Boasting the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, and Alex Sandro in the defensive unit, one expects the Juventus to be the best defensive side. With ageless wonder Gianluigi Buffon guarding the goal, the opposition usually faces a tough time to go past the famed defense. But this time around, the story has been different altogether. The
But this time around, the story has been different altogether. The six-time Italian champions are having a tough time guarding the goal, as they have conceded seven times in the league itself. What is going wrong with the Turin based side’s defence? The answer to this question is offered by Chiellini himself.
https://twitter.com/IFTVofficial/status/919302847375781888
We are not defending like a unit
The left-footed centre-back considered that the individual players have been good, but the Old Lady have failed to defend well as a unit. The veteran cited that they need to improve if they are hoping to pull up some satisfactory performances. Football Italia reported the Italy international saying,
“With all due respect, when we don’t concede goals I’m the first to say it’s not thanks to me, or we defenders.
“The defensive phase is about the team, otherwise it would be too easy, we’d be playing an individual sport, playing tennis with the defender against the striker.
“This is a team game, so it’s about balance, the equilibrium is sometimes delicate and we all play for that.
“We definitely have to improve the defensive phase, and we’re well aware of that.”
https://twitter.com/footballitalia/status/920244532205191168
The missing links
Chiellini has himself been fantastic this season, the centre-back has been involved in eight defensive actions per game in the Italian top flight. He also has been good at holding possession coupled with a pass completion rate of 88%. But as Chiellini himself said, Juventus have failed as a unit. The Old Lady conceded only thrice until the Champions League final last
The Turin side conceded only thrice until the Champions League final last season, conceded three in the first European game this season itself. With the likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Dani Alves leaving, the replacements have failed to match their level. The new signings lack coordination, and Alex Sandro has been a bit sloppy so far. Juventus are surely missing their gone stars.
https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/919281097694957568
Author’s Take
Juventus though have established their reputation as one of the best defensive sides in the world have failed to match their tag this season. With stars like Chiellini, Barzagli, Lichtsteiner, and Buffon aging up, the Old Lady might have just failed to make some good defensive recruitment. The loss of Bonucci and Alves along with Sandro’s form has done them no good. With the Serie A getting more competitive, Juventus will need to pull up their socks if they are to win seventh successive Italian crown.
