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Juventus fans were devastated on Wednesday after seeing their side concede a last-minute botched goal that put the icing on the cake in a poor performance.
Thanks to the horrible display, collecting the negatives would be the simplest task.
We can talk all day about the last drop in form of Alvaro Morata, the decreasing impact of Federico Chiesa and Manuel Locatelli in the last matches, or simply the lack of character displayed by the team in general. And let’s not even talk about the Serie A table!
However, we’ll try to take things in a positive light (despite the bleak and overwhelming landscape) and pick out three encouraging signs as we all grapple with a particularly painful defeat.
Reliable force behind
With Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci set to hang up their boots in the next few years, the club will surely struggle to make up for his absence, even if Matthijs de Ligt ends up staying in Turin.
But one performance after another Danilo is proving to be a force to be reckoned with at the back.
Against Sassuolo, the Brazilian was by far the strongest Juventus defender, achieving one key interception after another while showing the heart of a true warrior.
The ex-Real Madrid man rarely advances these days and as a result a move to a center-back looks like a logical change in the near future.
An improving McKennie
Weston McKennie is rarely described as the wisest individual in the room, but he’s the guy we all want to be successful for one reason or another.
After a bad start to the season at all levels, the American is finally showing some signs of improvement in the last two matches. On the one hand, his death becomes a bit more precise compared to the start of the campaign.
The midfielder also rose above the much taller Gian Marco Ferrari to mark the equalizer. Sadly, it was he who ultimately played Maxime Lopez for the killer’s goal.
It might be a mixed bag, but it’s better than an empty bag.
The rise of a leader
At the start of the match, Paulo Dybala entered the pitch with the captain’s armband and he is obviously not taking his new role lightly.
The Argentine was the Bianconeri’s best midweek player, proving the main source of danger for the team. He was unlucky enough not to score when his shot hit the post, but still provided McKennie with the assist with a sublime cross.
But more importantly, La Joya acted as a true leader on the pitch. He comforted Chiesa after his failure, continued to push the team forward, and even led some of the players to take on Allianz’s disgruntled crowd at the final whistle instead of hiding.
It may take some time for him to mark his authority in the locker room, but Dybala could prove to be a worthy heir to Chiellini’s throne.
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