Alvaro Morata Proves His Value to Juventus in Coppa Italia Final Win over Milan

Chasing history and yet another piece of silverware, Juventus turned in a desperately poor performance in Saturday's Coppa Italia final against AC Milan. There were a number of reasons for this dire Bianconeri display, but only one was needed to explain how they escaped with the 1-0 victory that allowed them to take home the trophy.

As he had through the competition, coach Massimiliano Allegri fielded Brazilian goalkeeper Neto in place of Gigi Buffon, while Claudio Marchisio and fellow midfielder Sami Khedira missed the tie with injuries. 

Juve were further weakened by the fact key defender Leonardo Bonucci was serving a one-match suspension, yet that should in no way excuse such a tepid showing from the newly crowned Serie A champions. 

Indeed, it could be argued Milan—who finished seventh and a staggering 34 points behind the league winners—were largely the better side. Just as they had on their previous meeting with Juve back on April 9, the Rossoneri shrugged off their usual mediocrity and rose to the challenge, taking the game to the Old Lady throughout this encounter.

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Milan lost that previous clash 2-1, but neither side looked like scoring here, stuttering in midfield and unable to find that one telling pass to break the deadlock. As he has on so many occasions this term, Allegri looked to his bench for answers, withdrawing the ineffective Patrice Evra and Stephan Lichtsteiner and replacing them with Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado respectively.

Even with that added attacking impetus out wide, the Turin-based side looked laboured, their understrength midfield failing to create any real openings for starting duo Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic.

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Yet as the minutes of extra time ticked by, and with the game still scoreless, it would not be one of the strikers sacrificed for Allegri's third change, as he instead hauled off Hernanes. His 107 minutes on the field had been wholly forgettable, lost in a sea of safe and short sideways passes that never once looked like leading to an opening for his team-mates.

His replacement quickly proved to be far more decisive, however, with Alvaro Morata sent on as the Bianconeri clearly sought to strike a telling blow and avoid the drama of a penalty shootout.

The Spain international had been on the field less than three minutes—and touched the ball only once—when Cuadrado fired a low cross into the box. Morata timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap, volleying home a smart finish beyond goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and running off to celebrate in front of Juve supporters who had packed the Stadio Olimpico's Curva Nord.

“I had an important decision to make in extra-time: whether to play for a penalty shootout or to have one last roll of the dice to secure victory,” Allegri told Rai Sport shortly after the final whistle (h/t the team's official site). “I went for the second option.”

He continued: “In finals you need to play well but also have luck on your side." And while they played poorly, the Bianconeri were certainly fortunate to be able to call upon a player of Morata's quality. How long that will remain the case is unknown, however, with questions over his future constantly lingering because of the buy-back clause contained in his contract.

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The Spanish giants can trigger that this summer or next year for a fee of up to €30 million, according to Juve's website, and it seems a number of other clubs are in turn willing to invest heavily in the 23-year-old, meaning Saturday's could have been his last game for Juventus.

According to numerous reports—including one from Matt Law of the Telegraph—Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain would all like to sign Morata when the transfer window opens and hand Real Madrid a quick profit.

The player himself refused to comment on the speculation after his cup-winning goal, instead telling Rai Sport (h/t Football Italia) that he preferred to focus on the forthcoming UEFA European Championship and “not even think about the future.”

Juventus director Beppe Marotta recently told reporters (h/t Jack de Menezes of the Independent) that “keeping Morata at the club is an important objective for us,” On Saturday night in Rome, when the Bianconeri were struggling, he once again showed why he is so coveted.