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New Formation, New Contract, Good Old Lichtsteiner

On Thursday evening Juventus announced that Stephan Lichtsteiner had signed a new contract. The full-back’s previous deal was set to expire in June and, as the first few months of 2016/17 unfolded, few fans of La Madama would have been sad to see him released. In fact, after high profile errors led to costly goals against Inter, Chievo and Genoa, most Juventini would have carried the 33-year-old to his next club on their backs.

In all three games – and indeed many others – he looked off the pace and no longer the tireless force that had helped the Bianconeri clinch five consecutive Serie A titles. One of just six players who have been with the club throughout that entire run, Lichtsteiner also seemingly came close to committing the ultimate betrayal. Alessandro Del Piero taught us that “a gentleman never leaves the Old Lady,” but the Swiss international flirted with not only moving on, but also joining bitter rivals Inter.

The move never materialised, prompting a hasty apology from Lichtsteiner on his Facebook page that failed to repair the damage caused by encouraging interest from the Nerazzurri. The arrival of Dani Alves pushed him down the pecking order further still, subsequently finding himself omitted from Juve’s Champions League squad, a decision which appeared to add weight to the idea that Lichtsteiner’s time in black and white was all but over.

Then Max Allegri switched to 4-2-3-1.

No longer asked to dominate the entire flank single-handedly, the new formation not only ignited Juve’s season but also seems to have done the same for Lichtsteiner’s career. With Juan Cuadrado lining up ahead of him, the former Fiorentina winger helps to lift the burden at both ends of the field by giving defensive cover and obviously providing another outlet on the right whenever the Bianconeri have possession.

Fielded as an orthodox right-back in the new four-man back line, he has helped record 2-0 victories over Lazio and Sassuolo, playing a crucial role in earning those two clean sheets. Over that pair of fixtures, Lichtsteiner has registered two tackles, one interception and nine clearances, all delivered with his trademark tenacity.

Furthermore, he has been a vital part of the team’s much-improved attacking approach. Against Lazio it was his pass that Mario Mandzukic nodded down for Paulo Dybala’s wonderfully taken opening goal. However, it was his contribution to the team’s second goal against his former club that most highlighted Lichtsteiner’s improvement as he looked more like the dominant force of years past.

A move that involved a dozen passes became threatening when a sweeping cross-field ball from Mandzukic picked out Lichtsteiner. Rather than make an easy pass or wasteful cross, he drove at the Lazio backline, the picture above showing him drawing out the defence before giving the ball to Cuadrado who was hugging the touchline in typical fashion.

Again the full-back was one step ahead, continuing his run to drag Stefan Radu with him and leaving room for the Colombian flyer to pick out Gonzalo Higuain who needed no invitation to double Juve’s advantage. In the image below the striker can be seen pointing to the exact spot he wanted the ball delivered, with Cuadrado happy to oblige.

It was a goal that Lichtsteiner received no credit for when the final statistics were tallied, but it almost certainly would not have been scored without his involvement and intelligent movement off the ball.

Similarly, those last two matches are unlikely to be the only reason he has been offered a new contract by Beppe Marotta, but it is hard to imagine the Director General extending his stay without them. The new formation has seen him improve exponentially, Allegri reducing his workload only for Lichtsteiner to paradoxically deliver much more than he had previously been able to.

The day before his new deal was announced, Juventus submitted their squad list for the knockout stages of the Champions League and it was no surprise to see him included this time.

If, as former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once said, “a week is a long time in politics,” then a fortnight in football is seemingly an eternity. Fourteen days after that match with Lazio, the Bianconeri will step out at Juventus Stadium against Inter with Lichtsteiner in their starting XI and now almost certainly not looking to swap sides.

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Tomás Rincón Refused Chinese Mega-Bid for Juventus

Yesterday it was announced that Tomás Rincón had officially joined Juventus, becoming the first Venezuelan player ever to represent the Bianconeri. However, in order to do so, the midfielder refused a lucrative offer from a Chinese club that would have paid both him and his agent far more than the deal with the Serie A champions.

Having seen their Super League rivals splash huge fees and wages on the likes of Oscar and Carlos Tevez, Henan Jianye FC approached Rincón in December. A source involved in those negotiations revealed they offered him a lucrative deal and he was certainly interested in exploring the opportunity, only to quickly refuse when Juventus came calling later in the month.

“This is a dream come true,” the 28-year-old told reporters at his inaugural press conference. “I want to thank Juventus for the confidence they’ve shown in me. Everything happened very quickly but when I heard the club’s name there was no doubt in my mind – they play to win here and that’s what I work for every day.”

So the Old Lady may have lost Axel Witsel after his head was turned by the massive salary he could earn in China, but thankfully El General has other priorities. 

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The Apache Accelerates: Analysing The Recent Form Of Carlos Tevez

A lot is said and written about Carlos Tevez. Recently I wrote this… and this… and this… and other far better writers have penned lengthy columns discussing the Juventus striker. Some laud his exceptional form since joining the Bianconeri, others lament his lack of goals in the Champions League, squarely ignoring the struggles of both the nouveau riche Manchester City or Turin’s grand Old Lady in Europe’s elite competition. Whether it is his brilliance or perceived flaws being debated, external factors rarely garner a mention; for good or bad, Carlitos seemingly always shoulders the blame or the credit.

Given that football is a team game, played out in an ever-more complex tactical landscape and by constantly improving athletes, the notion of one man making such an impact is difficult. When the player in question is not one of the all-time greats – a Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi for example – that idea becomes even more impossible to fathom. Yet, particularly for those in attacking positions, there come patches of form when the contributions of others become immaterial. A striker brimming with confidence goes on a streak of goal scoring prowess when nobody on either team can deny him, the moment the ball hits the net greeted by a feeling of routine inevitability.

With six goals in his last four appearances for La Madama, Tevez is seemingly on one of those runs and every match appears to begin with his name already on the score-sheet. Looking purely at the cold statistics, it is easy to see those numbers and think that it is simply a case of his every shot beating the ‘keeper. A quick glance paints a very different picture however, WhoScored.com noting that the 30-year-old took no fewer than seven attempts against Atalanta last weekend, finding the target with five but notching ‘only’ two goals.

Noting his tally of 23 goals in just 38 Serie A appearances, searching for what has made such a difference, why Tevez has been so prolific since joining Juventus is difficult. A reunion with Patrice Evra has seen him end a scoring drought in the Champions League, but there is more to this than simply his French team-mate from Manchester United joining the Bianconeri.

Then I found this video.

In it, La Gazzetta dello Sport captures perfectly what separates Tevez from his peers; a never-say-die attitude that spurs him to tear past a stationary defender some thirty yards from goal with the slim hope he might get to the ball first. Looking at each clip, the Argentinean has no right to be the first man there. Never the most fleet-footed of players, he is racing far taller defenders with longer strides and almost always giving them a head start, but each ends in the same manner – ‘la Juve in gol!’ as the brilliant Claudio Zuliani might joyfully declare.

The video begins with his opening goal of the match against Atalanta, showing the former Boca Juniors star receiving the ball with his back to goal some thirty yards out. Fernando Llorente and Arturo Vidal exchange passes, eventually picking out Stephan Lichtsteiner’s run into the box, but Tevez is still trailing behind the play. What unfolds as the Swiss full-back steams towards the by-line is a terrific burst of speed from his number ten, determined to maximise any opportunity that arises. Predictably, the sequence ends with just that, Daniele Baselli, Yohan Benalouane and Davide Zappacosta seemingly powerless to prevent the Juve man slotting home.

In order to prove this was more than a one-off event, Italy’s famous pink paper looks back over recent matches and uncovers more examples of what it labels ‘an excess of speed.’ Subsequent clips show the recent wins over Milan and Udinese, brief explosions of pace from Tevez leaving even renowned speedster Ignazio Abate trailing in his wake.

There is really no explanation for what lies beneath this acceleration from the Old Lady’s leading man, although the continued snubs from his beloved Argentina are surely spurring him on. Coach Gerardo Martino offered him hope of a recall, then denied him the opportunity to once again pull on the Albiceleste shirt when he named his latest squad.

Whatever the cause, fans of La Madama are certainly not complaining, championing the striker as he continues to fire them to victory after victory. Carlos Tevez only arrived last summer, but his efforts to chase down every lost cause – and seemingly scoring from each impossible situation – embody everything positive about the fabled Juventus spirit.

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“Sebastian Giovinco is finally in good shape, above all psychologically, so we need the fans to start applauding & supporting him. He is a product of our youth academy & should be considered a source of pride for our colours."

Antonio Conte, October 2013

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We have to prove we’re up to the standard of this great football stage, not with words but on the pitch.

Antonio Conte on playing at the Bernabeu

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Foreign Defenders Taking Over Serie A

It appears the great well of Italian talent has run dry. Much like our sports channels are filled with games from Argentina, France or beyond, Serie A defences have been globalised. Beyond Juventus, who arguably have the four best central defenders available to the Azzurri, Cesare Prandelli is somewhat short of options as a quick look through the WhoScored.com statistics highlights. Read more at WhoScored.com

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Juventus Primavera Latest: Daniele Rugani In Focus

Daniele Rugani, signed permanently by Juventus this summer, is a product of the Empoli Youth Sector and has made a superb start to the 2013-14 campaign. Born in 1994, he joined the Tuscan club aged just nine and has been nurtured perfectly ever since. He should be of little surprise to anyone familiar with the Tuscan club’s Youth Sector, widely regarded as one of the best in Europe.

Read more at JuventiKnows.com

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Alessandro Del Piero's Twenty Year Legacy Is Our History

Twenty years ago a fifteen year old boy, taken to Turin’s Stadio Delle Alpi as a birthday gift saw a young striker score on his home debut in a game against Reggiana. All the boy could talk about on his way home was the fact he’d seen Roberto Baggio score in the flesh and that Juventus had won 4-0. His father turned to him & said "That last goal was nice, need to keep an eye on that kid."

Much has changed since that day. Roberto Baggio moved on long ago, the two youngsters are now well into their thirties, both lost their fathers soon into the new millennium. Even the stadium that united the three men in late 1993 no longer stands.

But some things remain constant; the fathers advice went well heeded, the son watched the young goal scorer mature. Eight Scudetti, a Champions League win, that crippling injury in Udinese, a World Cup and the agony of relegation have all followed. A special bond was born that September afternoon has enjoyed and endured many highs, with the occasional low. The young striker became a talismanic captain and a household name across the world.

Since that debut strike Alessandro Del Piero evolved into an icon of Juventus, playing more times and scoring more goals for the club than any other player in history. He has broken every record and then continued to seemingly raise the bar higher and higher every time he set foot on the field in those famous black and white stripes.

Fast forward to an October evening in 2010 and Milan’s San Siro brought the latest instalment in the entwined story. With an injury ravaged Juve already leading 1-0 against all the odds, Momo Sissoko stumbled into the opposition penalty area, the ball almost an after thought. A Rossoneri defender struggled to deal with the midfielders unorthodox style, Christian Abbiati in the Milan goal unsure whether to come for the ball or stand his ground.

Enter Del Piero. Calm, cool and collected as he always was. He rifled a shot past the stranded goalkeeper, the net bulging to seal another milestone. Once given the nickname 'Pinturiccio' by the late Gianni Agnelli, the apprentice became an undoubted master of his craft. It was Serie A goal number 179 for Del Piero, taking him past Giampiero Boniperti's top flight record. Another day, another record, the latest chapter in what became an almost relentless march to greatness.

To witness such a career was an honour. To see that quiet unassuming substitute mature into a legend shaped my love for the game and this club. To watch records tumble one after the other showed we truly were witnessing greatness. Through it all he showed dignity and class, saying he is just a fan, "a part of the great Juventus flag."

Even now, as his story continues in Australia, to count him as one of us is the real privilege for Juventus fans. For me, seeing Alesandro Del Piero’s legacy writ large in Juventus history will always take me back to that late summer afternoon.

Grazie Capitano for twenty years of wonderful memories.

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In memory of Gaetano Scirea. Gone but never forgotten

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Serie A Week Two Round Up: Goals, Goals, Goals!

Last week, as Serie A returned, Luca Toni and his newly promoted Hellas Verona grabbed the headlines after the big old striker inspired an unlikely win over Milan. His trademark celebration failed to make an appearance this past weekend however, as the Gialloblu were one of only two sides not to get on the scoresheet in Week Two.

The rest of the league had no such problem, scoring from all angles as the round featured no fewer than 43 goals. Yes, forty three times the net bulged, yet still commentators will discuss 'cat and nacho's' next time a team from the peninsula dares to defend properly in European competition.

Indeed, looking back at this weekend's action, a number of sides could do with a few defensive reinforcements before the transfer window slams shut later today. The flood of goals began in Saturday's early kick off as Napoli took on Chievo. The Partenopei have often struggled against the 'Flying Donkeys', especially once the Stadio Bentagodi pitch begins to resemble a potato patch. For the moment however, its grass is real rather than painted on, and Rafael Benitez' new look side took full advantage.

Two goals from Marek Hamšík, another from José Callejón and Gonzalo Higuaín's first official goal for the club gave them the three points, despite Pepe Reina making a real mess and gifting the outmatched opponents a lifeline. The performance prompted the coach to say Hamsik "lacked Steven Gerrard's strength, but is a more tactically intelligent player." Judging by the response from posting that comment on twitter, insulting a man's tactical intelligence must be Scouse for something concerning his mother.

The goals continued to rain in as the action shifted to Juventus Stadium, which hosted Lazio and a Super Cup rematch. "The difference between the teams is not four goals," promised coach Vladimir Petkovic two weeks ago, but he will be disappointed that his players only reduced the deficit to three.

The Bianconeri backed up their 4-0 demolition with an equally commanding 4-1 rout this time, although their cause was significantly aided by a red card for Hernanes. For his part, Antonio Conte berated his own midfielders for relaxing too much, no doubt ensuring that the two-time title winners stay hungry over the international break.

Sunday afternoon saw Milan comfortably despatch Cagliari, despite the Rossoneri still awaiting the return of Kaka to shore up their ailing defence, or reduce the playing time of Stefan El Shaarawy. Whichever.

Atalanta posted a smart 2-0 win over Torino - the other side not to score - just as Hellas were capitulating in Rome. I'm not sure what their game plan was, but it's safe to assume coach Andrea Mandorlini didn't instruct fullback Fabrizio Cacciatore to turn crosses from Francesco Totti into the back of his own net.

Yet, just a few minutes later, the 53 year old was himself applauding Roma's second goal, a sublime chipped effort from Miralem Pjanic. Their evening took a sour note later however, with Roma fans attacking the Hellas team bus so badly the players were forced to spend the night in the capital.

A statement from club president Maurizio Setti noted that "miraculously, no one was hurt," but the reputation of Italian football is once again left battered and bruised at the hands of a few mindless idiots.

Cinque Chiavi

1. Manolo Gabbiadini celebrated his call up to the Italy squad with Sampdoria's equaliser against Bologna. With Mario Balotelli and Pablo Osvaldo suspended on Friday, the Azzurri will hope he can snatch them a goal.

2. Fiorentina continue to impress, putting five past Genoa as Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gomez flourished, prompting coach Vincenzo Montella to say the pair were "born to play together."

3. Walter Mazzarri and Inter won again, recording an impressive victory away to Catania. Still early days but things look promising for the Nerazzurri.

4. The same cannot be said for Sassuolo, losing badly again this week, this time a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of fellow new boys Livorno. They should prepare now for their 2014-15 Serie B campaign.

5. There was one bright note for Lazio as Miroslav Klose finally netted against Juventus. Straw. Clutched.

Week Two Results; Chievo 2-4 Napoli, Juventus 4-1 Lazio, Roma 3-0 Hellas, Milan 3-1 Cagliari, Atalanta 2-0 Torino, Bologna 2-2 Sampdoria, Catania 0-3 Inter, Genoa 2-5 Fiorentina, Sassuolo 1-4 Livorno, Udinese 3-1 Parma

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Serie A Week One Round Up: It's Like You Never Left...

Some columns this morning will tell you how great it is that Serie A is 'back,' and eulogise over how long it seems since the Calcio stopped and the summer began. However, any true fan of Italian football will tell you that the action is endless, that even when the games are scheduled they're often just a side note in the circus which continues in boardrooms and smokey corridors 365 days a year.

This summer has been relatively quiet by the peninsula's usual standard, yet we've still had another/more/the same match fixing investigation taking place. This time Lazio are at the centre with their captain Stefano Mauri now appealing a ban for his role in a wide reaching betting operation.

Transfer sagas have raged as, following the departures of Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Javier Pastore, more recognisable faces have departed, although not all of them to Paris Saint-Germain. Well, Edinson Cavani did (wouldn't it have been easier for their owners to buy an Italian club?) but Stevan Jovetic headed to Manchester and Pablo Osvaldo took talents (and his life size Mick Jagger statue!) to Southampton.

Yet there were still plenty of reasons to look forward to the 2013-14 season. Big names flocked to Serie A, with Turin's Old Lady proving two consecutive league titles will quickly make men forgive and forget. Antonio Conte's reigning champions have another restoration project on their hands in Spanish international Fernando Llorente, but it seems Carlos Tevez is ready to go from the first whistle.

Having helped Juventus demolish Lazio in the Italian Super Cup last weekend, the Argentinean was at it again on Saturday night. His strike proved to be the only goal of the game away to Sampdoria as the Bianconeri overcame a side who beat them twice last season.

However, earlier on Saturday it was some older names who stole all the headlines. Hellas Verona returned to Serie A for the first time in a decade and played host to Milan. The Rossoneri have been incredibly quiet on the transfer front and the build up to the game mostly centred on the level of abuse Mario Balotelli would suffer at the hands of the home side's notoriously racist Ultra.

But the Brigate Gialloblu turned in a performance they can be hugely proud of, giving Milan and their star striker a warm welcome onto the pitch. Massimiliano Allegri's men seemed determined to be equally gracious, gifting 36 year old Luca Toni a virtually free header in the box. That goal gave the newly promoted side a famous 2-1 win and prompted endless repeats of this...

Sunday's games would return to promoting the new over the tried and trusted. Roma have once again spent the time between May and August acting like a teenage girl after a bad breakup. Just as they did with Luis Enrique, anything which might vaguely remind them of Zdenek Zeman has been burned, buried or sold, and Rudi Garcia is now the next victim, sorry, I mean new coach.

He got off to a good start, not only recording a 2-0 win away to Livorno but coaxing a superb performance from Daniele De Rossi. The Frenchman did cause a stir however, picking up the phone when his radio link to the stands failed. He will likely face a fine from the league authorities, we must just hope he hasn't got a Swiss SIM card...

Napoli too are filled with new faces, a real (Real?) Spanish flavour to Rafael Benitez' side. With Pepe Reina, Jose Maria Callejon and Raul Albiol joining Gonzalo Higuain, the Southern side have reinforced well and a comfortable 3-0 win over Bologna bodes well for the campaign ahead.

A good start is vital in the capital and neighbours Lazio rebounded well from that Super Cup loss to defeat Udinese 2-1. Hernanes and Antonio Candreva's goals proved too much for the Friuli side who are having their traditional August struggle.

Fiorentina have spent as well as anyone, and yes, that includes free-spending Tottenham, who perhaps should've checked their Spanish lottery numbers before running out and blowing the jackpot. Vincenzo Montella's squad now boasts not only a now healthy Giuseppe Rossi and Josip Ilicic, but the Stadio Artemio Franchi has also had a Mario Gomez button installed.

The Viola caused some serious panic in Milan last season, when it looked as though they might steal the final Champions League berth. Tonight (Monday) they host Catania, and if the new faces gel there may be one or two bigger clubs looking slightly worried.

Oh Serie A is back, but in truth it never really went away!

Cinque Chiavi

1. Udinese always struggle in the early part of the season but may have overdone things this term. With the owners focused more on Watford, Francesco Guidolin may not have the loaves and fishes his usual miracle requires!

2. It looks like a long slog is in store for Sassuolo. Losing 2-0 to Torino in the club's first ever top flight match does not bode well for their survival hopes.

3. Hold judgement on Inter. Yes they recorded a win over Genoa but it was as ugly as they come. Neither side managed a single shot in the first half, Yuto Nagatomo's goal arrived via a huge deflection and the Grifone may well be among the favourites for relegation.

4. The same goes for cross town rivals Milan for whom nothing counts until the transfer window closes. Adriano Galliani is the undisputed king of last minute shopping and he could yet pull off another masterstroke to transform their squad.

5. “I’m fed up of this situation... I have neither the time nor the desire to wait for him!" said Vincenzo Montella when asked about Adem Ljajic. With his contract expiring and Fiorentina backing the coach, expect the Serbian to be finding a new home very soon.

Week One Results; Hella 2-1 Milan, Sampdoria 0-1 Juventus, Inter 2-0 Genoa, Torino 2-0 Sassuolo, Cagliari 2-1 Atalanta, Lazio 2-1 Udinese, Livorno 0-2 Roma, Napoli 3-0 Bologna, Parma 0-0 Chievo, Fiorentina P-P Catania (Monday)

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Master of all he surveys

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"After my first day of training I realised that I’ll certainly have to run much more than in England!" - Carlos Tevez

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“I have already made friends with everyone in the locker room. For me it was very important to learn Italian before getting here. I'm glad I made the effort to learn, I already feel like a part of the group”

New signing Fernando Llorente

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Italy celebrate Andrea Pirlo's 100th cap

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June 13 1957, The Legendary Omar Sivori Joined Juventus