I THINK THEREFORE I MANAGE
Nothing should surprise us any more.
In the blink of an eye, the coronavirus pandemic transformed football beyond recognition as elbow taps, fake crowd noise and cardboard cut-outs became the norm in stadiums around the globe. But even in this most turbulent of years, Juventus’ summer coaching change managed to leave fans and neutrals alike in a state of shock and confusion.
One of world football’s biggest jobs was handed to a man who has never overseen a match and isn’t even a qualified coach. But this isn’t just any man – this is Andrea Pirlo.
A Champions League last-16 exit to Lyon was the final straw for the unloved Maurizio Sarri. The former Chelsea boss had failed to convince the Juve hierarchy of his ability, despite clinching the first league title of his career in his debut campaign at the Allianz Stadium – not unlike when he lifted the Europa League in his maiden season at Stamford Bridge. Sarri was sacked the morning after the Bianconeri’s humbling European loss, and the rumour mill began to churn.
“Several names were circulating – for example, Mauricio Pochettino and Simone Inzaghi – but no one truly convinced the club,” Giorgio Musso, Juventus correspondent for , tells . “The dream of
