Sarri: Juventus will be flexible tactically

Maurizio Sarri has warned us that Juventus are under construction, and it appears we are going to have to get used these types of comebacks until we get the kinks worked out in the gameplan.

Tonight the Bianconeri went behind early at Brescia, and needed to pull off another escape act as the home side fought hard buoyed by a rabid fanbase, with an own-goal and a piece of magic from Miralem Pjanic’s right boot needed to get all three points.

Speaking after the game, the manager summarized the win -

“We improved a great deal in our passing and had more control of the game, but we need to improve in our defending. I saw steps forward in the way we created chances too, as there were basically three goal-line clearances and it wasn’t easy after going behind within four minutes in a passionate atmosphere.”

With Cristiano Ronaldo rested, Sarri changed formations to 4-3-1-2, and sounds like we’re in for more of it after fullback Danilo picked up an injury too.

“I think we need to be ready for both tactics right now. We have some problems with the full-backs and a lot of attacking midfielders, so it seems wise to make the most of the resources at our disposal.

“If later in the season our full-backs are all in great shape, then we can reconsider the approach, but it’s important to be prepared for all scenarios.

“I had already been thinking about introducing Juan Cuadrado for the second half at right-back, but it was rushed by Danilo’s injury this evening.”

Paulo Dybala got the start, with Aaron Ramsey also featuring from the beginning for the first time in the trequartista role.

“At the start of the season, Douglas Costa was the one making the difference and I wanted to make the most of that form. Paulo Dybala was doing well recently, so it was right to use him tonight.

“With the trequartista, Aaron Ramsey is best suited to the role right now, while there’s also Rabiot. In some games, I am convinced Dybala can also help us out as a trequartista, although I prefer him a few metres further forward.

“Dybala showed a lot of quality, did well in combining at pace with Ramsey, he went off with a slight knock and we’ll see how he’s doing.”

The defence continues to be an area of concern after Juve conceded for the third straight game.

>“Matthijs De Ligt is growing, we need a little patience. He is very young, came from a very different style of football at Ajax. He is phenomenal, but not ready yet. Don’t forget Kalidou Koulibaly struggled a little in the first few months of Serie A with Napoli too.

>“We’ve lost a charismatic player in defence like Giorgio Chiellini, then Mattia De Sciglio and today Danilo. At times we are vulnerable in defence as a team and not just because of the defenders. I want to see the goal we conceded tonight, but I don’t think it was entirely the fault of the back four.”