Juventus-Trabzonspor Preview with International Writers

I’m glad and honoured to talked with great international writers about Juventus-Trabzonspor tie for Sabah Daily of Turkey. Thanks to Gabriele Marcotti, Michael Cox, Riccardo Trevisani and Adam Digby. Here’s their thoughts about the game.

1- What is Juve's approach to Europa League and the Trabzon tie? Most Italian clubs looks like they don't care about it (Empty stadiums etc) and Juve is a Champions League club.

Gabriele Marcotti: Juventus are actually taking this seriously.  There is the fact that the final is at the Juventus Stadium. But most of all I think it's important for the club to have an international dimension (for commercial reasons as well).  And Serie A is all but tied up. 

Michael Cox: I'm convinced they'll take it seriously. Most Italian clubs don't, but Juve have essentially got the league wrapped up - and more importantly, the final is at their own stadium. That's too good an opportunity to refuse, surely. They also have a big squad, unlike most Italian sides.

Riccardo Trevisani: Juventus is serious. They want to win and they didn't want to lose again in Turkey. They have the final at the Juventus Stadium. They can not wrong.

Adam Digby: Juventus have found extra determination in the past ten days as  the shock of losing a two goal lead to Hellas Verona really left an impression.

Coach Antonio Conte cancelled a scheduled day off for his squad following that result & cancelled many media engagements his players had previously agreed.

As they proved against Chievo this past weekend, that refocusing paid dividends as Juve routed their opponents 3-1. That, coupled with a desire to reach a final held at their own ground means there will be no let up in intensity.

2- How did the club see Trabzon tie? Are they cautious because of Galatasaray tie?

Gabriele Marcotti: Some might be, but I would hope fans realize that just as, say, Juventus and Roma are different so too are two Turkish clubs. 

Riccardo Trevisani: The Istanbul night is unforgettable. But Trabzonspor is not Galatasaray. And the snow is past J Respect but not afraid.

Adam Digby: Yes, two poor results against Gala have added to the sense of urgency surrounding this latest draw. Conte made adjustments this past weekend which allowed him to rest Paul Pogba & Carlos Tevez.

Those two should all return - with Pablo Osvaldo likely to be the other striker - in what is expected to be a full strength XI.

3- How will Conte approach this game, what do you think?

Roberto Trevisani: I think that Juventus will try to win in Turin with 2 difference goal. Because the schedule of Italian Serie A is difficult in this weeks. So no turn over. I think Osvaldo will play with Tevez.

Gabriele Marcotti: I think he will take it seriously and put out something very close to the best lineup. As I said, they have a big lead in Serie A, they don't really have the excuse of resting players in the Europa League.

Michael Cox: This will be interesting. Usually in Italy they play a 3-5-2 but in the European Cup they often played more of a 4-3-3, such as against Real Madrid. I think Conte will be confident enough that Juve will dominate, and he'll go with the 3-5-2. Their major approaches are Pirlo's diagonals to the wide players, Vidal running in behind the defence when the strikers open up space, and the strikers both coming short and trying to play one-twos around the defence.

Adam Digby: Obviously the desire to maintain focus & the full strength lineup indicate Conte will be looking for a positive result in the first leg. He is likely to continue with the 3-5-2 which has served the club so well over the past two & a half years.

4- Trabzonspor didn’t lose against Lazio in group stage. How do Italians see Trabzonspor?

Gabriele Marcotti: I think Trabzonspor are a bit like Lazio, a club that is having more problems this season than last. The second game, in Rome, probably wasn't very significant because both teams had qualified.

Riccardo Trevisani: In Italy, we see well Trabzonspor. With lazio was a great match in Trabzon and again will be, i think.

Adam Digby: While Conte will be paying  Trabzonspor the compliment of fielding his best side, there is no doubt the Turkish club are seen as inferior opposition my many in Italy. 

The Juventus coach will take every measure to ensure his players do not underestimate them & are respectful of the dangers posed, but he will also demand victory. Anything less would be seen as a major disappointment.

5- What is your opinion about the tie, how do you rate Trabzon’s chances?

Gabriele Marcotti: I think Juventus are favored, but there is plenty of experience and big foreign names in this Trabzonspor side so they can't take anything for granted. I'm interested personally in seeing Marc Janko. I know he's had a difficult time and lots of injuries, but he's a big physical player and I wonder how Juventus will match up.  Plus, of course, guys like Malouda and Zokora bring lots of experience.

Michael Cox: To be honest I haven't seen Trabzonspor this season, but I would back Juve heavily. I think they'll want to win the trophy in their home stadium and Conte will be keen not to be seen as a flop in Europe.

Riccardo Trevisani: I think that Juventus is favourite. 65-35 %. But football is not scientific, like Istanbul december night, confirms...

Adam Digby: Personally I believe that the intensity brought about by the events of the last few days could see Juventus record a commanding home win.

Conte's anger - first at his players during the Hellas game, then the fans for booing Sebastian Giovinco caused him to lash out at Fabio Capello on Sunday. 

Previously, whether it was the match-fixing allegations against their coach or negative results like the loss to Fiorentina, adversity has always brought the best from this squad. That, added to a difficult season for Trabzonspor that sees them travel to Turin without a coach, should all weigh heavily in favour of the home side.

Even ‘The Emperor’ wasn’t enough for miracle

He may be the country’s most successful coach of all time –both at club and national level- but even Fatih Terim, The Emperor’s successful run at the late stage wasn’t enough for Turkey. Louis van Gaal’s Holland ended the dream in Istanbul and finished the group without single defeat. 3 wins in a row before Holland defeat wasn’t enough to rescue Turkey’s worst qualifying campaign since 1994 and finished the group at 4th place. Regret is the right word for Red and White because the team and supporters deeply believe they could do much better.

It all starts at the Euro 2012 play-offs, when newly Besiktas coach Slaven Bilic’s Croatia crushed Turkey in Turk Telekom Arena with 3-0. “Yes, second Croatia game can be my last appearance as Turkey coach” said Guus Hiddink when asked by a Turkish reporter after Croatia defeat. People thought his Euro 2012 campaign was unsuccessful too. According to Hurriyet’s website, biggest newspaper of Turkey, 85,6 percent of voters had chosen “He should resign” over a vote of confidence after second Germany lose at the group stage. Media wasn’t behind him either, articles and news were mostly about Hiddink’s lack of knowledge of Turkish league and his choice of living in Holland rather than Turkey. New coach had to be Turkish; someone can make difference and change the ‘unsuccessful’ squad with new prospects. This nationalist approach led the Turkish Football Federation to Abdullah Avci, country’s most consistent Super Lig coach who works for Istanbul Belediye for 6 years.

Avci disaster

However, things went south and Avci’s plans fell to pieces. First game was against Louis van Gaal’s unconfident Holland, which lost all games at Euro 2012. Although 2-0 defeat against them was tolerable, 3-0 Estonia win was just an illusion. Turkey’s new 4-2-3-1 formation wasn’t working fluently and new Bundesliga-origin wingers Tunay Torun and Sercan Sararer’s performance was a big doubt. Also, title-holder Galatasaray’s in-form playmaker Selcuk Inan and Nuri Sahin was on the bench. Then problems arise. 3-1 loss against Hungary and 1-0 home defeat against Romania was a disaster for the campaign, performance of the team was as bad as results also. 1-1 Hungary home draw was  the end for Avci era and Turkey had only 7 points (6 points came from Andorra and Estonia wins) when only 4 games left.

Arda Turan, 27-year old team captain said “Nobody should accuse Avci unfairly, he was trying to set a new system. We have responsibilities for results as footballers, we throw ourselves at fire in the beginning of this campaign” after Avci resigned but the picture was crystal clear. Everyone had lost their hope to go Brazil 2014 but then Fatih Terim came and everything had changed.

Back to 4-4-2

Reigning champions Galatasaray’s coach Fatih Terim’s acceptance of national task had started a cold war between Gala president Unal Aysal and ‘The Emperor’ and it eventually led the removing of him from Galatasaray job but in Turkey perspective, everything was great. Terim changed the formation immediately to 4-4-2. Avci was using Arda Turan as number 10 but Terim changed his role to a similar one at his team Atletico, a hybrid of left winger and no 10. He chose Selcuk Inan as playmaker instead of Nuri Sahin and injured Emre Belozoglu and used Besiktas’ Rubin Kazan loanee Gokhan Tore on the right wing. New cocktail was great and results started to come.

Terim’s Turkey defeated Romania and Estonia on away fixture and Andorra at home, scored 9 goals and conceded none. Even this perfect treble wasn’t enough and at 15^th of October, the dream faded into a bad memory. Robben’s early goal gave the lead to undefeated visitors and Turkish players were nervous in front of the goal. Galatasaray’s out-of-form striker Burak Yilmaz missed an enourmous chances at the end of first half and his teammate, Holland’s no 10 Wesley Sneijder did what he couldn’t do. He smashed the ball into Fenerbahce keeper Volkan Demirel’s goal and ended all the hope. He didn’t celebrate his tremendous finish but it won’t matter. Even Fatih Terim wasn’t capable of doing the impossible.

Ugur Karakullukcu

It's a little bit Turkish way...

When former Turkey national team coach Guus Hiddink asked about winning with the last minute goal against Kazakhstan, Dutch legend said "It's i think a little bit Turkish way." It was perfect conclusion to Turkish football mentality. Simple... We will try to write about Turkish football in English in this blog so it's name must be the best quote about it. This is why you're in a "Turkish Way"