Juventus see a small lit lamp at the end of the tunnel, and hope to reach it soon without further setbacks. It was switched on by Kerim Alajbegović, who produced a moment of magic to break the deadlock against Napoli twenty minutes from the end of the tenth round’s big match. Jérémie Boga, introduced from the bench, put the result beyond doubt. The 2-0 final score at the Allianz Stadium saw the Bianconeri lift their heads straight after the midweek defeat at Genoa.
“The Only Negative Note”
Among the positives, one individual performance stood out for the wrong reasons. Analysing the win in the DAZN studios, former Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara addressed Kolo Muani, who was substituted half an hour from the end after an anonymous display.
“He is the only negative note of the match. Kolo Muani was completely absent from the game.”
The diagnosis fits a recent pattern. Tuttosport noted before the Genoa match that Spalletti’s trust in the Frenchman was unconditional despite his finishing errors, and the sidebar of earlier pieces had flagged that his numbers, three goals in ten matches, were not enough. At Genoa he was rated a “nightmare” in the match ratings, and now he has come off after another quiet evening.
How to Bring Him Back
Ferrara’s prescription is less about criticism than about support. “I believe that to regain an important role within the squad, this lad needs the help of all his teammates, but above all of the manager, Luciano Spalletti.”
It reflects a view shared by several voices in this story. Cabrini argued that Kolo Muani must be given time because the pressure of the shirt is not something everybody can sustain. Capello argued that he works better when paired with another striker. Ferrara’s version puts the onus on the squad and the manager to reintegrate him rather than on the player alone.
For Spalletti, the picture is a delicate one. The win and the new shape, with the wide forwards returning, may have lessened Kolo Muani’s centrality at the moment when his form most needs rebuilding. How the manager handles his role in the Europa League trip to AZ Alkmaar on Thursday will be an early test of that support.
