Juventus players ‘don’t follow’ Maurizio Sarri and ‘fans are losing faith’
Maurizio Sarri is back under the spotlight and finds his job at Juventus at risk, according to reports in Italy.
Gazzetta dello Sport’s front page on Friday detailed how the former Chelsea boss is ‘alone’ and that the players ‘don’t follow him’ in the wake of their second final loss of the 2019-20 season.
Having lost the Italian Super Cup against Lazio earlier in the campaign, Sarri’s side stumbled again when it mattered most, losing in a penalty shoot-out against Napoli in the Coppa Italia on Wednesday.
Friday’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport detailed how Maurizio Sarri’s job is under real threat
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co got the silent treatment from Sarri after Wednesday’s loss to Napoli
That defeat, and the manner of it with Juventus so poor, particularly in the second half, has raised alarm in Turin and the Italian media believe there is increased scrutiny on the job the 61-year-old is doing.
Gazzetta’s cover adds that some of those in the fan-base are beginning to lose faith with their grasp on the Serie A title looking uncertain as they sit just a point ahead of Lazio ahead of the league’s return this weekend.
Having won the last eight Serie A titles, that is the minimum requirement for Sarri and he will now need to show real improvement in both the league and the Champions League to lift talk of his dismissal.
The former Chelsea boss (left) is said to be ‘alone’ and that his players ‘don’t follow him’
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli was less than impressed in Rome on Wednesday night having to present the Coppa Italia winners’ medals to Napoli, instead of his own team.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co looked lethargic and Sarri said he gave his players the silent treatment in the aftermath, before conceding that his expensively assembled side ‘lacks brilliance’.
Sarri was appointed as Massimiliano Allegri’s successor partly because the Juventus hierarchy wanted a coach that could deliver attractive football.
His three years at Napoli from 2015-18 was the perfect embodiment of ‘Sarri-ball’ and they have been the closest challengers to toppling Juventus’ league dominance prior to Lazio’s super form this campaign.
But two final defeats and a less than firm grip on the league title puts Sarri in real jeopardy from here.
Juventus president Andrea Agnelli was less than impressed watching Napoli lift the trophy
His critics are not just in the media, either.
Ronaldo’s sister Elma Aveiro took a shot at his tactics following the Napoli loss, insisting her brother ‘can’t work miracles’ on his own.
She wrote on Instagram: ‘What more can you do? This is it and that’s all, that’s why my darling can’t work miracles on his own … I don’t understand how you can play like this ⚽️ anyway … head up, my King.’
Sarri’s side will return to Serie A action on Monday night against Bologna.
