Before starting, I want to say that, this article will not be a match analysis writing. And actually it will not be a tactical writing either. I just have some thoughts about Juventus’ players and line up and were they fit or not against Milan when Juventus were trying to attack.
Let’s start with goalkeepers and stoppers. Juventus’s goalkeeper Szczęsny’s feet are not so good. But it wasn’t a problem against Milan because Milan didn’t press so high and aggressively. Both Bremer and Bonucci have great feet for a stopper.
Now let’s look at other players. Full backs Alex Sandro and Danilo are both great full backs. They have great abilities in both attacking and defending. Especially we can say that Alex Sandro is a talented player in full back position.
In winger position, Kostic and Cuadrado played. This is a problem. Because for example, if we look at the left wing, in the same wing there is Alex Sandro and Kostic. Both needs space in wing and because none of them is a so creative player, they can stuck in wing easily. So they just drop each other’s quality.
In right wing, there is Cuadrado and Danilo. Because Cuadrado is a player that can dribble inside and make creative things, we can say that right wing is not a big problem for Juventus.
In centre midfielder position, Rabiot and Locatelli played. Basically, Locatelli is a great and complete player. But the other player Rabiot is not. Rabiot has great technical qualities but physically he is not good enough in 2 players midfield line ups. But also because wingers are Kostic and Cuadrado, maybe it wouldn’t be a problem. But this time there is another problem for them.
I said Rabiot is a technical player. But his long ball abilities are not so well. This was important for Juventus against Milan because against Milan, they tried to attack with transition attacks and they tried to find 2 centre forwards directly. But Rabiot didn’t have that quality.
Both centre forwards Milik and Vlahovic don’t have making game abilities like Harry Kane or Benzema. Maybe one day they will have but I am talking with the present time.
A lot of times, both Milik and Vlahovic closed to midfield and they could take the ball against Milan. But they couldn’t use the ball productively so it didn’t work.
If we look at Juventus’ eleven, there were not great enough players about passing the ball or dribbling. These are key factors about making game in transition attack or set attack. They had great pieces. For example Kostic could be a really effective player but he needs space in wing. Or if there would be a player who could make game and gives the ball to Vlahovic and Milik, like Dybala, both Vlahovic and Milik could be so effective.