What to watch for in Juventus’ first friendly of the summer

You don’t have to look far to determine simply how completely different this summer time is from the one 12 months in the past.

At this level on the calendar final yr, Maurizio Sarri was nonetheless Juventus’ supervisor. And never solely that, however Juve had been nonetheless taking part in video games, with a ninth consecutive Scudetto almost secured and a Champions League showdown with Lyon nonetheless to be performed in a few weeks. (Let’s not speak about that final half.) Since that time limit one yr in the past, Juventus has fired Sarri and employed his alternative, then fired Sarri’s alternative, Andrea Pirlo, and introduced again Max Allegri, and seen mentioned Scudetto streak come to an finish after a curler coaster experience of a 2020-21 season below Pirlo.

Fortunately, in contrast to Pirlo, we could have a couple of pleasant to gauge what issues appear like for Allegri and Juventus getting into the 2021-22 season. For the following three weekends, we could have a Juventus sport to look at once more, with Juve’s friendly schedule coming into focus inside the previous couple of days. The primary of these friendlies, albeit with restricted numbers because of post-Euro 2020 and Copa America holidays, takes place Saturday night at 6 p.m. native time (18:00 CEST) at Juventus Coaching Heart when Allegri’s Juve faces Serie C aspect Cesena. (Ah, Cesena, you bring back such wonderful memories.)

Whereas Juventus’ friendlies in a while this preseason can be much more indicative as to what Allegri will do merely due to who’s taking part in in them, this can be so much like Pirlo’s first pleasant final summer time in the truth that there’s a easy curiosity as to what he’s bringing to the desk. Regardless that Juventus’ present supervisor is much more of a confirmed commodity than the man he changed, that is nonetheless the primary time we’ll be seeing Model 2.0 and making an attempt to see if there’s any variations between the primary go-around with Allegri.

What are some things to concentrate to throughout Saturday’s pleasant? Glad you requested.

1) Does Paulo Dybala really play?

I’ll completely perceive if Allegri chooses to not play Dybala on this sport. It’s nonetheless tremendous early within the preseason, Dybala has been coping with a minor muscle injury the last couple of days as we’ve been instructed earlier within the week, and I used to be very a lot getting ready this part to be about him not taking part in …. till I noticed a sure fella with purple Adidas boots on about 15 seconds — and some instances after that — into Friday’s video recap of coaching.

Nicely, I assume Mr. Dybala is feeling a little bit higher! At the very least adequate to have Max yelling issues at him once more — which, I’m guessing, is simply just about par for the course if you happen to watch the complete video above.

Possibly Dybala really performs. Possibly he doesn’t. Figuring out that he is without doubt one of the few gamers inside this present preseason coaching roster that we really care so much about — no offense to Daniele Rugani or Mattia De Sciglio, however you understand how it goes — watching him no less than get a little bit little bit of a run out can be cause sufficient to look at. (My man appears like he’s in form!)

But when Allegri decides that, after what has occurred over the past couple of days, that this isn’t the time to present Dybala a little bit little bit of taking part in time, it’s completely comprehensible. There’s a lot extra time to organize this summer time as in comparison with final, so there’s no cause to hurry something at this time limit. A pleasant in opposition to Cesena on July 24 shouldn’t be the time to see if Dybala’s damage can face up to a game-like scenario. There’s time to relaxation him, and that’s what must be executed if he’s not able to roll.

If he is able to play some minutes, although … watching Dybala as he’s dancing on a Serie C protection — that sounds enjoyable!

2) Nicolo Fagioli’s position

Ah, one of many Beneath-23 squad gamers that we really need to see.

Now we’re speaking, people.

Fagioli is without doubt one of the few academy and/or Beneath-23 crew graduates who appear to have a respectable shot to get the full-time promotion to Juventus’ senior squad this season. (You gotta suppose Radu Dragusin could be one other if he isn’t heading to Sassuolo in a Manuel Locatelli deal.) And which may have even been earlier than Arthur was compelled to endure surgical procedure lower than per week into the preseason due to his now-fixed knee damage.

We all know Allegri is an enormous fan of Fagioli, and he was all the time going to be one of many largest beneficiaries of preseason coaching beginning at a extra common time this summer time only for the easy undeniable fact that so many different midfielders had been going to be lacking the primary couple of weeks of preseason preparations on the very minimal. You then throw in Arthur’s damage and you’ve got a major alternative for Juventus to present Fagioli a spot with the senior crew however a task that clearly won’t put an excessive amount of on his shoulders by any means.

Whereas one sport received’t completely inform us what Allegri has in retailer for the younger Italian or something near it, seeing Fagioli on the market for nevertheless lengthy he performs can be fairly the refreshing sight even when it’s come about as a result of so many guys aren’t in Turin for the time being.

3) Weston McKennie’s general mobility and explosiveness

It all the time annoys me when folks criticize a participant for a dip in kind but those self same folks all the time fail to say that a vital damage contributed to mentioned dip in kind.

(What do you mean “YOU PEOPLE?!”)

McKennie was actually good within the first half of the 2020-21 season, and on a crew that was fully unpredictable he was arguably the largest shock for the higher. Then a hip damage derailed his kind, and despite the fact that he tried to play by means of it the McKennie was noticed within the first half of the season was positively not the one we noticed in February, March and April.

The nice factor is that exterior of his participation within the CONCACAF Nations League instantly after Juventus’ season ended, McKennie’s summer time hasn’t been all that busy in any respect. And that’s not simply when in comparison with quite a lot of his Juve teammates. He’s been capable of relaxation up and get again to one hundred pc health once more after making an attempt to grit his means by means of the aforementioned hip damage.

Nearly as necessary: McKennie has been one of many few first crew regulars that has been coaching with Allegri from the start of preseason, which implies he’s been capable of get coached up a lot in the identical vogue as Fagioli whereas others are away.

What McKennie’s position could be below Allegri is without doubt one of the most-asked about issues after we ask for Twitter query to convey up on the podcast. And whereas quite a lot of Juve’s different principal midfielders aren’t round, this pleasant may give us no less than a slight concept as to what Allegri has in thoughts for everyone’s favourite Texan at Juventus.

Picture by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC by way of Getty Pictures

4) Completely overreacting to Allegri’s ways and formation(s)

That is most likely the half that may, each throughout the sport itself and within the first couple of minutes after the ultimate whistle, be examined means an excessive amount of than it must be contemplating who can be taking part in.

Reminder: This isn’t something near the Juventus squad Allegri can be working with come the primary sport of the 2021-22 season subsequent month in Udine. You’ll seemingly be capable to rely on one hand what number of gamers who begin Saturday in opposition to Cesena will begin in opposition to Udinese in a number of weeks. So many projected starters are nonetheless on vacation it’s loopy.

And but, I’m simply sitting right here ready for the loopy speak in relation to what Allegri does.

On the identical time, although, perhaps Allegri provides a small glimpse into what he’s considering. Possibly. I don’t know. I imply, the person hasn’t even talked to the press but and he’s been conducting preseason coaching periods for almost two weeks now. Possibly it’s Fagioli as a regista, McKennie in a complicated position and making the identical sort of runs he did when he was one in all Juve’s finest gamers final November and December or Luca Pellegrini is given some run at left-back.

Who is aware of what’s going to occur. It’s a pleasant. In late July. With the overwhelming majority of the common beginning lineup nonetheless on vacation. There’s solely a lot Allegri will be capable to do with a squad stuffed with fringe and Beneath-23 gamers.

Both means, this can be a first glimpse into Model 2.0, so no less than now we have that to overreact about.

5) Mattia Perin — the brand new No. 2 behind Wojciech Szczesny?

As rumors as to who Juventus’ backup goalkeeper could be go fully silent and doubtlessly out of the multitude of issues to consider this summer time, Mattia Perin may very nicely get the beginning in objective as Wojciech Szczesny is simply again from his post-Euro vacation.

Perin has mentioned to be wanting the possibility to start out, which clearly isn’t going to initially occur at Juventus this season. However, on the identical time, Allegri reportedly needs to maintain Perin round as Szczesny’s backup this season, with Carlo Pinsoglio clearly protecting a maintain of the No. 3 keeper spot.

As a lot as we take pleasure in Pinso time round right here, that is extra a case of desirous to see how Perin performs and the way he handles the truth that he can be working with a really not-first selection protection in entrance of him in opposition to Cesena.

Possibly Perin does find yourself leaving this summer time and all of this can be a moot level in a number of weeks, however seeing the 28-year-old Italian keep in Turin does appear to be it’s a chance. So, as he will get able to take the sphere as a Juventus participant as soon as once more, we’d as nicely keep watch over how he performs earlier than Tek steps again into the objective with the No. 1 jersey on his again.

Picture by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC by way of Getty Pictures

MATCH INFO

Who: Juventus vs. Cesena

When: Saturday, July 24, 2021

The place: Juventus Coaching Heart, Turin, Italy

Official kickoff time: 5 p.m. native time in Italy and throughout Europe; 5 p.m. in the UK; 12 p.m. Jap Time; 9 a.m. Pacific Time

HOW TO WATCH

Tv: Sky Sport Uno (Italy)

On-line/cellular: Juventus TV (subscription-only; accessible after midnight in Italy); SKY Go Italia (Italy)

Different reside viewing choices could be discovered here, and as all the time, you may as well observe together with us reside and all of the silly issues we are saying on Twitter. In case you haven’t already, join the community on Black & White & Learn All Over, and be part of within the dialogue beneath.