Actually, Juventus’ form curve was clearly pointing upwards, but in the Champions League the Old Lady was brought back down to earth. Even if this was perceived in different ways.
Only one defeat since the end of November, and that in the Supercoppa against Inter. Otherwise 14 wins and six draws, even in the championship, with seven points on leaders Milan, a little hope is still allowed. Who would have believed that in the first few weeks of the season?
On Wednesday evening, however, Juventus were confronted with the harsh reality that the Old Lady may not yet be as far along as they had thought in the interim. The clear Champions League exit against Villarreal – in front of a home crowd – was a shot across the bow. The protagonists at the Italian record champions dealt with it in different ways.
It was nothing entirely un-Italian that Massimiliano Allegri complained about on “Prime Video Italia”: “We played well, but they were behind the ball with nine men,” complained Juve’s coach. Would he have done anything differently knowing that after the “ugly” 3-0 defeat? Allegri, whose approach was accused of too little aggression and activity, denied.
Juve failed three times as favourites
For the third time in a row, the Old Lady were eliminated in the last 16 of the top flight, and this time they didn’t even need the abolished away goals rule. Lyon, Porto, Villarreal – with all due respect, not the top of the European table, and that’s where Juve actually want to be again. For the third time, the Bianconeri had failed as favourites.
They failed to take their chances at the front – Dusan Vlahovic at least hit the crossbar – and finally “collapsed” at the back, conceding “three completely avoidable goals”, as “Football Italia” wrote. The invective “scuppered” also hovered over the accusation that Allegri had slept through his changes.
While Villarreal coach Unai Emery tipped the game by bringing on Samu Chukwueze, Francis Coquelin and Gerard Moreno after just over an hour, Allegri brought on Paulo Dybala late on in the 78th minute (with the score at 1-0) – and Federico Bernardeschi and Moise Kean even later.
Juve defender Danilo felt his opinion was well represented in the media and publicly contradicted his appeasing coach. “We have to apologise to the fans and learn from this approach,” the Brazilian demanded on ‘Sky Sports Italia’. “To compete at this level you have to be focused until the end. We weren’t and they punished us. “
Ex-player Evra takes a shot at Arthur
A former Bianconeri defender Patrice Evra also spoke out, opting for an uncompromising choice of words on “Prime Video Italia”. “He’s doing wonders considering what he has at his disposal,” the Frenchman defended coach Allegri, picking out one player instead: “Arthur didn’t make a pass today that really changed the game.”
“Especially in midfield, we simply lack quality,” Evra analysed unsparingly, using other names to highlight what currently separates Juve from Champions League finals like 2015. “Back then we had Claudio Marchisio, Arturo Vidal or Andrea Pirlo,” the 40-year-old recalled. “And now there’s Arthur. “
