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Journalism of Courage
Juventus, winners of a third successive Serie A title on Sunday, must now decide whether the formula which has given them a firm grip on Italian football will keep working for another season and make an impact in the Champions League. With most of their rivals mired in financial difficulties or administrative chaos, Juventus, one of the few top teams using a 3-5-2 formation, did more than repeat the recipe they used for the previous two seasons as they won a record 30th league title.
Juventus have been remarkably stable during the last three years. Gianluigi Buffon has been almost ever-present in goal with defenders Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini nearly always forming the three-man defence. The midfield has invariably featured Switzerland’s Stephan Lichtsteiner and Ghana’s Kwadwo Asamoah on the flanks, with three out of Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal forming a fluid but powerful triangle in the middle.
The only big change this season has been in attack where the fixed Carlos Tevez-Fernando Llorente partnership has replaced the previous season’s chopping and changing. However, with Pirlo past his 35th birthday and Conte determined to avoid complacency, the club may be tempted to shake up the team, especially if they want European success.
The biggest question mark hangs over the future of 21-year-old midfielder Pogba, who has blossomed since joining two seasons ago from Manchester United, where he failed to make the team.
Although Juventus have identified him as a potential successor to Pirlo, some of Europe’s biggest clubs have also shown interest and there has been speculation that Real Madrid and Paris St Germain would both be prepared to pay up to 70 million euros for the Frenchman.
Juventus might find that sort of money too good to resist, although general manager Giuseppe Marotta insisted on Sunday that Pogba would be staying.
“It’s unthinkable that he would leave,” Marotta told Sky Sport Italia. “Paul is intelligent and knows that he has the chance to improve here.”
“We’ll sit down calmly with Conte next week,” he added.
