Paulo Dybala Shrugs off Criticism to Help Juventus Ease to Win over Atalanta

There have been numerous issues for Juventus so far in 2015/16, with few appearing to resonate as deeply as their use of Paulo Dybala, yet the Argentinian striker was undoubtedly the star of their 2-0 victory over Atalanta on Sunday afternoon.

The club’s most expensive summer signing, he arrived from Palermo at a cost of €32 million (£23 million), according to their official website, with a further €8 million (£5.75 million) in potential bonuses still to be paid.

However, Massimiliano Allegri’s decision not to start him in either of their previous two matches saw the coach widely criticised.

“The Dybala case is causing Allegri problems,” proclaimed the front page of Thursday morning’s edition of TuttoSport (h/t Football Italia), the Turin-based newspaper one of many voices discussing the situation.

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“Allegri is on track to ruin Dybala," Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini said when asked about his former player by Radio Sportiva last week (h/t FourFourTwo).

Yet before the meeting with Atalanta, none of Juve’s attacking players had spent more time on the pitch this term than the 21-year-old.

Indeed, Dybala had featured for 561 minutes in all competitions, putting him ahead of Alvaro Morata (535 minutes) Mario Mandzukic (499) and Simone Zaza (296), a fact noted by Allegri at his pre-match press conference.

“Dybala has played more than any of our other strikers,” the coach said, per the club’s official website. “He's a lad with fantastic ability and a great future. Last year he was Palermo's star player but that doesn't mean we can hand him the same responsibility at a club like Juventus.”

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While the fact Dybala had returned from international duty ahead of the Inter clash perhaps justified his omission there, his late introduction in the following match against Borussia Monchengladbach was certainly questionable.

Yet Allegri would feel vindicated after including the Cordoba native in the starting XI against Atalanta, finding himself subsequently rewarded with an energy-filled display that fully showcased the player’s ability.

Dybala would open the scoring after 28 minutes, collecting Paul Pogba’s pass outside the area and smashing an unstoppable effort past goalkeeper Marco Sportiello that put Juve fully in control of the game.

"

GOAL! #Dybala - and the goal is sublime https://t.co/tBNIaW3wJc 1-0 #JuveAtalanta #Juventus

— GazzettaWorld (@GazzettaWorld) October 25, 2015"

Taking his 2015/16 tally to five goals overall, it was a goal whose significance cannot be understated after those somewhat misplaced concerns. But it would merely be one highlight of a superb all-round performance, with Dybala then joining a sublime team move that provided Mario Mandzukic with the game’s second goal.

He would also win a penalty that Pogba failed to convert, while statistics in the tweet below show Dybala connected with 41 of his 46 pass attempts, recovered the ball four times and took eight shots at the Atalanta goal.

But even he was dissatisfied with his contribution, noting in a post-match interview that he hopes to have an even greater impact in the future.

“I'm only half-satisfied, I was able to score a goal but I also missed a lot,” Dybala told Mediaset (h/t Football Italia). “I am self-critical because this is the only way I will improve.”

Allegri made similar comments at his post-match press conference, per the club's official website, with the coach saying that he “liked Paulo’s positional sense,” but adding that he needs to “get used to the physical aspects of the game.”

That unified message certainly bodes well for the future, one in which the striker will surely become a more prominent figure for Juventus.

Dybala continues to justify that significant summer outlay, and performances such as this one should see more faith shown in the way Juve manage him.