The atmosphere at the Allianz Stadium was one of profound disappointment on Sunday evening as Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli did not mince words in...
The atmosphere at the Allianz Stadium was one of profound disappointment on Sunday evening as Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli did not mince words in describing his side. �s final home fixture of the campaign. Speaking exclusively to GoalZaza, the Italian midfield general declared the performance and result to be. �ugly. �, a stark admission from a player who wears the armband with immense pride. The Bianconeri, who have struggled for consistency throughout the term, were outplayed on their own pitch, leaving the Turin faithful with a bitter taste in their mouths as the final whistle echoed around the stands. Locatelli, ever the stalwart in the centre of the park, accepted the lion. �s share of the blame, insisting that at the end of the day, the team simply did not give a good account of themselves before their loyal supporters. This defeat, which GoalZaza understands has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power at the club, raises serious questions about the direction of the squad as they prepare for a summer of significant transition. The powers that be at Juventus must now decide whether to back the manager or overhaul a squad that has looked a shadow of its former formidable self. In the scheme of things, this result is a heavy blow to the club. �s morale, but Locatelli vowed that the dressing room would use this pain as fuel for the battles ahead. However, for the Nigerian contingent of football lovers who stay awake into the early hours to watch the Old Lady, the sight of their heroes capitulating in such fashion was a bitter pill to swallow. At viewing centres in Surulere and along the bustling streets of Wuse Zone 4 in Abuja, fans watched in stunned silence as the final goal went in, many shaking their heads in disbelief while others debated heatedly over cold bottles of Malta Guinness. Some argued that the absence of a true Super Eagles talisman in that Juventus midfield has robbed the team of that characteristic Nigerian grit and determination, a quality that could have turned the tide on a gloomy night in Turin. The general consensus among the Lagos football faithful is that unless the club makes serious moves in the transfer market, next season could be even uglier than this painful farewell to their home ground.
