Juventus competitive as ever in Europe, despite Champions League exit
Juventus are still a real presence in Europe
After Napoli’s draw with Milan, it seems to be a matter of when and not if Juventus will seal the Serie A title. For much of the season, it appeared as if Juventus’s domestic reign would come to an end, as their title rivals showed no signs of dropping points. Juventus’ match with Napoli was supposed to be a title decided, but will be meaningless in all probability.
Max Allegri’s side always seem to get the job done, domestically. For the most part, they have faced little competition, and few challenges, en route to what has now become an inevitable piece of silverware. Even when they began the 2015-2016 season dreadfully and found themselves far off the pace, they managed to bring themselves back into the title race, and win by a comfortable distance.
The Serie A title will certainly feel like a greater accomplishment this season. In previous seasons, Juventus sat at the top of the league for virtually the entire season and had the title wrapped up by January. This season, however, it took them until just a few weeks ago to find their way to the summit of the table.
But for a good chunk of Juventus supporters, Serie A and domestic success have steadily lost their significance. European success has been the chief aim of the club, but in terms of silverware, they have found no joy since they won the Champions League in 1996.
On a historic level, it is the one competition in which they are well behind Europe’s other leading clubs. Real Madrid have twelve, while Barcelona, Liverpool and Bayern Munich have 5. Juventus have not even been the most successful Italian club in the competition as Milan have seven. The Bioncorini’s two titles are pale in comparison.
That is not to say that Juventus’s efforts to fill their European vacancies haven’t been impressive. In the past four seasons, they reached two finals, and have lost just two matches in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Juventus have certainly been able to compete with Europe’s best over the past few years. Their lack of success has nothing to do with their level or quality as a team. Their two losses in the Champions League final were certainly heartbreaking, but nothing to be ashamed of. Meanwhile, in defeats to Bayern two years ago, and Real Madrid a week ago, they produced excellent performances away from home and would have either advanced or sent the tie into extra time had they not conceded in the final seconds of both matches.
Juventus’s historical record in finals seems to is pretty consistent with their recent struggles. They reached the final on ten occasions and lost eight of them. They cannot avoid falling just short in this competition.
It is difficult to tell how Juventus take the next step in this competition. Heavy activity in the transfer market isn’t necessarily the solution. Both PSG and Manchester City have been doing so for the past eight seasons, and have reached the semi finals of the competition just once between them. Real Madrid haven’t even made any significant additions to their squad since they won in 2014 and have still managed to win the competition twice in a row since then. Juve have spent far less than any of the three teams and reached two final themselves.
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As a matter of fact, Juventus have already attempted reshaped their squad. Between 2015 their 2017 finals, out went Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba, Alvaro Morata, Carlos Tevez, Fernando and Fernando Llorente. In came Sami Khedira, Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Juan Cuadrado, and Miralem Pjanic. And after all of those major departures and signings, the result was the exact same: A defeat in the Champions League final to a Spanish club.
Juventus have no serious need to improve any area of their squad. Only against Real Madrid in the final last season were Juventus really outplayed on the European stage under Max Allegri’s management.
The best thing to do may just be to stick to their current transfer approach and manager. Juventus are not the first side to fall just short of Champions League glory on multiple occasions in recent years. Bayern Munich lost two Champions League finals in 2010 and 2012, and still went on to win it in some style the next year while still keeping the core of their squad.
When Juventus have fallen short, it’s been by fine margins. Perhaps the best strategy for Juventus is to continue on their current path. It has certainly kept them on the same level as every side to win the European Cup in recent years and more likely than not, they should be able to take something away from it.