Andrea Pirlo continually overlooked Federico Bernadeschi last season, but Max Allegri has him playing at the top of his game.
The winger was limited to very few appearances last term, with the inexperienced manager struggling to find a place for him anywhere in the team, before deciding he could play on rare occasions at left-back or at left wing-back.
That was clearly not his best role, but he didn’t complain to the press about it, and he did well in his new role, although he still returned to the bench.
Roberto Mancini never gave up on the winger however, and Bernadeschi impressed when called upon in qualifying for Euro 2020, before doing the same during the tournament also, and Allegri has given him the chance to continue to show his worth this term.
The 27 year-old was a rare bright spark during last night’s difficult encounter with Roma, with many of our main attacking outlets being suffocated of space and failing to break free, and he came close to adding to our lead on a few occasions.
Whether playing as a wide midfielder or as part of a front three, he continues to show the fight and skill to cause all-manner of problems for his opponents, and I for one am all for him getting a continued run in the first-team.
Did Pirlo miss a trick by continually overlooking Bernadeschi?
Patrick
I like Bernardeschi, I always have done, and it’s clear that his best form for Juventus has come whilst playing under Max Allegri. Before Allegri returned it looked like he was on his way out, but like De Sciglio, Max trusts him within his system. Right now nothing is easy for Juventus, but the grinta we have shown recently is exactly what was needed. This is what Juventus have always been built on first and foremost. Without a defensive unit working in harmony, we have nothing. Juventus have never been about expansive, all-out attacking football and personally, I don’t want to see that. We have to earn the right to play in every game we play and if we do that then the quality we possess will see us win a lot of games. I love watching Juventus defend as a team, working and fighting for each other and having each other’s backs when we are up against it. There is nothing better than a 1-0 victory against a quality opponent like Chelsea & Roma and the longer the season goes the stronger we will become. Next Sunday at San Siro will be a big test, but we have to relish the challenge and show the same togetherness we have embodied recently.