Fort Juve
Football Italia - February 2000
With an attack that has yet to live up to its full potential, it is Juve's defensive strength which has proved decisive so far this season. It's a complete U-turn from what was expected at the start of the season as Coach Carlo Ancelotti's compact, Sacchi-style 4-4-2 had to be dumped for a more offensive 3-4-1-2. With the attacking talent of Alex Del Piero, Pippo Inzaghi and Zinedine Zidane at Juve, Ancelotti was forced to re-think and
re-shape. Playing with three at the back was the only realistic answer. "Lots of sides play with three defenders," stated Ancelotti in the summer, "and it's the only solution that allows you to play with a supporting player behind the front two, which means more fantasy and quality of play. Nevertheless the bright summer sun and the Intertoto Cup quickly highlighted the fact that at the back Juventus looked uncomfortable and their title chances seemed slim. The away tie in Rennes was the perfect
example of the proverbial hot knife slicing through butter as disarray was very much the menu of the day.
Now though, as we reach the halfway point of the season, it is the performances of the three defenders which have been instrumental in Juve's encouraging League position. The statistics tell the whole story, after 16 games Juventus had conceded a measly eight goals - easily the best defensive record in Serie A. Ancelotti is pleased to say the least with his
defensive jig-saw. After the 1-0 defeat of Inter he said: "The defence is our strong point and that is what I'm personally very proud of. The defensive strength is becoming very important to this side and it is thanks to the sacrifices made by all the team."
The three main men who have been instrumental so far this season in the Juve back three are Paolo Montero, Ciro Ferrara and Mark luliano. Internationals, they were all classed as yesterday's heroes at the beginning of the season. Now they're exerting their revenge. The Uruguayan Montero has re-found his Passarella style and has managed to avoid the red card after virtually dating it for the majority of last season. Ferrara is evidently in better physical condition since struggling to return to fitness after his leg break in 1998. He even returned to the international
stage in the recent friendly against Belgium.
Iuliano has again proved worthy of a place at a club like Juventus and he recently spoke in delight against the Bianconeri's defensive sceptics: "We were criticised too severely and above all it wasn't justified. We were targeted personally and were written off too soon without enough motives. However, we responded in the best possible way, by keeping quiet, by working hard and showing our worth. Now we are here demonstrating that
there have been some grave misjudgements." Other defenders have also played their parts too. Alessandro Birindelli has adapted to the new system when needed and so too has young Igor Tudor.
The Croat has been criticised in the past when his inexperience led to grave errors but he is definitely in the improvement bracket. Should Juventus go on to lift their fourth championship in six years then the scorers will have to undoubtedly share their glory with the goal stoppers. Ancelotti would want it no other way.
