“You know, [Antonio] Conte’s Juventus are very similar to [Marcello] Lippi’s first team. They have the same character, are aggressive and they want to win every match”, former Bianconeri striker Fabrizio Ravanelli told Inside Futbol, pointing to a facet which could explain Juventus’ success this season. And bode well for the club’s future.
Ravanelli was one of the most important players for Juventus in the 1994/95 campaign. As a centre forward, the Italian regularly found the back of the net and helped the Turin giants to the Scudetto and Coppa Italia in a magnificent season.
In that team, Ravanelli played alongside current Bianconeri boss Conte who, after experience in the dugout at Atalanta, Bari and Siena, landed at Juventus during the summer – now Conte’s team are battling at the very peak of Serie A and are serious contenders to win the Scudetto.
The 1994/95 season saw then-coach Marcello Lippi set his team up in a 4-3-3 system, with Angelo Peruzzi in goal, a defensive line composed of Ciro Ferrara on the right, German Jurgen Kolher and Massimo Carrera as centre backs and the young Moreno Torricelli at left back. In midfield, Lippi enjoyed a wonderfully talented trio of Angelo Di Livio, who would work the right flank tirelessly, Portuguese star Paulo Sousa in the centre and Conte on the left. Up front, Juventus boasted one of the strongest strike forces in world football with Alessandro Del Piero, Gianluca Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli.
That Juventus outfit reached three Champions League finals in a row, winning the famous trophy in 1996 in Rome against Ajax.
Lippi and the “Triade” (the board powerbrokers including Luciano Moggi, Antonio Giraudo and Roberto Bettega) were accused of doping and match-fixing, thanks to friendly referees, but even after the criticisms and accusations, the Bianconeri were a truly accomplished side.
The current Juventus crop have less quality than Lippi’s dream team, yet remain convinced that they can lift this season’s Serie A title; and this despite suffering two campaigns to forget in 2009/10 and 2010/11. Conte has transplanted his own qualities into his side. He was tenacious, determined and aggressive on the pitch, and now Juventus display all of these characteristics.
During the summer, Conte made clear that he wished to set up his team in a 4-2-4 formation, similar to that which Brazil used in the 1958 World Cup. Soon however, the Juventus coach switched to a more solid 4-3-3.
Andrea Pirlo, released in the summer by AC Milan, has proven to be one of Conte’s most important acquisitions. The pass-master has brought much-needed quality to Juventus, finding a new lease of life in Turin after ten years with the Rossoneri.
But there are less celebrated players too who are helping Juventus’ push for former glories. Claudio Marchisio (25), a midfielder who made his debut for Juventus in Serie B in the 2006/07 season, is now one of Conte’s most crucial performers. Marchisio has scored vitals goals against AC Milan, Parma, Palermo and Cesena; he is expected to be a key man for the Azzurri at Euro 2012.
Another surprise has come in the shape of Simone Pepe (28). The midfielder was less than impressive last season, but with Conte in charge, is enjoying a superb campaign on the right hand side of midfield. Pepe is slotting into the role that Di Livio occupied under Lippi; and the “new Vialli” could even be present in the current Bianconeri line-up, with Alessandro Matri, bought from Cagliari in the summer, bringing punch to Juventus’ forward line.
The Bianconeri started the season aiming to clinch a spot in next year’s Champions League, but now the focus has shifted. Conte’s men have spent extended spells on top of Serie A, winning key games against Milan, Inter and Lazio, while valuable draws came away at Roma and Napoli. Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan surely remain favourites to take the title, boasting as they do a stronger and more complete team – but Juventus are tough and have what is known in South America as “garra” (a mixture of strength and toughness).
Conte’s men also have the advantage of being able to concentrate on Serie A and the Coppa Italia, while Milan, Inter and Napoli may be tested to exhaustion in the Champions League. Ravanelli appears to be right – Juventus are strong contenders for this year’s Scudetto and Conte deserves praise.
