The dream begins again. This evening Juventus' assault on the Champions League, the main objective of all the black and white people, starts. Impossible to declare it openly but if the Juventus players could make a wish they would certainly ask for the cup with big ears, absent from the notice board in Corso Galileo Ferraris since 1996.
The desire for Europe starts from the top and touches first of all the president Agnelli, even if with the awareness of certainly not having the strongest team. Inevitable, however, Juve must do better than last year, when the Lady left the cup prematurely by Mancini's Galatasaray.
It was the last day of a group on paper that was affordable, never really conquered by Conte's hesitant (in the Champions League of course) Juventus. Once again this year the draw was benevolent and this year too the debut will be against a Scandinavian team (12 months ago it was Copenhagen's turn) but Massimiliano Allegri, to whom everyone asks for a miracle, hopes that the similarities end there.
“We try to beat Malmoe – glossed over the coach. – In Europe there are no races that are easy or manageable. Our group seems simple but it was like that even a year ago and we all know how it turned out. It's never easy to get through, plus the Swedes are in better athletic condition than us. In short, we will have to be perfect”.
A slight retreat from July, when he indicated the quarterfinals as a minimum target, or a simple injection of realism? No one knows for sure but Allegri has already made it clear that he won't bet all his chips on Europe. “It would be stupid to leave the championship aside for the Champions League – echoed Chiellini. – Real Madrid waited 12 years to win it and invested hundreds of millions. Let's take it one step at a time, race after race."
However, many ask the Juventus coach for a leap in quality, perhaps the only way to permanently erase Conte's ghost. “I think the squad is competitive to move forward in Italy and in Europe – admitted Allegri. – Morata is back, Pereyra has done well… Our goal is to bring all players to the best level to achieve results in all tournaments”.
Will this be the key to not repeating last year's mistakes? We'll see, certainly Juventus will have to start well tonight. A Malmoe arrives in Turin with nothing to lose but not to be underestimated. The Swedes are first in the standings with a five-point lead over Aik Solna, and have already executed the more popular Salzburg in the preliminary round.
Allegri will bet once again on a 3-5-2 formation but, compared to Saturday, there will be some changes in men. In defense Chiellini returns from the first minute, thus joining Caceres and Bonucci in defense of Buffon. In midfield, given the absences of Pirlo, Vidal and Pereyra (suspended) it will be up to Asamoah to play inside in a department that will also see Lichtsteiner, Marchisio, Pogba and Evra. In attack, despite the excellent impression left by Morata, Tevez and Llorente will still be the starters, with the young Spaniard who could however become the extra weapon in the current game. The Stadium, and the whole Juventus world in general, wants the Champions League. Will Massimiliano Allegri be able to please him?
