Tag: Juventus

Roberto Mancini has downplayed suggestions

Roberto Mancini has downplayed suggestions that winning the title is his number one priority this season.

The Italian was appointed as the manager of Inter Milan last season. The club has been hit hard by a number of poor seasons and it has seen the club drop out of the Champions League. This is an astonishing element considering that Inter Milan won the Champions League not too long ago – in 2010. Mancini has reiterated that the primary objective of the team this season is to finish in the top three. For much of the first half, Inter have been among the leaders.

However, their form towards the end of 2015 has reduced and the club will find it difficult to maintain their place amidst competition from the likes of Roma and Fiorentina. Juventus have steadily climbed up the table and are now in pole position to retain the trophy that they have won for the last four seasons. Inter will be preparing for the second half of the campaign with some key friendly matches. After recently suffering a 1-0 defeat against Paris St Germain in a friendly, Mancini stated that he was looking to bring some players in January. However, they are merely aimed at strengthening the squad rather than an aim at the title. Continue reading Roberto Mancini has downplayed suggestions

Southampton is racing to reach a Europa League spot but is faced with tough obstacles

Southampton’s Ronald Koeman has set his eyes in securing a top spot in the Premier League that would allow the English club of competing in the Europa League for the upcoming season but things have started to become difficult for Ronald Koeman and his players.

On May 2, Sunderland received Southampton at the Stadium of Light and Ronald Koeman’s team were the favorites of claiming a victory as Sunderland is struggling just to stay out of the bottom relegation zone but in football anything can happen and indeed this match emerged with a surprising victory as it was Sunderland who came out on top with the victory.

Jordi Gomez scored twice as he helped Sunderland claiming a surprising but at the same time crucial triumph for his team as they overcame Southampton with a final scoreboard of 2-1.

Even with this defeat, Southampton still has a very good chance of snatching a Europa League position but they will have to get back to their winning ways and pick up triumphs in at least 2 of their 3 remaining matches.

Leicester City, Aston Villa and Manchester City are the last obstacles that Southampton have to face in this season and 2 triumphs from these games might just be enough for Ronald Koeman to position Southampton in a European spot. Continue reading Southampton is racing to reach a Europa League spot but is faced with tough obstacles

JUVE DEFEATED

Juventus suffered their first defeat in a long time after being beaten 2-0 by Napoli during the weekend. This brought an end to the unbeaten run, which stretches over 22 matches. Their club have been simply brilliant other Antonio Conte, who is on course to leading the club to their third straight league title. The brilliant young and upcoming manager has said that the club needs to recover quickly from this defeat. He says that the defeat against Napoli is a major motivation to get back to winning ways when the club take on Lyon in the Europa league.

After being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stages, Juventus has set a target of winning the Europa league this campaign. This will be their first major European success in a long time. After almost sealing the Italian Serie A title, Juventus will be shifting their focus entirely towards this competition. They have been drawn against French outfit Lyon, who have fallen from their Champions League days of the past. The first leg will be away from home and it gives Juventus a great opportunity to put themselves in a commanding position before the return leg.

Lyon have been for the French league this campaign and Conte is straightaway targeting a win from the first leg.

“I hope the defeat in Naples will allow us to regroup. Lyon are a great French team, very strong in attack and also physically. We know their strengths and weaknesses. We know that the first leg is always important. We are going to try and keep the ball. The fact we are the last Italian team in the Europa League is a great satisfaction but has put pressure on us. We want to go far in this competition, the final is at home. But we have injured players too,” said Conte.

JUVE ON TOP

Juventus are once more at the top of the Italian league Serie A, As.Roma had started the season in a superb way as they went undefeated for a large amount of matches but a number of draws against Ac.Milan, Atalanta, Torino and Sassuolo allowed Juventus not only to catch up but also to surpass at the top spot of the league.

With the transfer window opened most clubs from around all leagues are dying to secure a player that can solve some of their weaknesses. Chelsea needs a decent striker, Manchester United is in need of a midfielder, Ac.Milan wants an entire new team.

But looking at Juventus and their top notch squad there isn’t much improvement that needs to be done. The side of Antonio Conte is the club that has scored more goals than any other in Serie A and at the same time is one the squad’s which has conceded fewer goals.

Even at his fairly elevated age, Gianluigi Buffon is still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and still has a few more seasons that he can surely perform at his usual world class level. Meanwhile on the midfield Arturo Vidal has been a breakthrough player and a perfect teammate for the architect Andrea Pirlo.

The attacking department of the team is also fairly well rounded with Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente leading the way for the squad.

There has been however rumors about some players that might be leaving Juventus which is the case of Giovinco and Martin Caceres who has attracted the attention of Roma and Napoli but other than that, there really isn’t anything that Conte has to worry about.

The only player that has sparked the interest of Juventus is Luis Nani who is not enjoying any playing time in Manchester United and the Italian team could be tempted to make a move for the Winger but at the current situation that Juventus is in right now, their squad is good enough to secure the Scudetto.