5 Key Factors to Take Juventus to Serie A Title Glory in 2015/16

Juventus will enjoy this summer; the Turin giants are able to reflect on a campaign that saw them collect only the third league-and-cup double in club history, adding a remarkable run to the Champions League final for good measure.

With a few weeks away to recharge their batteries, Massimiliano Allegri and his players will return to pre-season training in mid-July looking to continue their success into 2015/16. Doing so will provide the squad and coach with a huge challenge, chasing a historic fifth successive league title and seeking a similarly deep run in Europe’s elite club competition.

Over the following pages are five key factors that will help them achieve those aims.

Freshen Up the Squad

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Resting on one's laurels has long been an issue for teams enjoying sustained periods of success, and Juventus appear to be fully aware of the importance of avoiding that. The club has already announced the signings of two new players for next season, players who should improve competition for places in Allegri’s starting XI.

The Bianconeri have paid €32 million for Paulo Dybala, clearly impressed by a striker who netted 13 goals for Palermo last season. Sami Khedira will arrive for free once his contract with Real Madrid expires, and he will add to an already impressive array of midfielders.

But Keep the Old Faces

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While new faces bring added impetus, Juventus also need to ensure their key figures from last season remain with the club. Talk of exits for Paul Pogba, Carlos Tevez and even Andrea Pirlo has surfaced in recent weeks, relayed by Football Italia, but the Bianconeri would do well to hold onto all three this summer.

Each has been integral to their recent success, and they would all be hugely difficult to replace. Tevez has been the team’s leading scorer in each of the last two seasons, while Pogba has the potential to become one of the world’s very best players.

Pirlo can already claim to have reached that level, and despite his advancing age, he remains a central figure in Turin.

Continue Developing Young Players

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While a number of aging players, such as Gigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo and Patrice Evra, remain vitally important to the team, Juventus are also fortunate to be able to call upon a raft of talented youngsters each and every week.

The likes of Alvaro Morata, Stefano Sturaro and Roberto Pereyra have each proved to be important members of the squad, and it is essential they continue to improve if the Bianconeri are to sustain their success.

Guard Against International Hangovers

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Last summer, Arturo Vidal rushed back from knee surgery to compete at the World Cup. The hurried return undoubtedly affected his club form. The Chilean had no such concerns heading into this summer's Copa America, but Juventus must ensure he—along with Carlos Tevez—is given chance to recover from his international outings in South America.

Both Vidal and Tevez are key figures for the Bianconeri, and having them at their best when the new season gets underway will be essential.

Continued Tactical Evolution

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One of the key contributions made by Massimiliano Allegri in 2014/15 was the shift away from the 3-5-2 formation. While the coach often returned to it as a defensive tactic, his evolution of the team saw them look much more comfortable with a four-man defence.

That saw every member of the side pick up the pace and focus, and a similar change over the coming months could do the same. Making minor tweaks to the shape and style of play will not only keep the squad at their sharpest, but it would also keep opponents off guard and not allow Juventus to become predictable.