:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31406885/483239869.0.jpg)
For the first time in quite a few weeks, Juventus manager Antonio Conte basically has his entire squad available to choose from. Other than the always-injured Simone Pepe, Andrea Barzagli and Fabio Quagliarella, this is the Juiventus squad we're used to seeing. And with that comes decisions — who to play, who to possibly rest.
While we don't know who will be playing for certain, we know that Conte has options. That's something he hasn't been able to say for weeks because of all the injuries up and down the Juve roster.
It may be a return to "normal" for Conte, but it also makes him think just a little bit more. Ot, at least, it has me thinking that Conte is thinking a little bit more than the past few weeks.
Must Reads
Must Reads
The 21 players called up by Conte for tonight's second leg against Lyon is as follows:
1 Buffon
3 Chiellini
4 Caceres
5 Ogbonna
6 Pogba
8 Marchisio
9 Vucinic
10 Tevez
12 Giovinco
13 Peluso
14 Llorente
18 Osvaldo
19 Bonucci
20 Padoin
21 Pirlo
22 Asamoah
23 Vidal
26 Lichtsteiner
30 Storari
33 Isla
34 Rubinho
That's as full of a full squad as we've seen lately. Everybody but Barzagli is who you would expect to be there whenever everybody is completely healthy.
What does Conte say to all of this?
#Conte: "We'll aim to pick the best team that will enable us to get through to the next round." #JuveOL #UEL
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) April 9, 2014
Well, okay then. If Conte says he is going to pick the best squad available, then I'm mostly leaning towards thinking he will. Do I think all of the first-choice players will get the start against Lyon? I have a hunch that might not be the case. As much as Conte says he will say he will play the best squad possible, he says he has confidence in his squad just as often. That might mean something, it might be a bunch of hogwash.
Either way, first the first time in weeks, Conte actually has some decisions to make because of who he has available to him rather than the other way around. And you know what? That might not be such a bad thing.
So go along and play the game. Who should Conte start? Who should Conte possibly rest? Who should Conte take out of the game in the 87th minute when Juve have a lead so that human victory cigar, Simone Padoin, can get onto the field?
That last question is optional, but you can answer it if you want to.
