Juventus Club Focus: Conte makes the count three

Date: 7th May 2014 at 11:55pm
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Juventus LogoThroughout the season Roma and Juventus have been battling for the Scudetto. It has stayed neck and neck for almost the entire time, though Juventus has held a slim lead since the end of 2013.

Juventus were at a slight advantage, and seemed likely to win due to their slight points advantage and the simple fact that the season was coming closer and closer to an end.

Still, next week’s Roma vs Juventus match up seemed like it would perhaps be a last gasp effort for Roma. At least a few weeks ago, it did. Juve continued to gain points in Serie A, and eventually all they had to do was win versus Atalanta, on the May 5, to clinch the Scudetto.

It was going to be a nice storybook way to end the season, as the May 5 is the same date that Juve won the Scudetto in 2002 – where Inter famously collapsed – and in 2012 – when the dark times after Calciopoli were finally ended. What more can a fan want.

Unfortunately Roma had other plans. Though they were facing lowly relegation contenders Catania, Roma were walloped 4-1. It was a shocking development in the Scudetto race, and it gave Juve the title before she even played Atalanta the day after. Despite a long day of partying, and presumably a few hungover players, Juve would beat Atalanta 1-0, though that was just extra credit at that point.

In winning this year’s Scudetto, Juventus, and Antonio Conte, have now won three consecutive Scudetti. The club hasn’t done that since the 1930s. Conte, who came close as a player but was never able to get that third straight title, had been very clear from the get go that the Scudetto was his, and Juve’s, primary objective.

Some will say the club should have focused more on the Champions League. While there views are not without merit, you don’t get a trophy for a nice run in Champions League, and nobody remembers it after a few years. But a Scudetto is permanent, and if history is any indication, future Juve sides will be chasing the three consecutive Scudetti achievement for 80 years.

Until Antonio Conte III – Conte’s presumable great grandson, who is presumably also a Juventus legend and then later, manager – wins that third straight Scudetto, the 2011-2014 Juve sides will live on throughout history, or at least Juventus history.

It was no easy feat, while Juventus may have broken club and Serie A records for points achieved, while they may have won all 18 matches at home this year, they were still never totally comfortable due to the similarly excellent season that Roma had. One can certainly make a case that the 2013-2014 Roma side would have won Serie A in many of the past few seasons, but unfortunately for them they ended up racing against 2013-2014 Juventus.

It’s a proud time for the club, but not one without turmoil. Recently, rumors have spread wildly that Antonio Conte will be leaving as his contract is up. I believe he will stay on for at least one more year, but am just hopefully estimating as such. Meanwhile, many fans are unhappy with Juve’s European performance this season, and this in turn has led to all sorts of demands – from the fans – on what Juve should do during the mercato.

However, that second issue will be moot if the first issue actually occurs. For this Juventus, Conte is more than a coach. He is a talisman, a leader, and most of all, a saviour. Say what you will about his performance in Europe – though find me a coach who had instant success in Europe, one who isn’t named Pep Guardiola – but Conte has done extraordinary things with Juventus over the past three years.

Forget about transfers, Conte is the biggest factor for Juve’s chances next year. If he goes, everything is in flux. If he stays, the project continues, and Juve continues to grow even stronger.

 

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