Juventus showed a different and more attacking attitude in their 3-0 win over Udinese on Sunday: so what has Massimiliano Allegri changed this season?
The Bianconeri started off the new campaign on the right foot with a comfortable win in Friuli. Allegri’s men were more attacking-minded and dominated the first half at the Dacia Arena scoring three goals in the opening 45 minutes.
Federico Chiesa opened the account at minute three and looked in scintillating form. The Italian played as a second striker, but often moved wide on the left flank allowing Andrea Cambiaso to cut inside from the same side. The ex-Bologna full-back was the only new face in Juventus’ starting XI compared to last season, alongside Timothy Weah, deployed on the opposite flank.
Juventus’ approach was different from minute one. The Bianconeri scored the first goal after recovering the ball in the opponents’ half, which was quite uncommon to see over the last two years under Allegri.
Fans and players, especially Chiesa, enjoyed the new approach. “It was a great performance and in the first half we were particularly intense, attacking them high up and that is what modern football is all about,” the Italian told DAZN after the final whistle.
“We mustn’t just clam up in the back, we need to push and press, which we showed today.”
Allegri had predicted a big Chiesa performance on the eve of the game saying that the ex-Fiorentina star had ‘different’ legs and that he was finally ‘serene’ and confident after struggling with injury relapses throughout 2022-23.
The ex-Fiorentina star was totally recharged and can be a game-changer for Juventus this season. Both he and Dusan Vlahovic showed great commitment and desire. It wasn’t rare to see them frustratingly hanging around the pitch last season, but last night in Udine the attitude was completely different.
It was also proved by what Vlahovic told Chiesa after the Italian’s goal: “Don’t stop.’ Neither Chiesa nor his teammates did. Juventus’ new mentality has partially been inspired by Allegri’s new assistant Francesco Magnanelli who retired two years ago and joined the Bianconeri at the start of the season. The former Sassuolo midfielder was a player under Allegri at the beginning of his career at Sassuolo and also worked under Roberto De Zerbi, Maurizio Sarri and Stefano Pioli.
Magnanelli spoke about De Zerbi’s influence on his career in an exclusive interview with Football Italia in 2020.
Of course, some things still need to be fixed for the Old Lady. The second-half performance was quite similar to the ones of the past with the team sitting too deep and Wojciech Szczęsny often involved. However, the early signs were very promising especially because Allegri has put into practice some intriguing tactical changes. If the Bianconeri continue developing the new approach and keep Chiesa and Vlahovic fit, they can dream of ending their two-year title drought this term.
@lorebetto
Absolutely nothing.
Max has better and healthier players at his disposal – that was the difference.
Rube have an advantage this year as they will not be playing in the CL, EL or the ECL. Will be less tired, with less games being played and no distractions from any European competitions. They should win the scudetto.