Allegri is studying a return to the 3-man defense for the next Juve games. Is it really the right solution for the team?
It is said that, among the various hypotheses to find the square, Allegri is also studying the 3-man defense for Juve. In these first two games, the bianconeri have shown a lot of fragility without the ball, so it is likely that Allegri is studying a solution to give more solidity to the team. With defenders like Bonucci, De Ligt and Chiellini, the 3-man defense would be a way to get everyone to play, and in theory, make Szczesny’s goal much better protected.
The risks it entails
In fact, there are several reasons why this choice would present several unknowns. First of all, Chiellini’s many physical problems prevent this solution from working in the long run. Furthermore, in a Juve that has so far shown a disturbing lack of solutions in the opposing half of the pitch, the 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 would remove a man forward: Chiesa or another striker in the first case, a midfielder in the second. When attacking, there is a risk of giving away a footballer to the opponents, especially when you have to punch a low block.
Then there is the possibility that he crushes the Bianconeri too much and forces them to an excessively low center of gravity. If until a few years ago, at the time of the BBC, it was enough to barricade oneself behind and defend the result to win the games, today Serie A has changed a lot. It is a much more proactive and less speculative championship, in which the small ones are more intense and have more solutions in the possession phase.
Finally, in a Juve that has so far revealed great difficulties when pressed forward, the addition of Chiellini on a permanent basis would make the maneuver and exit from below even more difficult. A bit like what happened in the second half of the Dacia Arena, where the bianconeri continually threw away footballs because there were no passing solutions. In short, the 3-man defense with 3 “pure” central players could further lower Juve and reduce the technical cleanliness of the team.
Danilo is necessary
Conversely, with Danilo replacing Chiellini, this tactical change could make sense. Even when he acts as a full-back, the Brazilian often sees him on the pitch to help the back dribble, taking advantage of his great technical cleanliness. When Juve crushes the opponent, the former Real Madrid often breaks forward, thus allowing the team to occupy the finishing zone with more men. In summary, in my opinion only Danilo could make a hypothetical Juventus 3-man defense effective.
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