Juventus 3 – Cesena 1: Delayed reaction and random observations

Upon scrolling the beginning lineup for Juventus’ first preseason pleasant of the summer time on Saturday, you get a reasonably good indication simply how slim the roster at present is. There have been plenty of gamers that, in case you’re not all that acquainted with the Underneath-23 or primavera workforce, you didn’t acknowledge, whereas Juventus’ captain for the beginning of the sport simply so occurred to be a man who was out on mortgage for all the 2020-21 season.

So, yeah, Max Allegri’s first pleasant again as Juventus supervisor was one the place his roster was very, very, VERY shorthanded.

Regardless of all of that, Allegri’s squad went out and claimed a 3-1 win over Cesena at Juventus Coaching Heart. Koni De Winter, Weston McKennie and Matías Soulé received the objectives, as Juve’s makeshift squad received its first run-out of the summer time and Allegri received the possibility to handle his first recreation in over two years after his departure from Juventus on the finish of the 2018-19 season.

Outdoors of some names which were Juventus senior squad gamers throughout the previous couple of years, this appeared extra like a pleasant for the Underneath-23 workforce than it did for the senior squad. There have been numerous numbers within the 40s and 50s, plenty of gamers who we are going to see known as as much as the senior squad for a recreation or two all through the upcoming season as a result of there are accidents and Allegri is in want of our bodies and plenty of gamers who will seemingly be heading out on mortgage someplace earlier than the summer time transfer window is over as a result of there received’t be a spot for them on the roster when everyone is again from trip.

However there have been truly just a few fascinating issues that we received to see:

• For one, Allegri rolled out a 4-3-3, which can or will not be what he sticks with throughout the early a part of the 2021-22 season as soon as his first-choice beginning lineup is definitely accessible.
• Secondly, Allegri introduced on Merih Demiral to start out the second half and shifted Radu Dragusin (and later Daniele Rugani) out to a fullback spot due to the present state of the roster. So, as a lot as we will say Allegri went 4-3-3 to start out, the anticipated tinkering throughout the first pleasant of the preseason was very a lot there as soon as the subs began taking place.
• We received to see Weston McKennie rating a objective — something Allegri wants to see the American a lot of this season — as he performed a sophisticated position on the best facet of the three-man midfield.
• That candy, candy new away package.

And we received to see this for the primary time in a few years:

Picture by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC through Getty Pictures

Ahhhhh. Nature is therapeutic. Or, on this case, we hope Allegri’s return means Juventus is therapeutic.

There’s often no motive to learn into one pleasant just because you already know that there’s nonetheless a lot of the preseason forward of Allegri with loads of common starters nonetheless to reach at Continassa. As a lot as we have been primarily compelled to take plenty of final season’s first (and solely) pleasant as a result of we had by no means seen Andrea Pirlo coach a recreation earlier than, making an attempt to learn an excessive amount of into what Allegri did in opposition to Cesena simply isn’t going to be helpful. The principle gamers in his squad aren’t in Turin but, and as soon as they present up then this undertaking can really get moving into earnest.

For now, although, it was simply good to see Juventus enjoying a recreation once more and Allegri standing on the sidelines barking orders on the gamers. There are extra friendlies to be performed, extra gamers to speak about and clearly extra tactical setups to attempt to learn an excessive amount of into, however for now we will simply be comfortable that Mad Max is again on the place the place he’s achieved a lot already.

RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS

• I’m guessing that Matías Soulé, who scored in opposition to Cesena, turns into the youth academy crush of many readers and commenters round right here. Say what you need concerning the competitors and every little thing, however for an 18-year-old enjoying at this stage he confirmed out fairly nicely.
• In case you’re questioning, Nicolo Fagioli, Gianluca Frabotta and Alessandro Di Pardo didn’t play on this recreation as a consequence of disciplinary causes, in line with a number of stories. That’s disappointing. (Within the gamers, not in Allegri laying down the legislation for the younger guys.)
• Paulo Dybala didn’t play, which isn’t all that stunning primarily based on the truth that he’s been battling a muscle damage this week. He was sitting off to the facet on a ball behind Mattia Perin’s objective within the first half with a glance of a tragic pet not getting the possibility to play along with his littermates. Poor man simply needs to be out on the sphere, man.
• Studying means an excessive amount of right into a jersey quantity worn: Perin rocking No. 36 doesn’t precisely scream “I’m going to be staying right here for the 2021-22 season,” does it?
• Capitano Daniele Rugani!
• Marko Pjaca beginning within the heart a entrance three!
• Mattia De Sciglio again within the No. 2 jersey!
• You gotta love late-July friendlies when a lot of the workforce remains to be away on vacation, huh? It simply supplies you with these sorts of issues that hopefully can present us with some laughs whereas the workforce doesn’t precisely impress throughout a pleasant.
• Cesena’s objective was some traditional unhealthy marking within the field by Juventus’ two heart backs, Rugani and Radu Dragusin. (It was extra Rugani unable to win a ball within the field and clear it out whereas Dragusin misplaced monitor of his man a few toes away.) Good factor it’s July and we will (hopefully) not get mad about any of this taking place.
• Felix Correia, who began out on the left wing, positive has lots to enhance on with regards to the technical facet of his recreation in addition to his passing, however man that child can fly.
• The second half was Pinso time. All people loves Pinso time.
• In case you have been to ask me to call the 11 Juventus gamers who have been on the sphere when the ultimate whistle sounded, I don’t suppose I might get midway there. That’s simply what occurs when so many people are lacking and also you’re compelled to dip deep into your Underneath-23 and youth setup.
• I didn’t acknowledge Luca Clemenza when he was subbed on within the second half. My man has a giant beard and lengthy hair now, which was definitely not the case a couple of years ago.
• I’ll go away you with this: Due to the digital camera angle on JTV, you might often see the coaches behind Allegri speaking each time they minimize to a shot of the sideline. A number of the time, Simone Padoin was standing behind Allegri and speaking to a different one of many coaches. I don’t know why, however seeing Padoin there simply introduced a smile to my face. It’s the Padoin impact, I assume.