Complete Report Card for Juventus in 2014
Now that it has drawn to a close, 2014 was undoubtedly a tumultuous year for Juventus. The grand Old Lady of Italian football has enjoyed some major accomplishments, yet also suffered some crushing disappointments.
Winning last season’s league title—the club’s third successive Scudetto—with a record points tally of 102 was testament to the incredible desire now ingrained in the squad. Yet just two months after lifting that honour, its architect Antonio Conte walked away from the club, quickly taking a role with the Italian national team.
That was hardly the only blow suffered by La Madama, however, also suffering elimination from the Champions League group stage and narrowly missing out on a Europa League final in her own home. The chance to play for a trophy at Juventus Stadium was lost, and the club also recently tasted Super Cup defeat at the hands of Napoli.
However, there were still major highs in 2014, and the impact of Massimiliano Allegri also bodes well for the New Year. The coach himself is certainly ready for that challenge, looking ahead in an extremely open interview with Sky Italia last week.
"I believe this squad has a lot of quality," Allegri told them, per the official Juventus website. "I believe we need to have even greater faith in our ability because Juventus have to make a step up and I think we need to do it above all in Europe."
He went on to add his belief that "it's not enough for Juventus to be happy with only winning the league," clearly demanding more from his players. With Borussia Dortmund awaiting in the last 16 of the Champions League and a three-point lead over Roma in Serie A, it is easy to see why he is so positive.
Over the following pages we take a look at the players, grading them on their 2014 contribution to Juventus, identifying the strongest and weakest areas of the squad.
All statistics are courtesy of WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated
Goalkeeper
1 of 7
Gigi Buffon has enjoyed an excellent end to 2014, making a telling contribution and leading the side superbly in the first four months of the campaign. He has recorded a league-high 10 clean sheets in his 15 appearances, adding three more in six Champions League games.
Statistics from Fox Soccer show Buffon has been called upon to make just 25 saves thus far but has always been ready when the defence has failed to protect him. A stellar performance in the Super Cup Final—discussed in detail here—went unrewarded, his Bianconeri team-mates failing to capitalise on the chances to win he provided.
In the one game he deputised for Buffon—the Turin derby in late November—Marco Storari conceded once as Juventus beat their neighbours, ESPN showing he made four saves.
Grade: A
Right-Back/Right Wing-Back
2 of 7
Much like in goal, the role on the right side of defence has largely been occupied by one man. Due to injuries to Romulo and Martin Caceres, Stephan Lichtsteiner has started all but three games in all competitions.
He has done so brilliantly, establishing himself as the unsung hero of the 2014-15 campaign with a series of consistently excellent performances. Statistics from Who Scored show he has averaged 1.3 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 2 clearances per game, also weighing in with two goals and four assists.
Roberto Pereyra and Simone Padoin have filled in admirably when needed, but Allegri will hope to recover a more suitable alternative quickly.
Grade: A
Central Defence
3 of 7
Normally a position of strength for the Bianconeri, the centre of defence has been hit by a string of injuries and suspensions in 2014.
That issue has been compounded by the switch to a four-man defence, the players in this role perhaps affected more than any other by the move away from Conte’s 3-5-2 framework.
Giorgio Chiellini missed three league games, and his form has been surprisingly poor thus far. The 30-year-old boasts team-high averages of 2.9 interceptions and 4.5 clearances per game according to Who Scored, but he has appeared off the pace and clumsy numerous times.
Angelo Ogbonna looks markedly better than he did last term, but it has regularly fallen to Leonardo Bonucci to hold the defence together.
Starting all but one game this term, no out-field player has played as many minutes (1890) as the former Bari man, and he has led the back line well in spite of the constant changes around him.
Grade: C
Left-Back/Left Wing-Back
4 of 7
The injury suffered by Kwadwo Asamoah has robbed Juventus of a key player, but Patrice Evra has done well in his absence. The two men rotated in and out of the line-up in the early part of the season, each performing admirably on the left flank.
Evra is clearly happier as an orthodox full-back and the switch to a back four has undoubtedly suited his playing style. The former Manchester United man scored his first goal for the club in the draw with Sampdoria, and his form was discussed in detail here.
With the duo unavailable for a period, Allegri was forced to field Simone Padoin at left-back, and the midfielder turned in some solid displays.
Grade: C
Central Midfield
5 of 7
While the central defenders have struggled with the change in formation, Juve’s biggest issue to date has arguably been the loss of form ahead of them.
Both Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo have failed to reach the levels usually expected from them, leaving the team lacking its usual cutting edge.
Claudio Marchisio has been consistent but unspectacular, weighing in with just one goal and two assists as he has often been asked to deputise for Pirlo in a deeper role. Roberto Pereyra has done better than many expected, but the Argentinean cannot be asked to deliver match-winning performances.
Paul Pogba’s growth has continued, the French youngster perhaps the one bright spot in midfield. With four goals and two assists, his impact has increased and he richly deserved the contract he signed in October, per the club’s official website.
Grade: C
Attack
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Carlos Tevez has clearly carried the Juventus attack this term, scoring 15 goals while adding a team-high five assists. The Argentinean star has won match after match for the Bianconeri, proving to be perhaps Serie A’s best player of 2014 as discussed here.
Behind him, Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Morata have netted four times each, while Sebastian Giovinco and Kingsley Coman remain goalless, the side looking blunt whenever Tevez is out of the line-up.
As such, it was no surprise to see Allegri asking for reinforcements in this area of the side in a recent interview with TuttoSport (h/t Football Italia).
The coach will need the rest of his strikers—plus any new arrivals—to make an improved contribution if Juventus are to achieve their targets in the New Year.
Grade: B
Coach
7 of 7
It is almost impossible to underestimate the size of the task handed to Allegri when he took control of the team in the summer.
With three consecutive league titles and his iconic status as a former captain of the club, Antonio Conte held a special place in the hearts of Juventus supporters across the globe.
While the manner of his exit may taint that legacy somewhat, Allegri has steadily rebuilt his own battered reputation. Fired by Milan after a disappointing start to last season, the 47-year-old has surpassed almost all expectations.
Director Beppe Marotta perhaps put it best, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport that the coach had "proved the doubters wrong" (h/t Football Italia). With the change in formation reaping huge dividends, Allegri can reflect on a good start to life in Turin, but will be fully aware that much more is still expected.
As Marotta went on to say in that recent interview, a fourth Scudetto is "obligatory," while also stating his belief that Juve "have what it takes to reach the Champions League quarter-finals."
Grade: A
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