Italian international Claudio Marchisio has provided some insights into the subtle changes that new coach Massimiliano Allegri has introduced since taking over at Juventus.
While Allegri has stuck to the same 3-5-2 system to ensure continuity, there are different shades in how he interprets the tactics and the way he wants the team to play.
“Under [Antonio] Conte, we had very specific tasks and duties; every movement was planned and there were greater demands on us physically as we were asked to play at a high intensity throughout the whole match,” the midfielder explained.
“By contrast, under Allegri, we are asked to maintain more possession and to identify the right moments to attack, particularly in front of opposing defenses.
“This is preferable because we are able to manage the game and conserve our energy. Going all out makes it a struggle to recover the ball, so perhaps this is better for us. You could say that we are introducing a bit of tiki-taka into our play.”
A look at Juventus’s statistics this season bore out Marchisio’s analysis. Under Allegri, Juve has toned down their aggression and intensity, enjoying 64 percent of possession compared to 56 percent under Conte last season. The team has also made more successful passes – 546 this season, compared to 445 last term.
Marchisio has also spoken of the positive impact since Allegri’s arrival.
“We are doing very well. the new signings have integrated seamlessly and the results of the first two games proved the success of our new tactical approach. We could not have asked for a better start.
“Are we stronger now as a team compared to 2013-14? Well, we can only tell at the end of the season. Certainly the margins of improvement have been remarkable.”
