For Juve, the Champions League has really become "an obsession"

• If Juve is in the running for a ninth consecutive coronation in Serie A, its European record is otherwise less rosy, with zero continental titles since 1996.
• Reinforced by the C1 winning machine, Cristiano Ronaldo, during the summer of 2018, the Turinese had fallen last season on the awesome Ajax formation in the quarterfinals.
• Opposed to OL in the round of 16, with a first leg this Wednesday (9 pm) at Décines, the players of Maurizio Sarri intend to overcome their European “curse” this year.

At Parc OL,

“We were punished by Ajax for details. We then had less experience and we have since improved in the approach to decisive meetings. "It's pretty funny to hear Leonardo Bonucci (32) point to the lack of experience of Juventus Turin, when he returned Tuesday on the surprise elimination of his team in the quarterfinals of the last edition of the League champions, against the talented Dutch youth (1-1, 1-2).

Waiting for another #UCL night! ✨ # LB19 #FinoAllaFine pic.twitter.com/9q29aWV9LC

Is the harm elsewhere for Juve, who has remained since 2012 on eight consecutive coronations in Serie A, as well as on four Italian Cups, but without the slightest Champions League won in 24 years? "In 2013, when I arrived in Italy, I discovered the institution that is Juventus, explained Rudi Garcia, on the eve of the round of 16 first leg, this Wednesday (9 pm), between OL and the Juve. Like PSG, Juve wants to win the Champions League. "

The two coronations of 1985 and 1996 are not necessarily good memories

And like the Parisians, do the Bianconeri suffer from a blockage on the European scene? "For the supporters and even for the Turin club, this competition is really an obsession much more than an ambition," explains Emanuele Gamba, journalist for La Repubblica . The Scudetto is no longer exciting enough for the public and after losing seven out of nine finals, everyone in Turin sees a form of curse in the Champions League. To discover a Juve playing so badly and without personality against Ajax last year, it was for example an anomaly in view of its beautiful season. "

We don't stop Ajax anymore!

After eliminating the great Real Madrid in the 8th, Ajax gave a soccer lesson to Juve de Cristiano Ronaldo (2-1; 1-1 first leg) and went to the semi-finals of the #LigueDesChampions ➡️➡️ https://t.co/2a0sm3mOj9 @StanTouchot #AFP #JuventusAjax pic.twitter.com/zFBrVSwuqo

The anomalies tend to repeat themselves in Piedmont, like the two seasons with Fabio Capello and an incredible squad (Buffon, Thuram, Cannavaro, Nedved, Del Piero, Zlatan, Trezeguet…), concluded by underperformances from the quarter-finals against Liverpool in 2005 and Arsenal in 2006. If Massimiliano Allegri allowed the Old Lady to reach the final in 2015 and 2017, the only two titles date back to 1985 and 1996. "And again, that of 1985 has happened during the Heysel tragedy so it's hard to count it, recalls Emanuele Gamba. And the shadow of doping still hangs over that of 1996. "

"It's a difficult dream for Italian football"

Suffice to say that the more the white seasons in Europe pass, the more the pressure rises in the ranks of Juve. "I no longer feel the pressure when I play in the league," says his new coach Maurizio Sarri. In Serie A, we have to be the favorite. While in Europe, you know that there is better training than us. Let's say we are in the 10 or 12 teams who have this dream of winning the Champions League. But it's a difficult dream for Italian football. "

Because as for PSG and Ligue 1, the lack of competitiveness of the transalpine championship serves the Turinese in key moments, which is less true this year (Lazio is only at one point and Inter at six ). Italy has been deprived of C1 for ten years and the victory of Inter (2010). Leonardo Bonucci said Tuesday he felt "invincible" during the European campaign 2015-2016, but it still stopped after a double clash of titans against Bayern (2-2; 2-4 ap ).

Cristiano, the player whose "job is to win the Champions League"

This is why before replacing Allegri last summer with Sarri (winner of the 2019 Europa League with Chelsea), President Andrea Agnelli had not hesitated to strike a big blow by recruiting Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018. "His arrival is part of this quest for Juventus to win the big-eared cup again, ”says Rudi Garcia. After all, the Portuguese star landed in Italy with as many Champions Leagues won (five) as national championships (three in the Premier League, two in La Liga).

Always on my mind ... see you tomorrow 💪 # UCL #forzajuve pic.twitter.com/jXSbJoDCMP

"It's a bit" if you can't beat Cristiano, then buy it, "smiles Emanuele Gamba. Juve brought in THE player whose job is to win the Champions League. We saw how exceptional it was to overthrow Atlético in 8th with a hat-trick (0-2; 3-0), but it was not enough afterwards against Ajax. And this season, the team seems pretty ordinary to me when Cristiano is away. Unfortunately for OL, the man who has planted 16 goals in the last 11 Serie A games (yes, at 35) will be there this Wednesday to try to finally unlock the Turin lose in the Champions League .

Sport

OL-Juventus: "This week is still exciting", insists Rudi Garcia in response to the banner of the north turn

Lyon

Lyon-Juventus: Why OL can really blame themselves for having dropped Miralem Pjanic in 2011

• OL
• Sport
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Soccer
• Champions League
• Lyon
• Turin juventus