Champions for nine years in a row before Inter won the league last season, Juventus is struggling to find form. Since the start of the current campaign, the Torino giants only managed to win two points, after drawing against Udinese and Milan. They lost their other two games, against Empoli and Napoli.
Juventus now surreally sit 18th in the Serie A table after four games. It’s the team’s worst start since 1961.
Juve couldn’t keep a clean sheet in any of their last 18 official games. Playing Euro 2020 champions Chiellini and Bonucci in defense didn’t help much, as the Bianconeri are nowhere near their solid record of the past.
Over the summer, Max Allegri was reappointed manager of Juventus, two years since he departed. Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo were both limited to just one season on Juve’s bench. The reality Allegri confronted as he took over was way different compared to the one he left behind in 2019.
Juventus had bought Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid in 2018 intending to move the club as a whole to the next level: a global dimension. For many, the “Ronaldo Affair” was a terrible mistake. The Portuguese left last month to join Manchester United without producing the general impact he was expected to. He beat records, he won the league twice, but Juventus is in a worse place now than when Cristiano joined, three years ago. Juve’s dream of conquering another Champions League trophy looks miles and miles away.
The effects of the pandemic hit hard at Juventus. The Italians were at the heart of the failed Super League project this spring and refused to leave even after the majority of the clubs backed out. Along with Barcelona and Real Madrid, Juventus still believe a ‘closed Champions League’ system reserved for the elite is still possible. And they see it as the only way to move forward.
Juventus lost nearly $250 million over the 2020/21 financial year, being the second-worst hit top European club after FC Barcelona at $564 million. Manchester United are third in the top of losses, at $122 million.
Allegri was furious with his players after the 1-1 draw with AC Milan
The Juventus boss was caught on video storming off the pitch following the 1-1 draw vs Milan. Allegri was fuming after Juve wasted a 1-0 lead to be equalized by their rivals. Juventus could have lost the encounter, with Milan missing a few chances in the second half.
“Then they want to play for Juve,” Allegri was heard screaming as he headed to the locker room.
Juventus is now in a relegation spot. They travel to play 13th-placed Spezia on Wednesday, hoping for their first win of the season. Juve are at -333 to win the game, with Spezia at a huge +800. A draw stands at +400. A surprise 1-0 win for Spezia sits at +2400, while the same score in Juve’s favor is at +700.