Federico Bernardeschi believes Juventus will be in the mix for the Serie A title this season and says he will ‘always be there’ for the Old Lady. The 29-year-old has just finished his second season in MLS with Toronto FC, having spent five years or his career in Turin, winning Serie A three times in succession.
Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Azzurri winger explained why he thinks the Bianconeri are real title contenders this season, making comparisons between this squad and the Juve team he was a part of:
How was your second season overseas?
‘Not as we all expected, starting with the club. We had a lot of difficulties, there were changes of coach, it was probably the wrong project. From a personal point of view I had a decent season, it was a good experience in a totally different kind of football, where travelling is much longer and logistically it’s not easy. It takes a period of adaptation. I have stored up a lot and I have finally fully recovered from pubalgia after a year and a half of suffering”.
Are you surprised to find Juventus in second place, fighting for the Scudetto?
“No because I know the Juve world, the team and Max well. I expected it and I’m happy.
How different is this Juve from yours?
“A lot. Today at 23 you are almost a veteran, it’s a group built on youth. It’s unfair to make comparisons, the boys have to gain experience to become champions, but the most important thing is not to lose the mentality. It’s the environment that makes the difference and this year I can see the spirit of the old Juve.
Credit to Allegri?
“Credit to everyone, the club, the team and the coach. Max is very good at managing and the 3-5-2 is the ideal formation: Juve now has a compactness that I haven’t seen for years. Allegri has always built the Scudetti on the characteristics of the team. It’s not true that he doesn’t like attacking: we used to play with five attacking players. He simply adapts to the men he has’.
Marotta considers Juve favourites for the Scudetto because they don’t play in cup competitions. Do you agree?
“Marotta brought me to Turin and I will always thank him. I say it will be a fight to the last: Juve without cups is annoying. Inter have an important squad and with the Champions League final they gained international experience. Juve must play with lightness, without prefixing anything and foreclosing anything”.
They can beat Inter on Sunday if…
“If they play it like Juve, if they do not take to the pitch thinking they have to win it by force, aware of the great strength of the opponents but respecting itself. It must not distort itself.”
What advice do you give to Vlahovic, who has been out of action for more than two months?
“Dusan is very strong as is Chiesa, it was right to keep them both. He must remain calm and remember the player he is. Everything will come with continuity, it’s the best medicine’.
What do you think of Chiesa: is it true that he performs better in the Azzurri?
“I have experienced this myself. It’s not a question of form or game, the national team is one thing and the club another. In the league, matches are more tactical and you often have to sacrifice yourself’.
There is talk of his return in January: what if Juve call?
“At Juve I became a man and a top footballer. A piece of my heart has remained there. For Juve I will always be there. And then I have a home in Turin…”.
