Juventus arrive at the Club World Cup after a trophyless year and uncertainty, but having returned to competition. In the United States, the ‘Vecchia Signora’ are dreaming of breaking a 29-year streak without an international title.
Perhaps once they would have been one of the title contenders, but mismanagement and financial problems have changed the reality of a world giant like Juventus. The ‘Vecchia Signora’ will not be at the Club World Cup as champions of anything, but for a European performance that scored points for their Europa League semi-finals, rather than for a Champions League where they are the club with the most runners-up finishes in history.
If there is one thing that abounds at Juve, it is uncertainty. Until a few days ago, few could say that Igor Tudor would be the Turin coach at the Club World Cup, but the continuity of Antonio Conte at Napoli changed the scenario and the Croatian will maintain the project that was restarted a year ago with the sacked Thiago Motta. Fortunately, although it has been a blank year in terms of titles, it has not been a year to waste.
It can be said that at the ‘Vecchia Signora’ there is a new idea and a desire to renew the dressing room. The team with the most draws in the major leagues along with Osasuna with 16, Juventus have once again qualified for the Champions League and have solid young players such as Dusan Vlahovic, Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao and Kephren Thuram. Although they will compete with Manchester City in Group G, they should be in the last 16 and fight to go as far as possible. This could be their first international title since their last Champions League in 1996.
