Not even a month ago, Juventus Turin won in Lecce (3-0, January 21) and took the lead in Serie A. Scudetto dreams were becoming more concrete, but that perhaps added an excess of pressure, since since then it has only taken one point in two home matches, against Empoli (1-1) and Udinese (0-1), two teams which are struggling not to go down. These meetings surrounded the clash on the lawn of Inter, lost 1-0 after a series of 17 matches without defeat in the Championship. The Nerazzurri therefore regained their leadership position, and seven points ahead, with a match in hand.
Juventus, in second place, remains in line with its objective at the start of the season, a return to the Champions League. “We haven’t won anything for three years, it’s frustrating, but we are in the process of securing the Champions League. It’s not a foregone conclusion, teams have gone six or seven years without qualifying,” said Max Allegri before the match on Friday. The Juve coach defended his record in the face of criticism which continues to arise about the quality of play offered. In this regard, he confirmed his philosophy on the club’s YouTube channel, as part of an interview celebrating his 405 matches on the Turin bench, becoming tied for the second most capped coach in the club’s history, with Marcello Lippi and behind Giovanni Trapattoni (596): “To win titles, there are 70 or even 80% of matches which are not played but are won. »
Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach. (B. Papon/The Team)
Thiago Motta top of list in case of departure
The Italian coach will complete his eighth season at Juventus, over two mandates (from 2014 to 2019, and since 2021) and could continue with a ninth: “I still have one year of contract, we are working well this year. The important thing is to finish the season in the best conditions and with an excellent result. » His future will depend on him. Allegri remains a landmark for a club which changed boards last year, when extra-sporting matters were piling up. However, it is unlikely that he will continue the adventure without extending, and to extend, he will have to reduce his salary (9 million euros per year).
At the same time, management is studying different options and Thiago Motta would be the preferred target, according to the Italian press. The profile would fit with the club’s new sporting policy of focusing on young people, while being competitive. What the former PSG midfielder achieved in Bologna, 5th tied on points with Atalanta, virtually qualified for the Champions League.
