Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has said that Maurizio Sarri has different characteristics when compared to former coach Max Allegri and the team are trying their best to adapt to the demands of the new head coach. The Bianconeri have made multiple new signings during the summer and Matthijs de Ligt has been the most-profile capture after the switch from Ajax.
Speaking to reporters, Chiellini said that the players are adjusting to the change in tactics under Sarri and the focus is on attaining maximum efficiency ahead of the new league season, he told: “Every coach has his own characteristics, we have had Conte and Allegri in recent years, Sarri is different again. There is maximum availability on our part, and the whole team is trying to incorporate the coach's requests as soon as possible. We are still work in progress, this pre-season has been too long, I still don't understand why we are the only ones in Europe starting at the end of August. From next week we will begin to increase our head and body rhythms.”
Chiellini has been a mainstay at the heart of the Bianconeri defence alongside Leonardo Bonucci but it remains to be seen whether he continues to command a similar role this term. With the arrival of De Ligt, there is bound to be a change in personnel in the central defensive positions , considering Sarri has barely worked with a three-man backline over the past few seasons.
Elsewhere, the club have strengthened the midfield with the additions of Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot on Bosman moves and the duo should provide the added mobility which was somewhat missing under the guidance of Allegri. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Higuain and Mario Mandzukic are expected to compete for the striker’s role this season with Cristiano Ronaldo on the left wing, but there are suggestions that one of the aforementioned duo could be sacrificed for the arrival of Mauro Icardi from Inter Milan.