Three different coaches in less than a season haven’t solved the Bianconeri’s problems, and so far Spalletti hasn’t managed to turn things around. Now Bologna, Roma, and Pafos in the Champions League: no room for error
A “Gattopardo-esque” whirlwind is what’s preventing Juventus from getting back on its feet: everything changes so that nothing changes. Thiago Motta ended his stint with the Bianconeri due to an “interpersonal” style of soccer taken to the nth degree: fluid, chameleon-like roles, variable formations, and a string of draws. At the end of last March, Igor Tudor took over—a Bianconeri through and through—snatching Champions League qualification on the final penalty kick (Locatelli in Venice on May 25), followed by a trip to the U.S. for the Club World Cup. He returned as the confirmed manager, yet the feeling that he was merely a stopgap never fully subsided until his farewell at the end of October, when he opened the doors of Continassa to Luciano da Certaldo.
There is a common thread linking the coaching changes right up to that sad night in Naples: the promised takeoff never materialized. And Europe’s top competition remains a mission constantly hanging in the balance: the league, uncertain in its most prestigious parts, will end with a lower Scudetto odds but higher Champions League odds. Juventus, today, is light-years away from the top—eight points behind after fourteen matchdays is as chilling as the cold in Bodo—and quite a bit behind in terms of quality and unpredictability compared to the rest of the pack vying for the top four spots. After Napoli, you don’t die, but there’s the trip to Bologna and the showdown at the Stadium against Roma before Christmas, preceded by the Champions League clash tomorrow night against the Cypriots of Pafos: a path that, if failed, could effectively seal the deal for this season, at least as far as domestic matters are concerned. Three coaches, three solutions adrift, and always with the transfer market as a misaligned compass. A common example? Koopmeiners’ fate: uncertain under Motta, uncertain under Tudor, and now uncertain again under Spalletti. The former Italy coach had started with what seemed like a winning formula: the Dutch winger playing “deep” to exploit his technical ability when the play needs to build from the back. One step forward, then another, then the collapse as soon as the level rises and the silhouette of a rampant Neres materializes up front: Koop, à la Maradona, paid the price for something that, evidently, belongs to him only in part.
Three coaches, same problems— Three coaches in a season, give or take, same problems. We are Juventus; we play to win: Motta stated this, not without specifying that a name alone gets you nowhere. Tudor, who has Bianconeri history tattooed on him, addressed the issue firmly at the start only to downplay its weight later: we win by growing. Spalletti hadn’t even had time to enter the locker room before he showed up with the standings in hand: “Yes, we too can think about competing for the Scudetto,” went the former coach’s first day at Continassa. From October 30 to today, the standings have worsened, and the team hasn’t changed—except for a few moments during the match. In Naples, the unexpected revolution: Yildiz and Conceiçao up front for a half, without ever entering the penalty area of Conte’s boys. In midfield, quality is lacking today just as it was a year ago: Spalletti would like to find a playmaker in his style on the transfer market, but it won’t be easy given the costs and the club’s finances. Thuram risks being out of sync with a style of play focused more on passing and less on runs into the box; David, if he doesn’t change his demeanor—that is, his body language—won’t change his fate: tomorrow he should reclaim the center-forward role, the day after tomorrow, who knows. Openda finds himself in a situation lacking in visibility and credibility; Zhegrova doesn’t have the energy to last more than twenty minutes in a match, as the Tuscan coach noted last night beneath Vesuvius.
the message— The ball is in Spalletti’s court: Napoli has dampened the enthusiasm that three straight wins had fueled. ” “We weren’t able to get the result we wanted, but we’re working hard to improve: during this process, we need your support, and we thank you for it,” was Kenan Yildiz’s message to the fans. “We don’t depend on him,” said Spalletti. In the background, a contract renewal remains an open question, not without its difficulties: pursuing it without giving credit to what Yildiz does on the field could be very dangerous.
