Transcript
Speaker: Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Let's move on to the the the next question, um which has been sent in from ah James. He says, with Juve now within eight points of the league leaders, do you give them any chance of winning the Scoretto? Inter dreadful on the weekend. Napoli have imploded and Atalanta's defence isn't up to scratch.
Speaker: Juve could be the best of the worst contenders. What do you i's see I think we need to steady on. We need to steady on. Juventus have just won four games in a row. This is the first time this season, they only once this season have they won three or more. Only twice this season have they won two games in a row.
Speaker: and So, yeah, they're steady on. that It's not like they've played particularly great in these four games. They've played... you know, they they they were they played a good half against Empoli, but they also played a dreadful half against Empoli.
Speaker: and They were lucky. Very lucky to beat Cuomo. And against Inter, they got completely outplayed for 45 minutes and then played excellent in the second half. And then against Cagliari, they played excellent in the first half and then disappeared in the second half.
Speaker: And so yeah this is yeah and then then during all that, in between all that, they got hammered by by a pretty average BSV team um in Champions League. So this isn't a team that's really playing well. um is And they're written they're eight points behind still.
Speaker: So, you know, for them to get get in the Scudetto race, two things will need to happen. First of all, they'll need all the put teams and ahead of them to so be dropping points, and which is not impossible the way they're playing, but it also needs that and it needs Juventus to so continue going on and another winning run. they're goingnna have to have win another four or five in a row to to try and, you know, get back into it. And you know Are they good enough ah for for both of these things to happen? yeah is It's unlikely.
Speaker: um And I think what they should be focusing on is is the top four. you know People are starting to talk now that like top four is is in the bag. They're two points ahead of Lazio. Top four is not in the back.
Speaker: It's very, very tight. And Juventus just need to worry about that. Forget about the Scudetto. Are they outside challengers? Well, yeah, they could be outside challengers. I think that's the way you want to you want to describe them.
Speaker: They're outside challengers. After this midweek, after this weekend, if they're six points behind, then yeah, let's have another discussion. but But I think they just need to focus on top four.
Speaker: That absolutely has to be be the focus of... What of of the the hell is coming on? Oh, sorry. i think I hit the a button by mistake. I'm leaving that in. That's hilarious. i that We've got these like ridiculous, silly sounds on, um, on the pod, uh, that you can add like drum and ballpark and intro and outro. Sounds like 1990s havelock you press a button and it with jo of it Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker: and that That was hilarious. Uh, so I'm definitely keeping that in. I'm sorry about that. I hit the wrong button. Um, Look, I think it's um outsiders, absolutely.
Speaker: There's no doubt about that. Because, look, say Inter and Napoli draw. That's Inter on 58. Juve win. but They're on 52. They're six points behind with 11 games left to play.
Speaker: That's not an impossible deficit to catch up for anyone. And then then they have Atalanta at home. And if they win that, you know, that you know that that then they have Fiorentina. I mean, these these are not impossible teams for them to beat.
Speaker: And for a Juve that's been through so much difficulty and everyone's counted them out, they literally have nothing to lose. Momentum is really important in football. And if they start feeling that momentum going into April with only the Coppa Italia and Serie A to focus on,
Speaker: you Do you really discount them? I know I don't. I sure as hell don't. And even if it's ugly and it's not, you know, it doesn't look good and it's like pulling teeth and all that stuff that we've said about them in the final third, at the end of the day, it's the point tally that matters.
Speaker: um And this is this is not, I mean, you know, as I said on Monday, It's this league, this year, every season is defined by its own characteristics. This season, this year, it's a Serie where someone is going to win that is no that that that is the best of the bad bunch kind of thing.
Speaker: In that kind of a situation, in that kind of a year, without a clear frontrunner that you can say these are the best, You know, do you discount Juve from being in a title race at that point when you reach March, April?
Speaker: I don't. I absolutely don't. And I don't think you can you can say that either, especially after they've been through hell and there's talk of sacking him, her and the other, and they've been through this, that and the other. And they they start to sniff at a league title even being in the mix because the others are too bad at killing things off.
Speaker: And they've beaten Inter. They've got Atalanta to play. They've Fiorentina. Look, i I wouldn't put it past them at all. Yeah, I think it's highly unlikely. i don't think that they're not They're not playing well enough.
Speaker: um They don't really have the quality. They certainly don't have the experience. don't have a single player in their squad that's ever been in a title race or won a title. That's true. and and so it's it's it's is I can't see it happening, but you know like you said, the points are the points. And if and if in a you know a few weeks time it's down to four points or three points or something then yes absolutely because based on maths they're in the Scudetto race but but so but yeah I think listen they need to focus on the top four they shouldn't even be thinking about that if in a few weeks time they've got top four in the bag and and and they're there there or thereabouts then why not go for it why not
Speaker: I think we'll know, like I said, after the international, like before the like when the international break starts. Because then Atalanta will have played Juve and Inter. um And Inter will have played Napoli and Atalanta.
Speaker: so And then we'll we'll see where everyone is, essentially. um That's when I think we'll have a good idea. If Juve win their next three games against Verona, Atalanta and Fiorentina...
Speaker: And, you know, there's actually a possibility they can even overtake Atalanta. Like, it's not impossible. They're only five points behind Atalanta and they play them.
Speaker: They win that that, you cut down down down down that to two, you know? yeah So, it's again, momentum is very important in football. And, you know, how do Napoli react to...
Speaker: ah to this. you know they they all They also play Fiorentina and Inter and then they got Venezia and then they got Milan. I'll give Juventus one thing. I think they they do seem to have a a few more goals in their team now.
Speaker: They do seem to have a few more goals. don't You watch them now and think that like but you think they're going to score now. Whereas until very recently, I'd watch Juventus game and think they're never going to score.
Speaker: and They're never even going to create. you know so they've got that on their side, I guess. They do. They really do. And it's like that's why it's become so important not to lose games and draw like they have, the 13 draws they have.
Speaker: are so important. That's the only reason we're even having this discussion is because of those 13 points. um The fact that if you can avoid losing ah in the Serie is very, very important.
Speaker: It's incredibly important. And it's... it's um It's crazy, but this is this is a very strange year. Like we said on Monday, it is the year where the best of the worst will win.
Speaker: The best of the bad bunch will win the Scudetto because there are question marks and holes pretty much all around in every single one of these teams. You can you know you can you can really go after them for for and question their credentials.
Speaker: Napoli, Inter, Atalanta and Juve. So... it's It's a strange year, put it to you that way. It's a very, very strange year. ah And yeah, it's um it's going to be very interesting to see where we go, how this goes. And if Yuvar back in the title race, I mean, I don't know. If Tiago Motta goes on and wins the Scoretto this year, I mean, ah don't know what to tell you. Like, it's just, oh dear, this this league is bonkers.
Speaker: That's all I'm going to say.
