STADIO ARTEMIO FRANCHI (Florence) – Juventus dropped their first points of the Maurizio Sarri era against a brave, but wasteful, Fiorentina.
Sarri was in charge of the Bianconeri pitch side for the first time, having recovered from pneumonia. But the team looked much less Sarri-esque than the side that demolished Napoli for 60 minutes.
The Bianconeri were slow in possession, unable to free their main men and create chances, whilst risking a lot at the back. There was a flavour of Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus in terms of style of play, but definitely not in terms of the final result.
ALLEGRI’S JUVENTUS?
Sarri was brought in to give Juve a more entertaining brand of football. Of course, we can all debate what ‘entertaining’ means with regards to football, but the Juventus hierarchy clearly believed in a change after many successful years.
Saturday felt like the worst possible blend between Allegri’s Juve and Sarri’s Juve – a team that doesn’t entertain and doesn’t win. Allegri’s Juve often did not entertain at Fiorentina, but almost always came out happy. The former coach in his time at Juventus lost only once at Fiorentina, winning four and drawing 0-0 in one occasion, his first trip to the Franchi as Juve coach – just like Sarri (and this could be a good omen).
However, after seeing such a great Juventus dominate Napoli for over an hour at the Allianz Stadium two weeks ago, it was disappointing to see such a flat side against Fiorentina. The Viola had a great match, but also made the most of a mediocre Bianconeri side, simply unable to ever raise the level of their game.
Everyone expected Sarri to blend into the Bianconeri’s philosophy – making his entertaining football slightly less entertaining, and mixing it with victories. But the one we saw at the Franchi is the wrong blend.
It is very early days to judge if Sarri will be a success or not – and what we saw against Napoli indicated that Juve can play spectacular football, and win – but perhaps Sarri and his staff will have to consider this performance as a warning for the future.
MONTELLA IS TRULY BACK
Remember Fiorentina back in 2012/13? The first season with Vincenzo Montella in charge. The Aeroplanino used to play with Stevan Jovetic and Adam Ljajic up front, without a real centre forward.
The advantage was having two extra players that would come in deeper to hold possession with the midfielders. It worked, as Fiorentina played a possession based style of play that took the Viola to fourth that season. Probably his best season as a coach.
Leaving out a centre forward and having Federico Chiesa and Franck Ribery start together up front against Juventus, as Montella tried to replicate 2012, and for large chunks of the game against Juve it worked.
The Viola had more men in the heart of the game, with a packed midfield which left the Bianconeri often outnumbered in the middle, which seemed to be the Viola’s game plan.
The downside was, obviously, not having a real finisher, who could have perhaps turned a great performance into a victory.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com