Juve-Milan, first exam for Allegri: here's what he has to prove

The team must show that it has overcome the old gaps: more speed, greater intensity and captivating game textures are expected. And on August 3 there is Real Madrid

There's no need to raise the temperature too much in these parts, when the sun doesn't let up: only the wind can mitigate the heat. But Massimiliano Allegri , who occasionally gives in to the need to wear a cap with a visor, is doing everything he can to keep Juventus ' rhythms up at work in Los Angeles . The eve of the first real test, moreover against a direct competitor like AC Milan , did not change the cards on the table: maximum intensity and concentration in every single pass, in every stop, in every two-touch game.

What you see at Loyola Marymount University is the synthesis of the season that Juventus fans expect: a radical change compared to what we saw in the recent year, to make a change. It won't be a tactical revolution, at least not now: the right interpreters are needed and, right now, the Bianconeri have more suitable resources to continue along the path of a 3-5-2.

Juve, Allegri's work

There will be changes during the match, yes: in tactical experiments, especially those in the afternoon, it is not uncommon to see an outline of a 4-3-3 with Chiesa off to the left. But it is on something else, above all, that Max is working: he wants to get in the head of the team. « Every pass is important - this is one of his explanations to the team during a training session in Los Angeles - and it shouldn't go wrong, because even a single pass can determine victory or defeat: it's a matter of mind». Here, in fact: change to seek continuity. One aspect that was missing last year was just being able to have the same concentration for 90 minutes and beyond: too many voltage drops and blackouts that conditioned the result in the crucial moments of the season. Allegri often interrupts the sessions to bring the group back to maximum attention and seeks perfection: reinforcements from the transfer market have not arrived, with the exception of Timothy Weah , who is replacing Juan Cuadrado .

Juve, Allegri's goal

You have to get the most out of what you have and Juventus is working to find a greater unity of play, another aspect that represented a deficit in the past season when we too often rested on plays: without Angel Di Maria , another alibi. Fideo rarely made a difference, but the feeling that he should be the savior of the country in every game was strong . Now this wall is also falling: no more slow, predictable Juve, without play and with alternating current intensity. Allegri's goal is to present a Juventus with a different face, while the protagonists remain practically the same. And he wants it right away, from Milan, compatibly with an athletic condition to find, as it is natural that it is towards the end of July. The management of preparation and injuries is also a crucial aspect: without brilliance and with the squad cyclically reduced due to aches and pains, everything would turn into an impervious climb, like last season. Allegri has a mission, already tonight with Milan: it's not about winning, the result in this phase doesn't count except for general morale. He has to show the fans, the many in the stands of the Dignity Health Sports Park , that the team has a completely different grit, a completely different intensity, a completely different face. In short, that has changed gears: there is no excuse for a new group to amalgamate. Starting strong is an obligation rather than a necessity.