Losing two finals in Europe’s premier competition in the last four years has clearly irked the fans but has also shown that the Old Lady from Turin still have a lot of fight left. The arrival of talismanic forward Cristiano Ronaldo last season boosted the prospect of lifting the third Champions League title in club’s history, but the promise was short-lived.

So, what has been keeping Juventus to realize their dream of being crowned European champions once again?  Is it the failure to step it up in crucial fixtures or playing under the burden of a long-lost history?

Maurizio Sarri, the ex-Chelsea boss has been brought on board for the 2019-20 season to answer all those questions which have been haunting the Italian champions for quite a while now.

Sarri has the experience of coaching two European football giants – Napoli and Chelsea, under his belt. The Italian manager believes in playing short, quick passes and demands his players to develop an attacking mindset while on the ball. He relies on a deep-lying playmaker in his midfield which signified his fruitful alliance with Jorginho at Napoli and Chelsea.

The 60-year-old usually deploys a 4-3-3 formation, instructing his players to press high to retrieve the ball while closing passing lines for the opponents quickly. His pacey brand of football might sit well with fans in Turin who were used to witnessing a rather slower approach on the pitch under Juventus’ ex-boss Massimiliano Allegri.

Juventus domestic figures have been phenomenal, winning eight Seria A in a row since 2011, but they tend to fall short on the European stage. Allegri faced a similar fate twice – against Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017, when his team bowed out despite making it to the final of the competition. But the Old Lady have revamped their squad to cater to suit their need of a European title.

Ronaldo’s presence played a huge role in defining the club’s performance in the Champions League, especially a towering performance against Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16 last season was one to remember for ages.

Sarri is fortunate to inherit a squad which includes some of the hottest properties in football right now – Ronaldo, Matthijs De Ligt, Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala, Miralem Pjanic, Adrien Rabiot and the experience of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini at the back.  

However, the main question remains. Will Sarri be able to utilize the squad to its full potential? Having such a long list of exceptional players can prove to be a poisoned chalice, especially when it comes to rotating the squad for the sole purpose to keep everyone in shape.

Given his history at Chelsea, Sarri always prioritizes on having a solid starting XI despite fixtures taking place in short intervals. Although witnessing the strength of the bench at Juventus, there are more than just a handful of strong players who can come in and turn the game around. Recent admission Danilo and players like Dybala and Mandzukic, even if they fail to start can enter as substitutes and make invaluable contributions in crunch situations.

The strength of the Juventus squad is admirable, which is why it will be tricky for Sarri to use it to the best of his abilities. His most recognizable strength might just be a ticket to his downfall if he failed to rotate the squad regularly. The Italian champions have all the goods to lift the European Cup – a superstar forward, balanced midfield and an experienced defence. 

Sarri has a system in place and if he uses his resources at the opportune moment, the European throne might just belong to him.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Javier Soriano