The roar of the Lady. Which maybe won't be enough to save the season, but at least it will make it less bitter, as long as the Champions League qualification doesn't arrive on Sunday evening, on the last day: then yes, at home Juve we could go back to partying seriously. But regardless of this Coppa Italia, the 14th in black and white history, can only do well, also because it was obtained against a feared opponent like Atalanta by Gasperini, which gives a considerable boost both on a technical and psychological level.
Lots of curiosities relating to the Mapei Stadium final, starting with the location, the same as the Super Cup against Napoli and the league victory a week ago: Sassuolo's home obviously brings good luck to Juventus. The presence of fans should also be underlined, 4.300 to be precise, never so many in the Covid era, a sign of hope and a restart, albeit in small steps. And then Buffon's latest in black and white jersey, as captain and with a trophy in the sky, up to Atalanta, defeated yesterday and allied on Sunday, albeit indirectly, in the race for the Champions League.
In short, the chapters of this challenge were many, even if then, as in any self-respecting final, what counts above all is the epilogue and that, once again, smiled at Juventus. Sweaty victory but, on the whole, deserved, because after a first half in which Atalanta played better and built the clearest chances, the bianconeri took the chair, going to take the cup with a determination that recalled the seasons pass.
"We had the desire to win and bring home this trophy, despite the season not being positive, we really wanted this victory - he exulted Pirlo – Juve won deservedly, Messi had in mind to win the cup and we did it. The future? I would reconfirm myself, I would like to continue because I love this club and I love coaching, then obviously they will decide…”.
The coach knows that the games are most likely already done, but also that if he had wanted to have a chance of reconfirmation he would have had to win the Coppa Italia, and then complete the job next Sunday with the Champions League qualification, although it no longer depends only on him. A success will be needed in Bologna and, at the same time, that at least one between Milan and Naples stumbles and, given that the Azzurri will receive a Verona in free fall, it is logical to hope more precisely in that Atalanta beaten yesterday.
Here, the great unknown concerns precisely the psychological state of people from Bergamo: will they be able to turn the waste of defeat into competitive rage or will they be overwhelmed by it? Impossible to give an exact answer, but certainly the second final lost in three years hurts a group that has indeed achieved great goals, but never a trophy to seal them.
"There is disappointment, undoubtedly, it was a tight game, even beautiful to watch, certainly unfortunate in the episodes for us - the bitter comment of Gasperini – When we talk about victories we are only talking about titles, but those are the prerogative of very few clubs, our victories come from seasonal objectives and we are very happy with what we are doing. I'm very sorry for the boys, but we definitely go out with our heads held high."
This is beyond doubt, given that the Goddess played it on equal terms for a good part of the match, especially in the first half, when the final 1-1 was certainly tight for her. Several chances were created, with Buffon decisive on Palomino and Zapata, but only one goal scored, moreover in a comeback, with Malinovskyi, surgical in making the most of Freuler's assist, who in turn was good at stealing the ball from Rabiot (41').
First, however, in the only offensive sortie worthy of note, it was Juve who took the lead with Kulusevsky, precise in finalizing a daring action, born from a "rough" contrast between Cuadrado and Gosens (many Atalanta protests, just like on a contact in the area between Rabiot and Pessina) and closed with a left foot (31 ').
Ma in the second half the roles were reversed, with the Bergamo players only dangerous at the beginning (De Ligt's great save on Romero) in the face of a more evil and determined lady. First a save by Gollini on Kulusevski, then a sensational post by Chiesa after a clear heel by Ronaldo (the only call in an anonymous match), finally the decisive network of Chiesa himself on an assist from Kulusevski (73'). At that point Atalanta, which perhaps was already thinking of extra time, no longer had the strength to turn the tide of the match, despite Gasperini having tried everything by inserting Ilicic and Miranchuk, in addition to the already present Zapata and Muriel.
It's over with Buffon to lift the Cup and all of Juve, including John Elkann, celebrating on the Mapei lawn: the main course will be decided on Sunday, but in the meantime another trophy has arrived in Turin and this, evidently, is always a good reason to rejoice.
