Whilst departed Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci struggles at Milan, Chloe Beresford writes that his Bianconeri team-mates are doing just fine without him.
It was one of the most shocking transfers in recent history. Out of nowhere last summer, Leonardo Bonucci decided he would leave six-time Serie A champions Juventus in order to move to AC Milan, an Italian football giant that had laid dormant for years. Widely regarded as one of the very best defenders in the world, the 30-year-old had paid a pivotal role in the famed “BBC” Bianconeri backline alongside team-mates Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini.
Once the dust had settled and fans of the Old Lady had time to pinch themselves – in order to truly realise what had just happened – Bonucci donned the famous red and black stripes and gave supporters of his new club a chance to dream that their side were ready to become great once again. Alas for those inside San Siro, the Italian would not simply slot into their defence and instantly replicate the form he had once shown in nearby Turin.
“Scapegoat? When I decided to join Milan, I knew there would be ups and downs, but I don’t feel like a scapegoat,” Bonucci told reporters in a press conference earlier this week. “Being questioned ignites a fire in me to get out of trouble and give 100 percent. I’m not happy with my performances for Milan so far, but there’s a desire to respond on the pitch to what’s been said.”
Sadly his words were not enough to prevent another poor performance in Milan’s 3-2 win over Rejika. He provided the assist for Patrick Cutrone’s 94th minute match-winning strike, but Italian sports papers La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport gave the defender just 5 and 5.5 out of 10 respectively for an error-ridden performance on the night.
It was not only the press that criticised the €40 million defender’s display either. Coach Vincenzo Montella has a reputation as an excellent man-manager, his charismatic personality often acting as a decoy to hide the tough and resolute boss that lies beneath. Despite awarding the captain’s armband to the centre-back upon his arrival at San Siro, he was not afraid to let the former Juventus man know exactly what he thought.
“There was indescribable joy to see the team play with this energy and determination in the final minute,” said the Milan boss after the match. “I was a little more fired up with Leonardo Bonucci, as he is the captain and ought to set the example on how to control a leading situation, but it was an affectionate telling off.”
As this hastily-assembled Rossoneri team begins to properly gel, Bonucci will surely begin to resemble the defender who built such a superb reputation during his previous life at Juventus. But if his performances are almost as surprising as the transfer deal itself, then so too is the way the Old Lady are coping without him.
Many questioned the wisdom of Director General Beppe Marotta’s decision not to buy an immediate replacement, and indeed it initially seemed as the Bianconeri would struggle without such a key cog in their super-human defensive wheel. Indeed a 3-2 defeat to Lazio in the Supercoppa Italiana that preceded the opening round of Serie A kicked off a poor run of form.
That included a comprehensive 3-0 thumping to Barcelona in the Champions League group stages, a side who had been beaten by the same scoreline – thanks to a Paulo Dybala brace and a goal from Chiellini – in the quarter-finals of the same competition just a few months earlier. The absence of Bonucci has required an increased amount of squad rotation from Coach Max Allegri, but the intelligent tactician has soon figured out the right balance.
Barzagli and Chiellini have made six appearances each this term, whilst fellow centre-backs Daniele Rugani and Medhi Benatia have notched up five starts apiece. Right-back Stephan Lichtsteiner has also played six times despite being omitted from the Champions League squad, and Stefano Sturaro has featured three times as a makeshift full-back in place of the injured Mattia De Sciglio.
With the rotation system fully up and running, Juventus have conceded just one goal in their last four matches, in stark contrast to their previous record of eight goals shipped in the first five outings. This, along with poor performances from Bonucci – a man with proven pedigree who clearly has not become a bad player overnight – only serves to highlight the collective strength of the group.
Now in his fourth season in charge, Max Allegri has built a side based on a strong defensive backbone and this cannot be built nor undone in a matter of one transfer window. “At the end of the day the defence is the thing that wins titles,” the Coach once said.
There may be stronger competition for the Bianconeri this year, but it is tough to bet against anything other than a seventh-straight win for the Torinese giants by the end of 2017/18.
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