We have written it many times, but for the avoidance of doubt we repeat it again: Federico Chiesa’s 2020-21, between Juventus and the national team, was practically perfect. In the black and white jersey, after gliding in Turin with a thousand doubts, he represented the shock in a formation that, more often than not, seemed too flat to make a difference. And at the European Championship, after half an hour on the pitch in the first two games of the group, he took the title until the Wembley final. He put together 17 goals (between all competitions) in 3605 minutes, he dominated any single duel and left a giant “wow” feeling among the people.
In America, more precisely in the NBA, there is a prize to underline a year like this. Is called “most improved”, and ends up in the hands of the player who made the largest improvements over the previous year. It is an award that emphasizes growth, but also implies a change in status. Whoever wins it goes from young hopeful to level player, and the mediocre performance – which was previously forgiven – is no longer granted. Giannis Antetokounmpo, to take an example from the NBA, won the “most improved” in 2016-17, and from the following season all the NBA asked him to win the title.
A league
Juventus-Milan: probable formations and statistics
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YESTERDAY AT 15:34
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- Federico Chiesa’s numbers in Serie A 2020-21 with Juventus (source fbref.com)
| Attendance | 30 (28 from owner) |
| Minutes played | 2227′ |
| Goal | 8 |
| Assist | 8 |
| Average goals / minutes | 1 every 278 ‘ |
| Gol+assist per 90′ | 0,65 |
| Total shots x 90 ‘ | 2,44 |
| % steps completed | 77,5 |
| Dribbles completed | 35 |
| Dribbling attempted | 62 |
| % Dribbles completed | 56,5 |
| Expected Goals Plus/Minus | +24,6 |
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The new Juventus
Between 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 4-3-1-2, the formation that made it better was undoubtedly the one that took to the field Wednesday night in the Champions League. Both for the players on the pitch – the centrality of Locatelli, de Ligt holder, Cuadrado and Dybala – and for the game ideas (during the possession phase Juve moved using a 3-5-2 – Danilo climbed to make the arm of right and Alex Sandro occupied the width on the left – while in the defensive phase a 4-4-2 was adopted).
Max Allegri in conversation with Federico Chiesa during the lost match against Empoli
Credit Foto Getty Images
Where will it be used?
Taking the last exit as good, it is assumed that the Livorno coach will continue on that road. And therefore, with the return of Federico Chiesa, the question arises spontaneously: the former Fiorentina, in the new context, where could he play?
On paper it could steal Cuadrado’s place, but the Colombian has proved (almost) essential in recent years. He could play in the attacking two, but this would imply the sacrifice of Dybala (whom Allegri defined as “central to the project”) or Morata (who is the only striker in the role together with Kean and has scored two consecutive goals). Or he could do the winger on the left, but in the offensive phase the whole maneuver should be restructured. In conclusion, Allegri has to think about it.
In general, one thinks that a team like Juventus, which must grow in performance and improve the many players in the team, cannot deprive itself of the talent of Chiesa (top 3 in the team). However, at the same time, with the pressure becoming unbearable and the pincer of results ever tighter, Allegri could also think of the 1997 class as a super-sub (practically the sixth man, to return to the comparison with basketball). Let’s look forward to developments.
Juventus-Milan: numbers, statistics and curiosities
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