Juventus 2021/22 review: Allegri's return goes awry in trophy-less season | OneFootball

Massimiliano Allegri’s return to the Juventus hot-seat didn’t quite work out as planned as they endured a first season without silverware since 2011.

Competition breakdown

Serie A – 4th

It has been a disappointing season in the league for Juventus on Allegri’s return.

Although they achieved the club’s ‘minimum aim’ of securing Champions League football next season, the man in charge did acknowledge that performances in the first half were not up to standards and proved costly.

After going the first four games without a win, another sticky patch followed in late October and by the time the Old Lady righted the ship towards the end of 2021, too much damage had been done to get themselves back in the Scudetto picture.

Champions League – Round of 16

Another season, another early European exit to a side whose resources don’t come close to that of Juventus.

Adding their name to the recent roll of honour of sides who have handed the Bianconeri a chastening early knockout stage exit were Villarreal, following on from Ajax, Lyon and Porto in previous years.

After breezing through a group consisting of Chelsea, Zenit and Malmö with five wins from six and drawing 1-1 in Spain in the first leg, Juve were then stunned 3-0 at home to crash out in humiliating fashion.

Coppa Italia – Runners-up

In the Derby d’Italia Coppa final, Juventus let a late lead slip as they fell to a 4-2 defeat against Inter, condemning them to a trophy-less campaign.

Supercoppa Italiana – Runners-up

Juventus lost this season’s Supercoppa in agonising fashion at San Siro against Inter, going down to Alexis Sánchez’s 121st minute winner in extra-time after taking the lead through Weston McKennie.

Player of the season: Juan Cuadrado

It wasn’t quite a vintage campaign in Turin on the standout players front.

Wojciech Szczęsny remained as reliable as ever and Dušan Vlahović would likely have claimed the honour if he had a full season under his belt but for displaying his qualities on a consistent basis while others toiled, Juan Cuadrado takes the spoils.

He remained a dependable presence and despite his advancing years, is still one of Juve’s greater threats in the final third, balancing those duties with continued defensive reliability. He remained a constant throughout for Allegri’s inconsistent Old Lady.

Game of the season: Roma 3-4 Juventus

Not just the most thrilling game of Juventus’ season but arguably the most incredible 90 minutes in Serie A in 2021/22.

Despite a delightful goal from stand-in captain Paulo Dybala, the away side found themselves 3-1 down with 20 minutes remaining against José Mourinho’s rampant Roma.

But a stunning seven minute spell saw them turn the game on its head and take the lead, only for one final twist as Lorenzo Pellegrini saw a late penalty attempt to salvage a draw saved by former Roma man Szczęsny to cement a stunning win.

Top goalscorer: Paulo Dybala

In his final season at the club, La Joya bowed out as the Bianconeri’s top marksman, netting 15 goals in all competitions, with 10 of those coming in Serie A.

It was by no means a vintage scoring season for Dybala (netting the third fewest goals of his seven seasons in Turin) as injuries once again played a part in hindering his farewell campaign.

Rising star: Fabio Miretti

You can’t help but draw comparisons with Claudio Marchisio when it comes to the 18-year-old, who is also a local lad and boyhood fan who has earned seven outings in the Juventus midfield this season after excelling at underage level, particularly in the UEFA Youth League.

There were question marks about whether he has a place in Turin next year or will be farmed out on loan but his fine performances towards the end of the season when given a chance suggest he could have given the club something to think about this summer.

‘Cico’, who has been on the books of the Bianconeri since the age of seven, has a tough road to regular playing time and it won’t come overnight but he undoubtedly has a bright future ahead in the game.

What comes next?

Likely a summer of investment and evaluations as Italy’s most successful club ensure that there is no repeat of a season without silverware.

There is unlikely to be major money additions, particularly after their impressive swoops for Vlahović and Denis Zakaria in January but there will be change, even if it is just adjusting to a team without stalwarts like Giorgio Chiellini and Dybala.

Paul Pogba has been heavily linked with a return to Turin and would be a good bit of business as the Old Lady aims to, at least, reassert herself as Italy’s dominant force.