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November 25, 2021

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‘Shameless’ Juve under fire for worst loss in 17 years

Source: Agencies | 00:05 UTC+8 November 25, 2021 | Print Edition

Juventus has come in for fierce criticism after being outclassed in a 0-4 defeat by Chelsea on Tuesday, its heaviest loss in 17 years and worst in the UEFA Champions League.

The Italians surrendered top spot in Group H with a whimper in London, as the English Premier League side made short work of its beleaguered opponent.

The result made unwanted history for the Turin club, surpassing 1-4 defeats by Bayern Munich in the 2009-10 group stage and Real Madrid in the 2016-17 final to become its heaviest defeat in Europe’s elite club competition.

It was the Old Lady’s biggest loss in all competitions since a 0-4 Serie A defeat by AS Roma in February 2004.

The headline of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport read “Shameless” and called Juventus “unwatchable.”

Gazzetta dello Sport said: “You can lose to Chelsea, but not like this... not being humiliated from the first minute to the last.” La Repubblica called it “an evening of profound regression and humiliation.”

It was not just the newspapers, Juventus greats also chimed in. All-time top-scorer Alessandro Del Piero said: “Little can be salvaged from a night like this.”

Former midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi added: “This team takes two steps forward and then 10 backwards.”

Former Bianconeri coach Fabio Capello said it was “a real lesson in football” and suggested the result was indicative of Italian teams’ struggles in Europe, with no Serie A side having won the UCL since Inter Milan in 2009-10.

Juventus is Italy’s most successful club, with 36 league titles, but its Stamford Bridge collapse underlined the club’s regression in recent years.

Maurizio Sarri led Juve to Serie A glory in 2019-20 but was sacked after a UCL last-16 exit to Olympique Lyonnais.

His successor, the inexperienced Andrea Pirlo, lasted one season after going out to Porto at the same stage in Europe, and squeezing into fourth place on the final day of the league season.

It was hoped that Massimiliano Allegri’s return as coach, two years after he departed with five consecutive league titles to his name, would restore pride, but Juve has started the campaign poorly.

It is eighth in Serie A after 13 rounds, having suffered embarrassing defeats to Empoli, Hellas Verona and Sassuolo.

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