Brought to life by Charles Dickens back in 1843, “A Christmas Carol” has cemented itself into popular culture ever since, its story of redemption, love, and the season of goodwill told and retold by generation after generation. People of all ages have their favourite versions, from the original book to the Disney film, but there is arguably something of a remake underway in Turin for Juventus and Medhi Benatia.
Their first chapter could well have been staged in late October when the Bianconeri visited AC Milan, but Leonardo Bonucci appeared to opt for the role of the prize turkey bought by Ebenezer Scrooge rather than the Ghost of Christmas Past. With the out-of-form Italian suspended and Benatia injured, neither man took part in that clash at San Siro and instead AS Roma – who visit Juventus Stadium on Saturday – will have to be the ones delivering a reminder of a bygone time.
Spending the 2013/14 campaign with the Giallorossi, Benatia was named to the Serie A Team of the Year following some outstanding displays, and was soon snapped up by Pep Guardiola and Bayern Munich. Signing the Moroccan was seen as quite the coup, with Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid all expressing their own interest, but injury problems and a lack of faith from the Coach led to him making just 24 Bundesliga starts in a two-year stint.
He would move on again, joining Juve on loan last summer and promptly finding himself still struggling for playing time as the BBC marched to a second Champions League final in three years. But events this summer led to Bonucci’s departure which, added to Andrea Barzagli’s advancing years and Giorgio Chiellini’s fitness concerns, have seen Benatia thrust into the spotlight once again.
Chosen ahead of Daniele Rugani, the pressure seemed to weigh him down like the chains Jacob Marley is forced to carry, rattling and creaking through the early weeks of the season. Looking devoid of confidence and lacking the sharpness needed when playing for a club like Juve, Benatia was frankly horrible. That he was on the field for two of the team’s worst performances of the campaign was no surprise, his play in September’s 3-0 loss to Barcelona and the 2-2 draw with Atalanta nothing short of embarrassing.
He would suffer a knock against Sporting that would sideline him for a month, yet upon his return Max Allegri pushed the 30-year-old straight back into his starting XI. The Coach’s decision to ignore the deafening clamour for more faith in Rugani would be rewarded spectacularly as Juve welcomed Barca for their return clash in late November
Suddenly back to his best, Benatia recorded eight interceptions, ten clearances and completed 96.9% of his pass attempts, playing a vital role in nullifying the vaunted Blaugrana attack. The 0-0 stalemate would not be a fluke as, since that match Juve have yet to concede a single goal with the Clairefontaine graduate in the lineup.
Timing his tackles perfectly, reading the game as if it were scripted for him and playing the ball with consummate ease, he was named the club’s Player of the Month for November and his fellow defenders seem confident that Benatia can maintain such excellent form. "In my opinion, Medhi is a player who is finally showing the best of himself,” Barzagli told Sky Italia last week."I also think he understands the importance he has in the team, he’s a key man this year because Bonucci was a key man and in my opinion he’s a player of the same level. Medhi is captain of his national team, he’s played for Bayern Munich and he’s showing who he really is. He’s crucial for us now.”
Playing 90 minutes on each occasion, Benatia’s last six outings have all yielded a clean sheet for the Bianconeri, while he even bagged a goal himself against Crotone. Shutting out Calabrian side, much like Olympiacos or last weekend’s opponents Bologna may not make the headlines, but doing so against Lionel Messi, Dries Martens and Mauro Icardi certainly should.
The games against Napoli and Inter underlined just how imperious the Moroccan has become, their prolific strikers barely getting a sniff of goal with him in attendance. Each time he delivered a simply flawless performance, happy to be shifted around as Allegri chopped and changed the personnel around him. Used in the middle or on the left of a back three, he has also been deployed on either side of a more traditional four-man unit depending on whether it is Barzagli or Chiellini partnering him.
With the team having leaked goals when he was struggling, this return to his very best form is perfectly timed for a charge up the table, helping push the Old Lady to within a point of table-topping Napoli. A test against a Roma side enjoying a new lease of life under Eusebio Di Francesco will be tough, but it will give Benatia a chance to continue showing that he can be the future of the Juventus backline.
Now looking to shackle Edin Dzeko and co the way he did with Mertens, Icardi and Luis Suarez, the fact it was he who stepped up to replace Bonucci is arguably the biggest surprise in Serie A. Yet here is Medhi Benatia, making the Juventus defence as miserly as Scrooge himself. Merry Christmas everyone.
