It is not the last train, but it is close. The injury emergency that has been a constant at Juventus since the start of the season means many players always have a chance to re-emerge. Tuttosport points to Teun Koopmeiners as the model: at the end of August he was at the bottom of the midfield pecking order, and now he is a deserving starter, clearly improved on the pallid version of the summer months. Another who hopes to follow the Dutchman’s path, perhaps in Alkmaar, is Andrea Cambiaso.
Andrea’s Black Period
The Italy international’s recent spell is described as about as dark as it gets. Even in the victories he has not managed to find a moment of lift. At Lecce he played badly in a context where Juventus ran few risks and came back from the Via del Mare with three heavy points. The Genoa performance had already drawn Di Canio’s verdict that he was “running like a child after his opponent.”
Against AZ, however, he will play. Spalletti announced it himself last Sunday, straight after the win over Napoli. The aim is to recover him by every possible means, giving him responsibility and showing him that the manager has not yet given up hope on him.
Where Will He Play?
Cambiaso can operate as a full-back, as a full-flank wing-back, or even as an attacking wide player. Spalletti has not decided exactly where to place him, but he will certainly start. The flexibility reflects both the player’s versatility and the shortage of options, with Çelik injured and González out.
A Quiet Stage
Tuttosport adds a pointed note about the setting. It is better, in these times, to do it away from home, far from the deafening whistles of the Allianz Stadium. Juventus are trying to carve out a muffled stage for him, so that at least part of his talent can be savoured again quickly. The reset, in the article’s words, starts from the AFAS Stadion.
The Alternative
The headline promises an “almost ready” alternative if Cambiaso does not respond. The article’s tags and its linked chapter heading, “Çelik works to return earlier,” point to the Turkish right-sided player, whose hamstring injury was originally expected to keep him out until the Venezia match on 22 November. The details of the acceleration are not in the visible text, so I would treat the date as unconfirmed.
The thread links to earlier coverage in this period: January interest in a left-sided reinforcement, with David Raum and others named, and the Mendes-Barcelona story that surfaced about Cambiaso himself last week. A strong display tonight would take some pressure off both questions.
