Juve is no longer a team, Allegri is no longer a coach. It all ends in Israel, on a very bitter evening and, for her part, also shameful. Juve not only lose (2-0) at Maccabi Haifa, but completely compromise the already meager chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League. In theory, but it’s only theory, he could still make it by winning both in Lisbon and at home with Paris Saint-Germain and hoping for another Maccabi feat, but it won’t happen because this Juve is over or, perhaps, it has never begun. And Allegri, if only he had a little dignity, instead of making the jokes in Leghorn, he should have resigned the same evening and went to play trump with Galeone, the only one still willing to defend him.
It happens because Galeone, like Allegri, thinks that football is played by players and not by coaches. If this assumption were true, I wonder (and they should ask too) why technicians are paid so much, Allegri even nine million (7 plus two bonuses) for four years.
In the evening of the collapse that not only leads to the virtual elimination in the Champions League, with relative economic chasm, but also to the probable failure to qualify for the Europa League, the club should not and could not remain inert. It was Andrea Agnelli who turned Allegri back into a halter contract (for Juve, however), it was Nedved and the phenomenal Arrivabene who repudiated Dybala, the modest Cherubini who made a signing campaign once again expensive and full of mounted young people (Vlahovic) and old caryatids (Di Maria, an alleged champion and Milik an ex with some flash of light).
It is not enough to say that you are angry and ashamed. Or worse, decree the withdrawal until the derby, a measure that is no longer implemented in the narrowest province. Rather, it is time to intervene in a radical and self-critical way, before others do it.
Not even mid-October, Juve’s season is already over with the second consecutive failure. And if, as I believe, it does not even reach fourth place in the championship, this time the heavy downsizing will be triggered. At this point selling Vlahovic in January, as long as there are still some naive people who want it, might be an idea to begin to climb the deep red and secure Juve with a mid-table position. I’m not joking at all: this non-team can reach such levels of abjection as to sink into the second column of the ranking.
There was no match, because Juve is not a credible opponent for anyone. Maccabi, pushed by an audience who dreamed of it in Turin, hit Szczesny from the very first minutes. And if, in the first case, after three minutes, the Polish goalkeeper managed to fiddle with Pierrot’s header, he was dramatically surprised by Atziliafter not even six minutes. The cross was from Cornud, Rugani’s fatal delay, preferred to Bremer.
And here we begin to understand why Allegri can no longer trainat least Juve or teams of its presumed size. Rugani he hadn’t played for weeks, when he does it is lukewarm and colorless, his contract has been renewed because he is a very loyal coach (like De Sciglio, another absolute mediocre). Was it appropriate to field him in a decisive match like last night’s?
And, above all, was it appropriate to field McKennie (and not Kostic) once again in a game to win? Given that the 4-4-2 is a prudent form, if a modest midfielder like the American does the winger, how is it conceivable to overcome the man?
Of course, the Juventus players are all shipwrecked and whoever hasn’t happened is just because he came out. I’m talking about Of Mariathe second serious injury (right thigh), forced to ask for the change in the middle of the first half. When, that is, the situation was still remedied.
But the problem is that Juve doesn’t build. Whoever has the ball (often Paredes) loses it badly, whoever recovers it (sometimes Rabiot) misses the pass. Squaredeployed as a tall winger, little was seen and when it happened it was because he made it big. As on the occasion of the second goal (42 ‘), when he attempted a predictable dribble in midfield, making Pierrot fly who, in the vicinity of the area, served Atzili: a couple of feints on Alex Sandro, now a sloth, and right all crossing of the poles and everyone at home.
Only those who have not seen the game can be surprised. Maccabi was superior in everything: technique (yes, technique), speed, brilliance, athleticism, competitive spirit. Barak Bakhar’s players run, I win the tackles and leave again. Between the two goals there are also a cross from Chery on a free-kick, a counterattack by Atzili and another dangerous turn.
First attack by the bianconeri in the recovery: Vlahovic hits his head and Cohen stretches out in a prodigious dive, Milik jams from a step and Goldberg saves on the line.
The second half is even worse because Juve (with Locatelli in place of Paredes and Kostic for McKennie) hold the ball, try some initiative, but would not be able to score even if they could play another hour. The Champions League is gone. But sadly, that’s not the only thing that disappears and will disappear for quite some time.
THE TABLE
Maccabi Haifa-Juventus 2-0
Scorers: pt 7 ‘Atzili, 42’ Atzili
Assist: pt 7 Cornud, 42 ‘Pierrot.
Maccabi Haifa (4-2-3-1): Cohen; Sundgren, Batubinsika, Goldberg, Cornud (21st Menachem); Lavi, Mohamed (41st St.); Atzili (21st Seck), Chery, David (26th Abu Fani); Pierrot (41’st Street). A disp. Fuchs, Mashpat, Arad, Gershon, Meir, Elijah, Levi. All. Bakhar.
Juventus (4-4-2): Szczesny; Danilo (23 ‘st Kean), Bonucci, Rugani, Alex Sandro (29’ st Soulé); McKennie (1st Kostic), Paredes (1st Locatelli), Rabiot, Cuadrado; Di Maria (24 ‘pt Milik), Vlahovic. Perin, Pinsoglio, Bremer, Gatti, Fagioli, Miretti are available. All. Merry
Referee: Lahoz (Spa).
Var: Martinez Munuera (Spa).
Bookings: pt 27 ‘Cornud (M), 48’ McKennie (J); st 35 ‘Locatelli (J).
