The 2020-2021 season will beone to forget for Juventus. Their nine-year winning streak inSerie A was overafter a disappointing campaign in which they also suffered an early blowin the Champions League. The team struggled in Andrea Pirlo‘s first experience as a first-team coach and it is believed he may be sacked once the term is over. Reports already linked the Vecchia Signora with Real Madrid‘s boss, Zinedine Zidane.
Juve will probably be facing serious changes this summer. After dismissing Maurizio Sarri last year for an unexpected UCL loss against Olympique Lyon, and despite the team won the domestic league, their performance since Pirlo took the helm has been even worse so far.
Not only the Italian side suffered another hurtful elimination in Europe’s top tournament, but it’s noteven inside the Serie A top-four right now. Following such poor results, the board will be looking forward to bring a new manager and it seems like the right timing to make a move for Zinedine Zidane.
Juve put their sights on Zidane as the French may step out of Madrid
Pirlo’s work hasn’t convinced throughout a season full of ups and downs, in which Juve never looked like the powerful side it has been in the last years. Asides from failing to fight for the league title, they’re outside Champions League spots and may miss the tournament for the first time in about ten years.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the current coach will continue for the remaining games of this campaign, which include three Serie A matches and the Coppa Italia final, and then he will be removed.
Meanwhile, both this newspaper and Tuttosport reported that Zinedine Zidane is under Juventus’ radar as he may part ways with Real Madrid this summer. The French would provide the winning mentality the team has been lacking and, most importantly, tasted the Champions League success that Juve has been desiring for a long time.
As a coach, Zizou has only worked with Los Blancosso far. Both of his spells began when the club faced serious improvement, and the former world-class midfielder proved to have the answer. The Vecchia Signora are under a similar situation, urged of a wake-up call, and Zidane wouldprobably fit them perfectly to turn things around.
However, it’s hard to tell if he would accept another job right after quitting Madrid and even moreif Juve don’t play Champions League soccer next season. The one-time Ballon d’Or winnerdecided to leave the Merengues in 2018 to take some rest, but he couldn’t finally have very much of it as he was once again onboard only 10 months later.
This time he could be finally be looking for that space for himself, even though he won’t be lacking in offers. Juventus want to get back to glory days, and especially to European success, but they may have to think of other options for that goal.