Why Team Chemistry Is the Biggest Issue Facing Juventus Ahead of the New Season

The Serie A landscape has changed drastically already this summer, with the division’s most high-profile clubs making radical alterations to both their playing staff and coaches in hope of improving their fortunes in 2015/16.

As discussed in this previous column, the likes of Napoli, Fiorentina and the two Milanese clubs have each begun rebuilding, the quartet all looking to capture a Champions League berth next time around. Both AS Roma and Lazio achieved that feat last term and will clearly be seeking to repeat that while also attempting to close the gap to Juventus, who have finished in top spot for the last four consecutive seasons.

Yet the Bianconeri have endured a tumultuous summer of their own, seeing a number of key figures choose to leave after last year’s impressive achievements. With a domestic double—only the third in the club’s 117-year history—as well as runners-up spot in the Champions League, it is clear the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez felt that was the ideal moment to end their time in Turin.

The former has joined MLS side New York City FC, while his Argentinian team-mate has returned home to Boca Juniors. It now seems Arturo Vidal may follow them, with BBC Sport reporting that the Chilean midfielder is set to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich with club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge openly discussing the matter.

Andrew Medichini/Associated Press

Juventus have moved quickly to plug those gaps, of course, with Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Sami Khedira all arriving. Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza and defender Daniele Rugani of Empoli have also joined Massimiliano Allegri’s squad, the club providing the coach with a variety of options for the forthcoming campaign.

There is seemingly a lack of creativity in attack that the management team may yet address, but that void will make Dybala a vital addition. The 21-year-old proved at Palermo that he is more than capable of producing a moment of magic as he bagged 13 goals and 10 assists in 2014/15, and his importance to Juve was discussed in detail here.

Rather than a lack of on-field imagination however, it is team chemistry that is likely to be the major hurdle Allegri and his players must overcome. Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal are three of the coach’s regular XI from last term, meaning the side will contain perhaps more new faces than is immediately comfortable.

That trio also scored 31 of Juve’s 72 league goals last term, a figure that represents 43 per cent of the total, while they also combined for 16 assists. In the run to the Champions League final, they were arguably even more influential, bagging nine of the club’s 17 strikes (52.9 per cent), while Pirlo was central to the team’s play at all times.

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333 - Pirlo created 333 chances in the last four seasons (inc. assists), record in this period in Serie A. Master. pic.twitter.com/h6HzGZY7LL

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) July 6, 2015"

Claudio Marchisio did well when asked to fill in for the bearded genius, but he gladly stepped aside whenever his Italian team-mate was healthy. Covering for him on a permanent basis may yet fall to Khedira—as discussed in depth here—but it will undoubtedly take time to get used to his absence after four years of playing through Pirlo.

Bringing a new-look side together will be a major challenge for Allegri but one he has already proven capable of. After all, he stepped in to replace Antonio Conte on the second day of pre-season training last year, a level of upheaval that makes this year’s changes seem much smaller by comparison.

Continuing the chemistry that Alvaro Morata likened to “a family” last year in an interview with Marca (h/t Football Italia) will be essential, and rebuilding the team’s cohesion will undoubtedly be a major point of focus for Juventus this summer.