The records, first of all. At Juventus it is the day of the Scudetto celebration (the official one of course), but Antonio Conte is very concentrated on the match against Cagliari. It's not just hunger for victories, even if that never fails and it's one of Juve's main ingredients, the question is broader and concerns history. Numbers aren't everything, but they remain impressed forever and, very often, they are able to mark the difference between a good team and a great team. There are 4 records to break to become the best Juve of all time, at least in terms of numbers. The most important is that of points, which currently belongs to Fabio Capello (91 in 2005/06). The bianconeri are at an altitude of 86 and with two victories they could reach 92, thus overcoming Don Fabio's squadron. A real army, as evidenced by the world final between Italy and France in Berlin 2006, in which 8 of those players took part. “Juve can do it – Capello said. – But, as I have said several times, there are no opponents in this championship. Serie A is no longer what it used to be, before the great players wanted to come and play there, now the best choose other leagues and compared to Germany, England and Spain, Italy has lost a lot…”. A dig, which Antonio Conte preferred to overlook: “We are only interested in giving continuity to what we do, we do it with the right mentality and by closing the championship in the best possible way. Then if we get these records it will be a further satisfaction. Of course we are two victories away from breaking an important record, it's a further stimulus. We always want to win and we'll try to do it against Cagliari as well."
But, as previously mentioned, it's not just the primacy of points that is at stake. For example, with that of Bergamo, the bianconeri achieved 9 consecutive victories in the championship, getting very close to the "colleagues" of 1931/32, who under the orders of mister Carcano collected 10. Two more successes, then it will be a new record...
Two more would then be shattered in chains. That of the seasonal victories in Serie A (there are currently 27, the point of arrival are the 28 totaled by mister Carver in 1949/50) and that of the greatest gap from the second. In this case the record is more recent and was achieved by Marcello Lippi in 1994/95. That Juve distanced Lazio and Parma by 10 points, this one is +11 over Napoli. In short, if it is true that the most important objective has already been achieved (the Scudetto, ça va sans dire), there are others to fight for. This is the thought of Antonio Conte and, judging by the performance in Bergamo, also of his players. The group is united and compact in every sense, as evidence of this yesterday the coach presented himself at the press conference together with all the members of the technical staff. Angelo Alessio (assistant coach), Massimo Carrera (technical collaborator), Claudio Filippo (goalkeeping coach), Paolo Bertelli (head of athletic trainers), Julio Tous (athletic trainer) and Costantino Coratti (athletic trainer), in Vinovo there were just everyone, next to their boss. Who, even yesterday, found himself faced with the usual question: will you stay at Juve? "Now I'm not talking about myself and my future, I'm here to congratulate all my staff" he cut short. Proving, if it were still needed, that future programs are still to be decided. However, the company wants to meet him at all costs, and it is no coincidence that it is already moving on the market. In the coming days Marotta will meet Gonzalo Higuain's agents in Madrid, and according to some rumors he would have had contact with De Laurentiis to ask for some information on Cavani. Big names, which would make the current Juventus coach happy. Then yes, he could start the assault on the coveted Champions League.
POSSIBLE FORMATIONS
Juventus (3-5-2): Storaries; Caceres, Bonucci, Chiellini; Isla, Giaccarini, Marrone, Marchisio, Peluso; Mothers, Giovinco.
On the bench: Buffon, Rubinho, Barzagli, Padoin, Lichtsteiner, Vidal, De Ceglie, Quagliarella, Anelka, Vucinic.
Coach: Antonio Conte.
Out: Pepe, Asamoah, Bendtner.
Suspended: Pogba (2), Pirlo (1).
Be wary: De Ceglie, Matri, Padoin, Bonucci, Peluso, Lichtsteiner, Vidal.
Cagliari (4-3-1-2): Agazzi; Perico, Rossettini, Astori, Murru; Dessena, Conti, Ekdall; Nainggolan; Ibarbo, Sau.
On the bench: Avramov, Avelar, Ariaudo, Del Fabro, Casarini, Eriksson, Cossu, Nenè, Pinella, Thiago Ribeiro.
Coach: Ivo Pulga – Diego Lopez.
Unavailable: Cabrera, Pisano.
Disqualified: none.
Be wary: Sau, Pisano, Cabrera, Ariaudo, Nainggolan, Conti, Thiago Ribeiro.
Referee: Gianpaolo Calvarese (Teramo).
Line assistants: Viazzi – Rubino.
Goalkeeper assistants: Nasca – Giancola.
Fourth man: Altomare.
