'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
As things have turned up, reports of Juventus' demise were premature and exaggerated. After a shocking start to the season, Massimiliano Allegri's men have bounced back in style.
The Bianconeri are firmly in the hunt for a top-four spot and are currently fourth in the Serie A table with 53 points. Juventus are four points behind third-placed Napoli. However, they must also be wary of Atalanta in fifth, who trail the Turin-based club by six points and have a game in hand.
Juventus have responded well after a difficult start to their 2021-22 campaign
Allegri's team topped their Champions League group, edging out defending champions Chelsea.
The Serie A giants will welcome Villarreal to Italy next week for the second leg of their Round of 16 tie, which is tantalisingly poised at 1-1 on aggregate. The Bianconeri have a slender 1-0 advantage over Fiorentina ahead of the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, which will also be played in Turin.
Early in the season, there were fears the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United would derail the Italian giants. Indifferent league form and a 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana suggested there were real issues at hand. However, the signing of Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina for over €81.5 million in the winter window has improved the team's form and the mood in Turin.
Nonetheless, it appears as though the Bianconeri could end without the Serie A title for a second straight year. They saw their incredible streak of nine straight league titles come to an end at the hands of Inter Milan last season. On that note, here are five issues the Bianconeri must address if they are to snatch back their league crown next season:
#5 Inject youth into defence
To be fair, Juventus have been decent defensively this season. Allegri is known to be a master at setting up his teams to be solid and difficult to break down. Nonetheless, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the Bianconeri defence lacks youthfulness.
Of the nine defenders in the squad, just two (Luca Pellegrini and Matthijs de Ligt) are below the age of 25. Five of their defenders are either 30 or older. Of the two youngsters, De Ligt's future at the club is in doubt (more on him later).
With 25 goals conceded in the league, the Serie A giants have the third-best defensive record in the Italian top fight. They have conceded 36 times in 39 games this season, which isn't an awful showing by any means. However, one can't help but wonder how long the Old Lady's ageing backline can keep that up.
#4 Bring in support for Dusan Vlahovic in attack
Rather than their defence, Juventus' inability to pose a consistent threat going forward has been more of an issue this season. In fact, their Serie A tally of 42 goals is the lowest in the top half of the table.
The signing of 23-year-old Dusan Vlahovic is obviously a massive step in the right direction, with the Serb netting thrice in five league games. However, a closer look at the numbers shows that no Bianconeri player apart from Paulo Dybala (12 goals, seven in Serie A) has hit double figures in goal contributions this season.
Alvaro Morata has had an underwhelming campaign (nine goals across competitions) and was linked with a move away from Turin in the winter. Federico Chiesa, who injured his ACL in January, has been ruled out for the season. Moise Kean and Federico Bernardeschi haven't delivered the goods either, while Dejan Kulusevski is now turning heads at Tottenham Hotspur.
#3 Overcome their injury woes
Juventus are having a nightmarish season in terms of injuries. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say the Bianconeri would probably be challenging for the Serie A title if not for the absence of several key players.
Georgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have both missed time with calf problems, while another defender, Alex Sandro, is dealing with a muscle knock. Weston McKennie (foot fracture) and Federico Chiesa (ACL) have both been ruled out till the end of the campaign. They will miss nearly the entire second half of the season.
New signing Denis Zakaria was recently ruled out for three weeks with a muscle problem. Meanwhile, the Italian giants are also sweating over the fitness of Paulo Dybala, entering the business end of the campaign.
There is a case to be made that some of these issues, especially muscular problems, are inevitable considering the age of Juventus defenders. However, the absence of McKennie and Chiesa, who are two of the Bianconeri's best players, is crippling. There is no solution but to rue the team's bad luck, and the team need to use the summer break to heal up.
#2 Secure future of key players
A recurring theme this season has been the noise surrounding Matthijs De Ligt and Paulo Dybala's future at Juventus.
As a client of the infamously combative agent Mino Raiola, De Ligt being linked with a move does not come as a surprise. At 22, the Dutch international is one of the youngest players in the Juventus squad. More importantly, in the absence of Bonucci and Chiellini, De Ligt has stepped up to become Juventus' defensive talisman this season.
He is under contract till 2025, which means Juventus have no reason to panic about his future just yet. Nonetheless, the club would like to put an end to the rumours once and for all by tying the centre-back down with a new deal.
Dybala's situation, meanwhile, is slightly more complicated. Juventus' top scorer this season will be a free agent at the end of the season. Now in the final six months of his contract, the Argentinean star does not appear any closer to renewing his deal.
Back in October last year, Fabrizio Romano reported that Juventus and Dybala were on the verge of agreeing a new contract. Six months later, a renewal has still not been announced, which is something that will concern the club and its supporters.
#1 Add creativity in the middle of the park
Despite the spate of injuries they have been hit with, there is little doubt about the quality Juventus boast at the back, out wide and up front. However, the same cannot be said about their options in central midfield.
Currently, Juventus have Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Denis Zakaria, Weston McKennie and Arthur at their disposal. Aaron Ramsey is out on loan at Rangers. Of the aforementioned players, McKennie and Arthur are most comfortable with the ball at their feet.
The likes of Zakaria and Rabiot are known for their physical prowess rather than silky skills or pinpoint passing. It is telling that Juventus' six central midfielders have combined for eight goals this season, with McKennie netting half of that tally.
The American star has now been ruled out for the season, and Zakaria's injury troubles from Monchengladbach seem to be continuing. If Juventus are to win the Scudetto next season, they will need to bring more balance and creativity to what appears to be a rather bland and uninspiring midfield.
