After watching an average but experienced Real Madrid
side claim an 11th European Cup on Saturday, the Bianconeri now know
they can conquer the continent by signing proven winners
COMMENT
There's
an old saying in football: 'You don't play well in finals; you win
them'. Saturday's Champions League showdown at San Siro was a perfect
case in point. Real Madrid were the victors - yet there is no way that
they could lay claim to being the best team in Europe.
Atletico
beat two better sides in the last eight and the semis. Real weren't even
the better side on the night. They are least impressive winners of the
Champions League since Chelsea in 2012.
To some sensitive souls, that might sound like the kind of bitterness propagated by
the 50,000 clowns who signed a petition to have Los Blancos stripped of their first five European Cups,
but it's merely a conclusion based on the fact that Real went through
the entire tournament without having to face a single former winner of
the continental competition.
Also, at no point during the
knockout stage - the supposed business end of the Champions League - did
they have to take on a domestic title winner, either from this season
or last. Their performance in the final was average at best.
On
an individual level, Sergio Ramos once again proved a man for the big
occasion, Casemiro underlined both his worth and importance to Zinedine
Zidane's side, while Gareth Bale ran himself into ground. However, while
it was nice of Cristiano Ronaldo to turn up for the final spot-kick in
the penalty shootout, in truth, Madrid's star men did not shine at San
Siro.
Despite
that, they found a way to win. Just as they had two years ago against
the same situation. Also, this was their 11th European Cup triumph as a
club. Madrid know how to win and, as Ronaldo shrewdly pointed out
afterwards: "Our team showed more experience and we showed it by scoring
all the penalties."
Experience and belief count for a lot when
it comes to conquering Europe, which is precisely why Juventus are
presently on the verge of signing both Dani Alves and Javier Mascherano
from Barcelona.
The Bianconeri could hardly be accused of
lacking winners. Several members of their squad have won five successive
Scudetti, as well as back-to-back doubles. However, they have fallen
short in Europe for the past two seasons.
However, as former Juve striker Gianluca Vialli told
Goal
on Monday: "They deservedly got to the final last year and they only
lost to an unbeatable Barcelona side. This year, they went out to Bayern
Munich but they were 30 seconds from knocking them out. So, I think
that they are there or thereabouts, alongside the rest of the top clubs
in Europe."
Indeed,
it was difficult not to look at Saturday's final and suspect that the
Bianconeri would have beaten Real; just as they did in the semis 12
months ago. Consequently, Juve's summer transfer strategy is about
quality rather than quantity. Their primary concern is on recruiting
players capable of taking that one final step towards Champions League
glory. They want winners.
In that sense, the likely acquisitions
of Dani Alves and Mascherano make sense. The pair may be 33 and 31,
respectively, but they have lifted five Champions League trophies
between them. Furthermore, while Alves may no longer be as dynamic as he
once was, he remains the most dangerous attacking right-back in the
world. Given he is likely to be entrusted with a wing-back role in
Turin, with the best back three in the game stationed behind him, it is
easy to envisage him flourishing with even less defensive
responsibilities than he is used to at Barca.
Mascherano would
also be reinvigorated by a move to Juventus Stadium. The Argentine wants
to return to his original defensive midfield role - and the
Bianconeri
are offering him the opportunity to do just that. Besides, regardless
of his position, Mascherano still plays the game with the kind of
intensity and drive that are considered prerequisites at Juve. He looks a
perfect fit for the Old Lady.
Of
course, the same could also be said of Miralem Pjanic. While Juve are
intent on adding even more experience to their ranks, they also covet
Pjanic's precision passing and set-piece skills. The Roma ace struck 10
times in Serie A last season - on four occasions from free-kicks - and
created 12 goals. He would represent an ideal addition to a Juve
midfield still coming to terms with the loss of Andrea Pirlo, whose
provided poise and dead-ball deliveries of the highest order.
Bianconeri
boss Massimiliano Allegri is a huge admirer of the Bosnian but, as it
stands, the Italian champions remain reluctant to meet his €37 million
buy-out clause.
However, given Juve are poised to land the extra little bit of
experience they are presently lacking at very low cost, they may
ultimately decide that Pjanic's fee is a price worth paying. After all,
as Ronaldo's Madrid underlined on Saturday at San Siro, composure and
experience are precious commodities in the modern game. By signing
Pjanic, Alves and Mascherano, Juve would be acquiring a healthy mix of
both.
