The era of Andrea Pirlo begins. In fact, contrary to all forecasts, Juventus did not wait even 24 hours to move on, first by sacking Sarri and then replacing him with the former Brescian director, who passed from Under 23 coach to first team coach within a week . A sensational leap, not so much for the expulsion of the now former coach (he had been in the air for days, regardless of the match against Lyon), but for the choice of Pirlo, promoted on the prestigious Juventus bench without ever training before.
A decision by Agnelli himself who this time, unlike a year ago, wanted to do his own thing, opting for a fascinating and risky bet at the same time. Paratici, confirmed despite the rumors that they wanted him exonerated together with Sarri (but Juve, with a note reported by Ansa, flatly denied), could not help but take note of it, especially after a flop of such magnitude as that against the French. “Andrea is a boy who has been with us, he has played with us, he has always been in contact with us – the words of the Juventus director. – We also think about the fact that he can be predestined as a coach, as he was as a player ”.
We don't know if this will be the case, but Pirlo certainly overcame important competition, also by virtue of contractual requests (he signed a two-year contract worth 2 million per season) which are decidedly lower than Zidane, Mancini, Inzaghi and Pochettino, the other eligible substitutes by Sarri. Now a new phase opens, in which Ronaldo should have a central role, at least in Agnelli's plans. The Portuguese, on the other hand, has launched a sibylline message via social media ("it's time for reflection, may this holiday period help us make the best decisions for the future"), from the series "I'll only stay if you make me a team up to ”.
Rumors in the corridor, however, give him very happy with the arrival of Pirlo, a bit like the other senators in the locker room, with whom Sarri evidently had relationships that are anything but idyllic, therefore it is probable that he will remain in Turin, provided that PSG do not decide to attempt the lunge. The ball therefore passes back to Paratici, called to make an important market both in entry (you need two full-backs, two midfielders and a forward) and outgoing, therefore the opposite of a year ago, when Juve were mocked on too many fronts.
Champions bitter also for Napoli, defeated 3-1 by Barcelona and forced to say goodbye to the dream of the Final Eight. A ko that burns because the blues, net of the final result, played a good game, creating several problems for the Catalans, who appeared far from their best version. The problem is that Barça, however subdued, always has a certain Messi, able to make the difference with screaming plays, capable of subverting any tactical balance and directing an otherwise balanced match. Among other things, Napoli had started strong by hitting the post after just 2' with Mertens, which foreshadowed signs of feat.
Nothing could be more wrong because Barcelona, at the first useful opportunity, found the 1-0 with Lenglet (10', doubts for a push on Demme let go by the referee Çakir), but above all the doubling with Messi, author of a splendid play on which Ospina could do nothing (23'). The omelette, shortly after having narrowly escaped another goal by the Argentine (disallowed for hand ball), was completed in the 46th minute when the usual Messi took time off Koulibaly, forcing him to a penalty that Suarez coldly converted.
However, Napoli had the merit of not collapsing and indeed found the 3-1 goal with Insigne at the end of the time, also from the penalty spot for a foul by Rakitic on Mertens (50 '). In the second half, the Azzurri tried in every way to score again, aware that a goal could have really reopened the game, but they couldn't do it partly due to inaccuracy and partly due to bad luck, leaving Barça with the honor (or the burden, depending on how it goes) of challenge Bayern in the Final Eight in Lisbon.
“There is great regret for the half-hour blackout in the first half – Gattuso's analysis. – The first goal could be discussed, but it would be too easy to talk about the referee: we could have hurt Barcelona, but instead we gave them the game. They weren't doing very well, more conviction and brilliance were needed but we did too many things wrong, even though we are convinced that experience made the difference”.
Finally a joke about Pirlo, the former partner of a thousand battles (and victories) between Milan and the national team, destined instead to become the rival par excellence. "Now I'm c... of him" smiled Rino, who has long known the difference between playing and coaching. Soon Andrea will understand it too, called to the most important challenge of his career before he has even started it.
