If there is one thing Juve fans know it’s this: never underestimate Antonio Conte. But the one-time Juve mainstay is now pacing the other side of the field. That spells trouble.
Italian Champion Juventus has been on an eight=year league winning streak. It dates back to 2011 when Antonio Conte was the manager to last season.
Courtesy: Yahoo! Sports
To avoid a slow-down, Juventus has made significant signings. Last year, Juventus priced away from Real Madrid arguably the best player to have ever kicked a ball–Cristiano Ronaldo. This year, they snapped up the 19-year old Dutch and Ajax center-back teenage sensation, Matthijs de Ligt.
The question now is whether Juventus can keep the streak alive. Fierce rival, Napoli, is playing well under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti. Inter Milan under (none other than) Antonio Conte is leading Serie A.
Yes, Juventus’ sovereignty is under threat from a man whose name will forever be engraved in the hearts of Juve fans–Antonio Conte. During his playing career at Juventus, Conte won 15 silverwares, including five league titles, four Coppa Super Italiana, the 1995-96 UEFA Champions League, the 1992-93 UEFA CUP, the 1996 UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, and the 1999 UEFA Intorto Cup.
Courtesy: Clutch Sports
In 2011, Conte became Juventus’ manager, and things looked rosy as Conte quickly led the team to three successive Serie A titles. That included dethroning his current employer (Inter), which had won the treble the prior season under the guidance of ‘The Special One,’ Jose Mourinho.
Now at Inter, Conte has already won all five games this campaign, collecting 15 out of 15 possible points. After five games, Juventus is second with 13 points (four wins and a draw).
What might happen from here? Well, what we’ve learned from past action is this. Teams that collect points and concede few goals early in the season–before players have bought into a new coach’s tactics–are clubs that are likely to continue winning once the players comply.
That is why Conte’s Inter is a big threat to Juventus’ sovereignty.
