KWADWO ASAMOAH’S JUVENTUS: One step forward, two steps backward?
Juventus has won 3 back-to-back scudettos in the last 3 seasons with Antonio Conte as the manager.With the team's record achievement of 30 official league titles in the 2013/2014 season, it wouldn't have been wrong to assume that Juventus' focus this year should be to do better than their group stage elimination in the 2013/2014 UEFA Champions League. As one of Europe's elite clubs boasting some of the best midfielders in world football, competing in the knockout stages of the Champions League should have been a realistic target for the Bianconeri last season. For the impending Champions League campaign, most fans of Juventus would hope for progression into the knockout stages and possibly more, but the shocking resignation of Antonio Conte on the 15th of July has changed everything.
Antonio Conte- Immediate Past Juventus Boss
The Missing Pieces
With Antonio Conte as the coach, the Bianconeri would have been able to bank on some degree of continuity as they approached the UEFA's elite competition this season. Since this would have been Conte's third time coaching Juventus in Europe, his past 2 seasons' experiences would have proved invaluable. Having experimented with the 3-5-2 formation (which turned out to be a 3-3-4 tactical setup when his side was in possession of the ball) for almost 3 seasons, the players have gotten used that system and Conte's philosophy in general. Discussions about his sudden departure have yielded reasons such as the club's approach to player retention and its inability to sign proven world class talent –as seen in the case of Alexis Sánchez , who the Bianconeri courted but is now an Arsenal player. According to Goal.com, Conte had made it very clear publicly and privately throughout the closing stages of last season that Juve needed to retain their stars and buy proven champions in the summer transfer market. And this is well-articulated by this statement “If someone thinks I am happy just winning the league, they are mistaken. We must continue to build”. But it appears the bosses in Turin have other ideas because as I typed this, several media reports indicated that Manchester United were closing in on signing Arturo Vidal— The Warrior as the Juve faithful call him. Louis van Gaal , the new manager at Manchester United is keen to solidify his squad with a world-class box-to-box midfielder, and they don't come any better than the Chilean. Arturo Vidal is highly rated due to his defensive abilities, passing rate, goal-scoring threat and explosiveness . His explosiveness is an attribute which might be well-suited to the English game.
Alexis Sánchez- Arsenal
Arturo Vidal
Louis van Gaal-Manchester United
New Arrivals
So far, Juventus has made two major signings during this transfer window: Patrice Evra , the left-back from Manchester United; and Álvaro Morata , a young striker from Real Madrid. At 33 years, it is fair to say Evra has seen his best years as a defender. Álvaro Morata is also a young unproven striker, who might struggle to get into the team considering last season's formidable partnership of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente . And to make matters worse for Juventus , Morata's recent injury means he might be out of action for about 7 weeks. With such bad news even before the start of the season, the Bianconeri may need to go back into the transfer market, especially if the Vidal move to Manchester United materializes. Massimiliano Allegri comes into the Juve job with a resume boasting a scudetto win with AC Milan– which suggests that he is a winner. Nonetheless, he will have his work cut out for him with the imminent hole that would be left by one of the stars of Conte's team.
Patrice Evra-Juventus
Álvaro Morata-Juventus
Carlos Tevez with Fernando Llorente
Massimiliano Allegri- New Juventus Boss
Will Kwadwo Asamoah's Role Change?
In Antonio Conte's 3-5-2 system, Kwadwo Asamoah was re-configured into a left wing-back. It may not have been Asamoah 's natural position, but playing in that role has helped to develop the defensive part of his game. Additionally, his crossing of the ball has also seen improvement as evidenced by his wonderful assist for Asamoah Gyan to equalize against Portugal in the Group G match at Brazil 2014. In Ghana, fans are not too enthused about his wing-back position. So with the potential exit of Vidal, and Evra's arrival at Juve , Ghanaian football fans are hoping Kwadwo Asamoah would be given a more central role in midfield; assuming Allegri opts against the 3-5-2 formation.
All these changes lead us to one question: In the absence of Antonio Conte and possibly Arturo Vidal would the Bianconeri be the same force this season? I am very sure a majority of their fans will answer in the affirmative but only time can guarantee us the accurate answer.