and more flawed as the campaign heads to a close. Roma have looked drained and desperate without an alternative approach when Plan A fails, while Fiorentina appear rudderless in every match except their win over the Bianconeri back in January.

With that historic sixth Scudetto looking increasingly certain, Allegri will hopefully decide to stay and try for a fourth title of his own with the club. Replacing him looks much more difficult than the search for someone to step in after Conte’s hasty exit, while the club’s failure to taste European success in 21 years surely makes delivering Champions League glory his ultimate aim.

Who knows, that might even see him become universally admired by Juventus fans. 

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Why shrewd Spalletti is the right man to replace Allegri at Juventus

 

 

With dream target Diego Simeone unobtainable, the Bianconeri have

wisely identified Roma's coach as the best possible replacement for Allegri.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/683/main/2017/03/16/33691502/-

 

 

Mar 16, 2017

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

 

Amidst all of the uncertainty surrounding Massimiliano Allegri's future at Juventus, one thing is clear: should the current coach depart, Miralem Pjanic would love to see Luciano Spalletti take over.

 

The Bosnian midfielder may have cut his ties with Roma last summer, after the Old Lady enacted his €32 million buy-out clause, but he retains a strong emotional connection with his former boss.

 

Indeed, Pjanic's ongoing affection for Spalletti is literally illustrated by a photo of the pair that he keeps on the inside of his locker at Juventus Stadium. Of course, the last thing that Pjanic would have wanted was to have team-mate Juan Cuadrado unintentionally include the keep-sake in a photo he had taken with Sami Khedira last month.

 

 

 Follow

Vassita @Vasso_Cenation

The inside of Miralem Pjanic's locker. His photo with Spalletti.

8:10 PM - 21 Feb 2017

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However, the 26-year-old might not have to hide his enduring love for Spalletti for much longer, with Juve having now made the Roma boss their first choice to replace Allegri should he decide to leave Turin at the end of the season.

 

Diego Simeone has long been Juve's dream replacement but the Argentine still has a year to run on his contract with Atletico Madrid and is far more likely to return to Inter, whom he represented as a player, rather than link up with their most hated rivals.

 

Spalletti, by contrast, will be available this summer, having refused to commit himself to a new deal. The 58-year-old has revitalised since returning for a second stint at the Stadio Olimpico last year, steadying a ship that had lost its way badly under predecessor Rudi Garcia before then re-establishing the Giallorossi as Juve's principle title challengers.

 

Roma would like Spalletti to renew his contract but he insists that the short-term nature of their present arrangement is actually best for both parties. "Last year they fired a coach and had to keep paying three years of his contract," he has pointed out. "I’m doing them a favour!"

 

He's also rather shrewdly moving himself into the perfect position to take the Juve job should it become available, all the while publicly insisting that Roma will sack him anyway if he does not lift either the Coppa Italia or the Europa League at the end of the current campaign.

 

"If I don't win something, it means I won't done any better than my predecessors and, as a result, I'll have to go home," he reasons.

 

 

However, Turin is his more likely destination, even though there are those who wonder if Spalletti is really the right man for Juve given his relatively modest trophy haul within the Italian game.

 

The Bianconeri are obsessed with trophies and Spalletti has very few of them, having claimed just two Coppe Italia during two stints in Rome spanning just over five years.

 

However, it is worth bearing in mind that during his first spell with the Giallorossi, he was competing in a very strong Serie A featuring perennial Champions League contenders AC Milan and a dominant Inter. His second stint, meanwhile, has coincided with Juve's greatest ever era of domestic dominance.

 

Furthermore, Spalletti has European experience - a much-admired quality at Vinovo - having won two Russian Premier League titles during his time in charge of Zenit, whom he twice led to the last 16 of the Champions League during his five years in Saint Petersburg.

 

Juve even considered hiring Spalletti before appointing Antonio Conte as coach in 2011 but were unable to free him from his contract. Thanks to the Tuscan, there are no such obstacles this time around.

 

Indeed, should Bianconeri CEO Beppe Marotta fail to convince Allegri to see out the final year of his contract, he will happily turn to Spalletti, with whom he previously worked at Vicenza at the turn of the century.

 

Juve not only believe that Spalletti can win in Turin, but that he can do so in style. Many pundits believe that Roma are, on their day, the best footballing side in Serie A, with their coach having already proven himself an innovative tactician and an excellent man-manager.

 

 

It was Spalletti who inspired Alex Ferguson to implement a more fluid attacking formation - the one which won Manchester United the 2007-08 Champions League - after being taken aback by the Italian's famous 4-6-0 line-up, which transformed Francesco Totti from a gifted trequartista into the most prolific goalscorer in Serie A.

 

Spalletti has also handled the very tricky problem of how to handle Totti's retirement wonderfully well, proving he knows how to deal with big players - and even bigger egos.

 

More recently, the ex-Udinese coach has rebuilt Edin Dzeko's confidence after a dismal debut season in Rome, while at the same time entrusting Radjan Nainggolan with an attacking midfield role that has resulted in the Belgian scoring more goals than ever before.

 

All of this merely underlines just how integral Spalletti has been to Roma's resurgence and why they want to keep him. However, their hopes of doing so appear to be diminishing and it was telling that club president James Pallotta made the rather unusual move of criticising his coach's formation change after the surprise Serie A loss to third-placed Napoli a fortnight ago.

 

"I think we might’ve outsmarted ourselves," the American argued. However, while Spalletti may have got his tactics wrong on that particular day, he is managing his potential exit plan beautifully. It might not be long before he and Pjanic are in a position to make more great memories together!

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Massimiliano Allegri open to extending

Juventus contract beyond the summer

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/juventus/story/3086521/massimiliano-allegri

-open-to-extending-juventus-contract-beyond-the-summer

 

 

Mar 20, 2017

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

 

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri says if the Serie A club wish to extend his contract beyond the end of the season then they just need to call him.

Allegri's deal with Juve is up for renewal at the end of June and there has been talk of interest from Arsenal and Barcelona in the former Cagliari and AC Milan boss.

The 49-year-old has tried not to comment about his future amid the growing speculation, but after Sunday's 1-0 win over Sampdoria, he appeared to open up about staying in Turin.

"If [general manager Beppe] Marotta wants to continue working with me, then I'm just waiting for him to call me," Allegri is quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.

An argument with Leonardo Bonucci, which saw the defender dropped for the first leg of Juve's Champions League round-of-16 tie with Porto last month, may have suggested a growing tension within the camp, while Allegri let off more steam during Sunday's win in Genoa.

Allegri has, however, played down any malign in his latest touchline tirade, saying he was just trying to keep his team on their toes.

"The first thing that got me mad was when [Kwadwo] Asamoah switched off and didn't mark his man up front, then the second was with [Daniele] Rugani when we had a man on the ground and he gave possession away," Allegri said. "In situations like these, you need to be a bit ruthless.

"Whenever they went down, we kicked the ball out immediately, but they didn't -- when they got the ball off Rugani, they carried on playing. It's just moments like these where you need to be more attentive and use your head.

"I already knew we were going to have a difficult second half, which is why I took my coat off at half-time -- I threw it away in advance."

Juve's win restored their eight-point lead over Roma at the top of the Serie A table, but they still need another 20 points from the final nine games of the season to be sure of the title, according to their coach.

"If we want to win a sixth straight Scudetto, we need 93 points," Allegri said. "This was a fundamental step, like the ones which will follow."

 

 

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Barcelona: ‘No Allegri offer’

 

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/99980/barcelona-‘no-allegri-offer’

 

 

Mar 21, 2017

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

Barcelona sporting director Robert Fernandez insists “there has been no offer” for Juventus Coach Massimiliano Allegri.

 

The Bianconeri boss has been linked with a move to the Blaugrana, as Luis Enrique is leaving at the end of the season.

 

“There has been no offer for the Juve Coach,” Fernandez told Cadena Ser.

 

“Ernesto Valverde? He’s a very serious person and I’ve known him for many years, he works well. I’ll decide on the new Coach after talking with the President.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Allegri to stay with Juve

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/100029/allegri-stay-juve

 

 

Mar 22, 2017

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

Massimiliano Allegri is reportedly ready to stay at Juventus, signing a new contract with the club after links with Arsenal and Barcelona.

 

According to Tuttosport, the Coach wants to continue with the project in Turin and works well with the leadership at the club.

 

With this in mind, a new deal will look to tie the 49-year-old to his current post until 2020, with his current agreement set to expire in 2018.

 

There has been heavy speculation linking the Tuscan with the job at Arsenal, with under-fire boss Arsene Wenger looking likely to be heading for the exit. The Torinese newspaper reports however, that this will not now be the case, with Allegri happy to remain.

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Lehmann: 'Who is Allegri?'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/100064/lehmann-who-allegri

 

 

Mar 22, 2017

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

Former Milan goalkeeper Jens Lehmann doubts Juventus Coach Max Allegri is the man for Arsenal. “Who is Allegri, with all due respect? He is in Italy.”

 

Allegri has long been linked with the Gunners job if Arsene Wenger leaves the club this summer.

 

“The people that hold up their banners saying ‘Wenger Out’ don’t hold up banners saying they want x, y, z to come in because this guy will guarantee success,” argued Lehmann in The Sun.

 

“Bring Allegri in and we will win everything? Who is Allegri, with all due respect? He is in Italy. Will somebody like him bring success?

 

“When you look at the type of football he is playing, it doesn’t really fit Arsenal.

 

“None of them has a solution, someone who would guarantee them Champions League football and maybe win something.”

 

Italian tacticians have traditionally done very well in the Premier League, as Carlo Ancelotti, Roberto Mancini and Claudio Ranieri won the title.

 

Antonio Conte is currently top of the table with Chelsea in his maiden English season.

 

Lehmann had a brief and disappointing spell at Milan in 1998, playing just the first five games of the season before moving to Borussia Dortmund in January 1999.

 

He went on to Arsenal from 2003 to 2008.

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Award 'between Sarri and Allegri'

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/100195/award-between-sarri-and-allegri

 

 

Mar 25, 2017

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

The Serie A Coach of the Year award is “between Maurizio Sarri and Max Allegri,” confirmed Renzo Ulivieri.

 

This trophy will be announced on Monday and is assigned by the Italian Coaches’ Association, of which Ulivieri is the President.

 

“It’s between Sarri and Allegri,” confessed Ulivieri on Radio Marte of the Panchina d’Oro (Golden Bench) trophy.

 

Napoli and Juventus did battle for the Scudetto last season and were the only Italian entries into the Champions League this term.

 

“Claudio Ranieri will receive a special award and tell us about his experiences with Leicester City.

 

“We will take this get-together as an opportunity to discuss certain themes. We as Coaches have a problem with referees and certainly need to face that issue.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Sarri wins Panchina d’Oro

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/100252/sarri-wins-panchina-d’oro

 

 

Mar 27, 2017

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri has won the Panchina d’Oro, beating Juventus’ Max Allegri and Sassuolo’s Eusebio Di Francesco.

 

The Golden Bench is awarded to the tactician judged to have done the best work in the previous season, and the Partenopei boss has been given the accolade after finishing second in Serie A during his first campaign with the club.

 

“Usually awards don’t bring me satisfaction, but this excites me because it was voted for by Coaches,” Sarri noted.

 

“Five years ago I was in Serie C, it’s extraordinary. I thank my staff, at Empoli then Napoli and two people: Marcello Carli and Cristiano Giuntoli.”

 

Sarri received 25 votes from the 61 Coaches, with Allegri getting 22 and Di Francesco seven.

 

Ivan Juric won the Serie B award for his work with Crotone, while Cittadella’s Roberto Venturato was given the Lega Pro Panchina d’Oro.

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

 

Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri beats

Massimiliano Allegri to Serie A award

 

 

 

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/story/3090304/napoli-boss-

maurizio-sarri-beats-massimiliano-allegri-to-serie-a-coach-award

 

 

Mar 27, 2017

 

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

 

Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri has been voted Serie A Coach of the Year, beating Massimiliano Allegri of Juventus and and Sassuolo's Eusebio Di Francesco.

The award, known as the Panchina d'oro which translates as "golden bench," recognises the best coach of the previous season, as voted for by their peers.

Sarri, 58, received 25 of 61 votes, three more than Allegri, who won the award last year. Di Francesco received seven votes.

It was a second Panchina d'oro award for Sarri, who won the Serie B prize for the 2013-14 season after guiding Empoli to second place and promotion.

"Usually, getting an award doesn't give me particular satisfaction -- I often consider it as time taken away from my work," Sarri said.

"But this gives me enthusiasm and happiness, and I think that's because it was a decision made by my colleagues."

Sarri is the first Napoli coach to win the prize and breaks a four-year winning streak for Juventus, with Allegri's victory last year following three straight wins for Antonio Conte.

Napoli finished second behind Juventus last season, Sarri's first year in charge of his hometown club.

There was also an award for former Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, who guided the club to the Premier League title last year but was fired nine months later with his team close to the relegation zone.

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

Juventus push for Allegri renewal

 

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/100289/juventus-push-allegri-renewal

 

 

Mar 28, 2017

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

Juventus will reportedly offer Massimiliano Allegri a new contract, as they aren’t convinced by potential successors.

 

The Coach has been linked with both Arsenal and Barcelona, having led the Bianconeri to the double in the past two seasons.

 

Gazzetta dello Sport points out that the Turin giants are averaging 2.52 points per game this season, better than Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich and Antonio Conte’s Chelsea.

 

That average is lower than Conte’s 2013-14 side, but the Old Lady can still reach 100 points by winning all of the remaining nine games.

 

Juve are also still in Europe, facing Barcelona in the Champions League Quarter-Finals, and Gazzetta suggests Allegri could continue next season.

 

His contract would expire at the end of the 2017-18 season, but the Bianconeri won’t go into the season with a Coach whose contract is expiring.

 

Therefore, having evaluated possible replacements such as Paulo Sousa, Eusebio Di Francesco and Luciano Spalletti, the club are poised to offer a renewal.

 

It’s thought Allegri would accept the offer as long as he’s presented with a convincing project, as it appears Arsene Wenger will stay at Arsenal in any case.

 

While Allegri does want to manage in the Premier League one day, he’s not desperate to move to England immediately.

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

Allegri more likely to stay at Juventus

 

 

http://www.juvefc.com/allegri-likely-stay-juventus/

 

Apr 1, 2017

 

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

 

Juventus Coach Max Allegri is looking ever more likely to stay at the club and pen an extension to his current deal.

There’s been a mountain of speculation over Allegri’s future in recent months, especially given the reports from England linking him with a move to Arsenal as a long-term successor to Arsene Wenger. Despite the rumours, both Allegri and the club have insisted that he is happy to remain at the club for the foreseeable future.

The latest headlines in Italy suggest Juve may take things a step further in an effort to keep Allegri at the club beyond 2018, when his current deal expires. Gazzetta Dello Sport reported last week that Juve are working to renew Allegri’s contract as the management are not impressed with the possible alternatives that have been linked with Juventus.

 

View image on Twitter

 

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Juvefc.com @juvefcdotcom

Juve want to keep Allegri - None of the other options are convincing (Spalletti, Sousa etc.) Marotta & Paratici to meet with him soon [GdS]

9:46 AM - 28 Mar 2017

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This was promptly followed by a report from the reliable Romeo Agresti who suggested that Juve are working on new deals for the entire management team, including Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici, in an effort to ward off interest from possible suitors.

Speaking to RadioVS last week, Corriere dello Sport journalist Ant Barilla expressed his opinion that Allegri is ever more likely to remain at Juventus and sign a new multi-year contract, pledging his future to the club.

 

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Juvefc.com @juvefcdotcom

.@AntBarilla "Theres a very good chance Allegri will stay, many who were sure he'd leave at the end of the season are backtracking" #RadioVS

9:34 PM - 29 Mar 2017

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[Socrates 7962]

 

 

Arsenal-linked Allegri refuses to

be drawn on his Juventus future

 

 

With his position continuing to be called into question ahead of a clash

with Napoli, the Serie A winner says no contract discussions have been held.

 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/683/main/2017/04/01/34219022/-

 

Apr 1, 2017

 

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

Massimiliano Allegri has revealed that despite rumours to the contrary, he has not discussed a new contract with the Juventus board during the recent international break.

 

Juve boss Allegri has been linked with a switch away from the Juventus Stadium at the end of this campaign, with his current contract at the club set to expire in June 2018.

 

However, ahead of Juve's clash with Napoli on Sunday, Allegri - who has been widely rumoured to be in the running to replace Arsene Wenger should the Frenchman leave Arsenal - refused to be drawn on his future in Turin.

"Absolutely not. We have not met up, we're not discussing next season, as there is plenty of time for that," Allegri said.

 

"I haven't discussed the future with the board yet; we will have time to do that properly soon."

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

 

Montella option for Juventus job?

 

 

 

http://www.football-italia.net/100528/montella-option-juventus-job

 

Apr 2, 2017

 

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

Milan Coach Vincenzo Montella is an option for the Juventus bench if Max Allegri leaves, claims the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

 

Allegri has postponed all talk of his future until the end of the current campaign, but continues to be linked with the jobs at Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and even Barcelona.

 

Several names have been mentioned as possible replacements in Turin, including Luciano Spalletti of Roma, Sampdoria’s Marco Giampaolo and Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini.

 

Now the Corriere della Sera newspaper suggests that Montella is on the wishlist too, having impressed in his time at Milan this season.

 

L’Aeroplanino started his management career at the Roma youth academy and was promoted to caretaker manager in February 2011.

 

He went on to spells at Catania, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and joined Milan this season.

 

As the Rossoneri are in the middle of a takeover, Montella confessed in his Press conference yesterday that his future was up in the air.

 

“We’ll have to see what they want to do with me.”

[Socrates 7962]

 

 

 

 

Allegri's ultimate tactical test

 

 

Juventus seem determined to stick with their 4-2-3-1 system against

Napoli and Barcelona. Greg Murray analyses the pros and cons.

 

http://www.football-italia.net/100616/allegris-ultimate-tactical-test

 

Apr 4, 2017

 

Tifosibianconeri English page - CLICK HERE

 

It is an indicator of the high esteem in which Juventus hold themselves that suffering five defeats before February necessitated a drastic tactical overhaul. The resulting 4-2-3-1 formation has earned plaudits for combining a swashbuckling, attacking emphasis with the ability to grind out results. However, Sunday’s draw away to Napoli has raised doubts over how the formation will cope against the offensive might of Barcelona.  

The new formation allows Coach Max Allegri to field his three star strikers, whilst catering to Gonzalo Higuain’s preference for playing as a lone centre-forward. Although less glamorous, Mario Mandzukic’s defensive work rate on the left wing has been somewhat of a revelation.

The Croatian international has been played as a ‘hidden forward’ rather than an inverted winger, plying his trade as a target man out wide. The attacking prowess of his supporting fullback Alex Sandro means that there’s no shortage of traditional wing play down the left flank, leaving Mandzukic free to cause havoc moving into the box.

Unavoidably, overloading the attack has taken its toll on the defence. Not only has the team lost a centre-back, but the two central midfielders Miralem Pjanic and Sami Khedira are both offensively minded. Thus, the Old Lady’s defence has been playing deeper and allowing opponents to carry to the ball further into their half.

Additionally, the Bianconeri’s new set-up is significantly narrower when not in possession. The two centre-backs no longer enjoy the luxury of a covering player when defending the wide areas, which opens gaps in the final third for teams with talented wingers to exploit.

Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri has long favoured a 4-3-3 formation, putting an emphasis on attacking from wide positions. Whereas in previous fixtures where Juventus’ 3-5-2 has effectively contained this threat, the Partenopei dominated the flanks on Sunday. If it weren’t for Lorenzo Insigne’s missing shooting boots on the night, Allegri’s side could well have paid the price for this.

Juventus’ comfortable lead in Serie A and 3-1 first leg advantage in the Coppa Italia allowed Allegri to rotate his squad for the trip to Naples. Not starting Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado is evidence not only to a prioritisation of the Champions League, but also to a shortage in offensive options.

To make matters worse, reserve winger Marco Pjaca’s ACL tear leaves teenager Moise Kean as the only offensive player that Allegri has in the event of an injury to any of his front four.

Even without further injuries, facing Barcelona is a daunting task. The Catalan giants are also known to play a 4-3-3, and the Nou Camp pitch is notoriously large, allowing Leo Messi and Co. space to exploit the wings. There is arguably no team worse than the Blaugrana against whom to field a narrow formation, especially one that concedes and extra six per cent passes in their defensive third.  

Furthermore, Allegri’s 4-2-3-1 would require both wingers to track back in order to counter the threat of Messi and Neymar. As if asking Mandzukic to tackle Messi wasn’t enough, over-burdening the wingers defensively has blunted their effectiveness in attack.

Nevertheless, it is not all doom and gloom for the Old Lady. Barcelona suffered a similarly inconsistent start to the season as Juventus, which likewise resulted in a formation change, switching to a 3-4-3 (set up as 3-1-2-1-3). With Dybala occupying Sergio Busquets, this would undoubtedly leave space for the remaining three forwards.  

Moreover, Juventus may benefit from the fact that Barcelona Coach Luis Enrique has abandoned Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka tactics. The former Roma boss has instead encouraged fast build-up play, often by-passing the midfield to give more space to his MSN trio. Whereas Allegri’s 4-2-3-1 may have been exposed against possession-based play, his deeper sitting defence would be ideal against a counter-attacking team.

The upcoming fixtures are far from mission impossible for Juventus, and Allegri is not without options. Sunday’s experiment of introducing Claudio Marchisio into defensive midfield and pushing Pjanic forward certainly helped to balance the scales defensively.  Otherwise reverting to the tried and tested 3-5-2 formation or attempting to match Barcelona’s 3-4-3 are both valid possibilities for the Tuscan Coach.

With the first leg against Barcelona at home, Allegri may well decide to field a more defensive XI in Turin. However, Barcelona’s recent struggles coping with high-pressing, attacking teams have been well documented, and Allegri has spent the last three months training his team to do exactly that.

As the saying goes ‘fortune favours the bold’, and if the Coach sticks to his guns then perhaps, just perhaps, it will do on the night.