Serie A: 5 Tactical changes to expect from Maurizio Sarri at Juventus

#2 Overloading one side of the pitch

Juventus winger Douglas Costa

Sarri employs a pattern that seeks to overload one side of the pitch in his team formation, such a move is designed to tire the opposition with repetitive passing play in order to force an opening on the wing or switching play to the other side.

During his time at Napoli, Sarri focused on the left side of his team formation to carry out this job. Marik Hamsik would act as an offensive playmaker, transitioning the play forward and backward between fullback Faouzi Ghulam and winger Lorenzo Insigne, often recycling the ball with Jorginho to the point that the opponent either offered Napoli an opportunity to attack from crosses to Gonzalo Higuain or switch a long ball to the opposing side to Jose Callejon who would swing a low pass to the inside for the forwards to score.

This systemic play could not be repeated at the Chelsea for two reasons, the physical style of the Premier League offered greater resistance to such a pattern, and the Blues lacked a mobile striker and an adroit forward who could cross the ball on the right side.

At Juve, the former issue is less likely to crop up, in Douglas Costa and Federicho Bernadeschi, the Old lady has two able players that can offer dynamic options to the midfield and offensive service to Ronaldo, who is expected by Sarri to occupy a different forward role this year.