It doesn’t matter how good (or bad) your new logo looks, a brand doesn’t win you games on the football pitch. Players do.
Juventus, who recently lost 2-1 to Fiorentina in Serie A to see their lead over second placed Roma cut to one point (albeit with a game in hand), aren’t as dominant as they were last year, and Gazzetta reckon they know why.
They miss Paul Pogba.
Bought by Manchester United for a record transfer fee over the course of the summer, Max Allegri is missing the 23-year-old, having to now watch him play under José Mourinho rather than be by his side on the training pitch on a daily basis.
Now getting Old Trafford excited, the French midfielder’s inspiration and physicality are what’s lacking in Juventus more lightweight midfield on the pitch this campaign.
Described by Giorgio Chiellini as the ‘LeBron James’ and the ‘Usain Bolt’ of last year’s Juventus, the Manchester United star’s role of both containing the opposition and providing assists for the forwards has left a big hole in Allegri’s team.
Add that to the exits of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal over the past three years, and Juventus’ nearest rivals have all slowly gained some ground on the Old Lady.
While Pogba might still be struggling from time to time at Manchester United, the Frenchman’s signing has certainly been a great boost for the Old Trafford faithful and José Mourinho, especially over the duration of the club’s current unbeaten streak.
His performance against Liverpool left a lot to be desired, but the midfielder has certainly shown glimpses of the form he displayed over the past few years at Juventus.
And Gazzetta are adamant that is what Juventus sorely miss, his ability to make the difference, and none of the recent purchases have been able to make up for his absence.
Chiellini insisted ‘Allegri isn’t stupid’, hinting the manager will eventually work it all out.
For now, however, his main preoccupation is to try and get his team away from Luciano Spalletti’s Roma who are slowly chipping away at his side’s lead in the Serie A.
