Juventus are running out of time and must address their league form before this season’s Scudetto is out of reach. Oscar La-Gambina asks is the league title too big a task for Massimiliano Allegri’s squad?
Over the previous few weeks on the Juventus Club Focus, we have discussed how Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira could prosper together in midfield and bring the Bianconeri success. The Frenchman put in an excellent performance against Genoa a few weeks back while the German international did the same in victories over Sevilla and Bologna.
Their performances against Inter, though, were not nearly as promising.
The Derby d’Italia was destined to be a special event, with the choreography from the Nerazzurri ultras in the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza before kick-off making for an exciting build-up to what should have been a cracker.
Disappointingly, Roberto Mancini’s men were the better side for large periods of the game, with neither team finding the crucial breakthrough, leading to the Old Lady’s second 0-0 draw so far this season, mainly thanks to a superb save from Gianluigi Buffon in the visitors goal.
Juventus’ reliance on Simone Zaza over Paulo Dybala up front for the match could be seen as the root of the problem, as could the large amount of time Inter spent on the ball.
Whatever the reason was for three points not coming their way, the only real chance Massimiliano Allegri’s men created came when Khedira saw his effort strike the woodwork.
Several times already this season it has been mentioned in these focuses that they need to get their league form in order as the league title is possibly no longer attainable, but sitting in 14th place after eight games begs the question: how long until that possibility becomes reality?
They host Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday night in the Champions League where they will no doubt continue their impressive European form, but the domestic issues cannot be ignored for much longer.
“We have to believe a lot but we know that time is running out,” were the words of midfielder Claudio Marchisio after the game.
Come the end of the season, that statement could be the answer to the question of why they failed to win the title again this year.
Allegri and the Bianconeri cannot continue to go about their business believing results will come their way just because of their recent history.
Four titles in a row is without a doubt an impressive statistic and, along with an appearance in the Champions League final last year, it leaves the Turin club with more to boast about than their Milanese rivals on Sunday night.
Had the reigning champions claimed a victory on Sunday, there would be less cause for concern. The first section of the season was over with the international break providing time to recover and recuperate, but their results look set to follow the same path as before the break.
Yes, a draw with high-flying Inter, given the circumstances, was probably a good result, but they need to beat the likes of the Nerazzurri if they are to stand a chance of winning the title this year.
A lot of work needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly.
