1 Thing 5 Juventus Players Must Improve This Summer

There is little doubt Juventus exceeded all expectations in 2014/15, enjoying a season that will live long in the memory. Recording their fourth consecutive Serie A title, their first Coppa Italia win in two decades and reaching the Champions League final, the Bianconeri can reflect on a remarkable campaign.

Yet there is little chance of the club growing complacent, having already announced the arrival of some major names this summer. The likes of German midfielder Sami Khedira and Paulo Dybala of Palermo—who weighed in with 13 goals and 10 assists in Serie A last term—have already increased competition for places in Massimiliano Allegri’s starting XI.

That means that the current squad will need to improve individually and collectively, with the following pages offering a look at where five members of the existing squad can get better. It points out some flaws they can work to eradicate over the summer months, preparing themselves to better help the Old Lady in the coming season.

Roberto Pereyra: Finishing

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Roberto Pereyra proved to be an excellent acquisition. The former Udinese midfielder enjoyed a stellar first year in Turin. His form earned him a place in the Argentina squad for the Copa America—as discussed in this previous column—but he could almost certainly do with improving in front of goal.

According to statistics from Squawka, the 24-year-old found the target with just 43 per cent of his shots in 2014/15, which leaves much to be desired. If he does, Pereyra could become even more valuable to both club and country, particularly given his advanced role in Allegri’s formation.

Angelo Ogbonna: Concentration

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Possessing all the physical attributes and technical skills to succeed, Angelo Ogbonna was one of very few Juventus players to suffer a disappointing season last time out.

The 27-year-old was often guilty of switching off during games, leading to high-profile errors he must eradicate from his game if he is to remain part of Italy’s most dominant side.

Fernando Llorente: Passing

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Despite losing his starting berth to compatriot Alvaro Morata, Fernando Llorente remains a valuable weapon in Allegri’s squad. Providing variety and experience on the bench, his size and incredible first touch make him a superb target man, but he must work to improve the accuracy of his passing.

According to statistics from WhoScored.com, Llorente connected with just 70.2 per cent of his attempts, which was by far the worst among Juve’s forwards and negates his ability to bring the midfield behind him into play.

Figures from Squawka show that Carlos Tevez (85 per cent), Alessandro Matri (76 per cent), Morata (75 per cent) and even young Kingsley Coman (79 per cent) all fared better in this regard.

Andrea Pirlo: Corners

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It seems strange to many that the set-piece delivery of Andrea Pirlo remains open to criticism, but regular watchers of Juventus will agree that his corners leave a lot to be desired. It is perhaps a little late in his career to expect that to improve, but given his usual deadly accuracy, he could certainly try.

Paul Pogba: Consistency

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There is little doubt Paul Pogba is one of world football’s most naturally gifted players, quickly becoming one of the most complete midfielders in the game today. However, the 22-year-old is aware he could still continue to get better.

Following Juve’s 2-2 draw with Hellas Verona on the last day of the 2014/15 season, Allegri used his Sky Italia interview (h/t Football Italia) to warn the Frenchman to “stop showboating in midfield." The player responded admirably to that very public criticism.

“What the coach is saying is the truth,” Pogba told this author, via Sport360. “I have to keep that focus for 90 minutes."