One thing that distinguishes teams that have had success over a prolonged period is their ability to evolve.
They may have played the game in very different ways, but what they all shared was the clarity of vision to successfully recognise when the time was right to abandon a winning formula and muster up the courage to implement a new one.
Antonio Conte reaffirmed the pre-eminence and power of Juventus six years after they were relegated for the first time in their history following the Calciopoli scandal by winning three consecutive Scudetti with a blue-collar work ethic reminiscent of that of the workers in one of the Agnelli family’s FIAT factories.
Initially moving from 4-2-4, 4-4-1-1 and 4-3-3, before settling into 3-5-2, Conte nurtured a winning mentality in his first season and then became the first Serie A side ever to win all their home games as well as setting a new all-time record of 102 points among the top 10 European Leagues in his last year.
Massimiliano Allegri followed Conte, stressing the importance of tactical continuity as he looked to calm the concerns of the Juventini still apprehensive of his ability to maintain their “cycle of victories.”
Aware of the importance of the 3-5-2 as a symbol of Conte’s success with Juventus, the former AC Milan coach has been carefully preparing the evolution to a more fluid side during his work at the Vinovo training ground.
The designations given to systems may provide an initial idea to the structure of a team and the relationship between its players; but as Allegri would later explain, continuing the success is also decided by the interaction of those attributes.
“There is no single way to win. The methods of Allegri, Conte, Mourinho, Ancelotti, Guardiola and Klopp are all good, but you have to have a big club behind you and a great team,” Allegri told La Gazzetta dello Sport after returning from the club’s pre-season tour of Asia in August.
“The coach is very important, but you need togetherness between himself, the club and the players. At Juve I have found this.”
Allegri tested out the 4-3-1-2 against the Indonesia, Australia and Singapore all-star selections, but has only regularly introduced it this month, in the 3–2 win against Olympiacos in the Champions League.
While the anticipated system switch under the new coach might have been accelerated with injuries to defenders Andrea Barzagli, Martin Caceres and Angelo Ogbonna, Allegri has looked to make the most of his midfield talents and opening up an extra place for a plethora of young attacking options like Roberto Pereyra, Alvaro Morata and Kingsley Coman.
Allegri is increasingly making his mark on the team, as well making Juventus increasingly more attractive to watch with capocannoniere (Serie A top scorer) Carlos Tevez in “the best form of my career,” and an equally on-form Paul Pogba.
Scoring ten goals and conceding none in their last two Serie A matches against Parma and Lazio has excited many supporters that had grown weary of seeing their side grind out narrow wins against the provincial teams, while the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Bayern Munich more consistently posted big scores in their respective leagues.
A new approach has also long been argued in order for Juventus to make progress in Europe.
After a number of disappointing away performances in the Champions League, Pavel Nedved summed up the importance for Allegri’s evolution being key to bringing victory ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League group match against Malmo.
“This change in tactical approach represents an intelligent evolution and it is true that Juventus is becoming stronger thanks to this new style of game that he has adopted,” Nedved told Tuttosport.
“But at this point it is crucial to do well on Wednesday in Malmo; we have to win.”
