Former coach Arrigo Sacchi analysed Juventus’ win over Sassuolo and Inter’s victory over Monza, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of the two Scudetto hopefuls.
The Nerazzurri cruised to a confident 5-1 thrashing of Monza on the weekend, furthering displaying their qualities as they look to secure their second Scudetto star. Simone Inzaghi’s side have now flown off to Saudi Arabia, where they’ll compete in the four-team Supercoppa Italiana.
Juventus also found no trouble in their 20th match of the Serie A season, driving to a 3-0 win over Sassuolo after goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa. The Bianconeri are still just two points behind the league leaders, keeping up the pressure.
Writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi first introduced his thoughts on Juventus’ win over Sassuolo and their title fight with Inter.
“Juve’s response, as expected, was not long in coming. Two goals from Vlahovic, one from Chiesa and the Bianconeri, eliminating Sassuolo, returned to within two points of Inter.
“The impression is that this duel will go on for quite some time, also because these are the two clubs that have spent the most money on the transfer market, that have the most competitive squads and, if logic makes sense, this should be fight.
“I really can’t say who will win between the two, because I’m not a fortune teller and because I want to enjoy the challenge as if it were a long sprint between two cyclists battling to reach the finish line first.
“I remember that the direct clash between the Nerazzurri and the Bianconeri, scheduled for February 4th, may partially break the balance, but not decide the fate of the sprint.”
The former coach underlined why he found the Old Lady disappointing in their win over the Neroverdi.
“There are too many matches between now and the end, there can be many traps, there is always the risk of injuries or a sudden drop in form. After the match against Sassuolo, however, I am left with a sense of profound dissatisfaction.
“Juve won, this is true, but there was no show, there were no brilliant moves, there was no clear style of play which prevailed. If I have to give an opinion, I’d say that the performances of both Juve and Sassuolo were modest, certainly not at the level of the Serie A league.
“Allegri’s team did less than they had managed to do in other matches, and I’m sure the coach will reflect on this aspect. Sassuolo, with an attitude that was too light and decidedly lacking in determination, gave the Bianconeri a hand.
“Vlahovic was very good when it came to scoring goals, but goalkeeper Consigli wasn’t as brilliant as he usually is. And these are details that weigh on the scale of the challenge. Juve, in the end, took advantage of the opponent’s weakness, but added nothing of their own.
“Allegri’s boys, having settled the result, controlled, stood back, never tried to construct a move that could illuminate the stage.”
Sacchi then gave his thoughts on Inter’s victory over Monza and Juventus’ need to rediscover their DNA.
“In Monza, Inter had made a very different impression on me, especially at the beginning they had pressed, had cornered their opponents and forced them to surrender. I saw a show of strength in the Nerazzurri’s performance.
“In Juve’s match against Sassuolo, much less. Perhaps also because Juve are not a dominant team, they don’t like to keep control of the game, but prefer to stay behind and start on the counterattack. It’s in their DNA. And they will continue on this path throughout the season.
“The most important qualities of the Bianconeri are their very high motivation and team spirit. As for the moves, they rely on individual shots. It must be said, however, that Allegri is also relying on several young players who are displaying enthusiasm and athletic brilliance.
“They should try to work more on the style of play, not only for a purely aesthetic question, but because having a clear script makes it easier for the actors to act. Juve have an advantage over Inter, and it’s not a small advantage, they are not involved in international cups.
“They therefore have the opportunity to train only for the league and this potentially means that there are fewer injuries and that energy is not wasted.
“However, the increased time dedicated to training must be used to build a team identity, this is what I expect from Juve between now and the end of the season.”
An old fool thinking he is still relevant.