JUVE, BEAT CESENA TO TAKE BACK THE TOP!
BIANCONERI FOR THE FIRST TIME WITHOUT PIRLO.
CONTE WARNS: "WOE TO UNDERESTIMATE YOUR OPPONENT".
It won't be a cartel match, yet it counts, and how it counts. Juventus – Cesena is exactly that type of match that gives dimension to a team: if you really can win the Scudetto then you win it easily, vice versa it means that something is not working. In fact, this Juve must demonstrate that it is different from that of previous years, which perhaps beat Inter but then lost in Lecce. Antonio Conte also thinks so, who certainly didn't let himself be softened by the performance in Naples: “The moment I became Juventus coach, I set myself some steps. The first step was to get back to being competitive, get back to having credibility in the eyes of our fans, get back to having credibility in the eyes of your opponents. I think we have reached this step and it wasn't easy. Now there is the second step and then there will be others. What is the second step? Maintaining competitiveness, something it hasn't managed to do in past years".
Conte didn't say it openly, but Cesena is scarier than you can imagine. The Romagnoli occupy the penultimate place in the standings, but this says little or nothing about their state of form. The reality is that since Arrigoni took over from Gianpaolo, Cesena has started to score points. Of the 9 points collected so far in the standings, 7 have arrived in the last 3 games, also thanks to the rediscovered Adrian Mutu, who is preparing to be Juventus' number one bogeyman. Important numbers, which allow Cesena to come to Turin without too much anxiety. Having said that, however, the Bianconeri can't give anyone discounts: Milan runs, and in the next day there will be a difficult Roma - Juventus, which is why this afternoon's match must absolutely be won. Conte knows the form of his squad, so he is confident even if he invites everyone not to underestimate Cesena: “Sunday's 3 points are worth as much as those against Roma, so this is the game of life. Everything would seem easy, but I say that by winning against Cesena we would certainly give great value to the victory against Lazio and the draw against Napoli; not winning against Cesena, we would greatly reduce these two treacherous away games that we have faced”.
To complicate Juve's plans, referee Tagliavento took care of it, who by admonishing the warned Pirlo will force Conte to change Juve again. This time however, unlike last Tuesday, the Juventus coach does not seem oriented towards changing formation: therefore Pazienza will play in front of the defence, protected by the hound Vidal and the talented Marchisio. Another bench is expected for Captain Del Piero (the tenth of the season!), but this is no longer a novelty.
