From Villar Perosa to the Stadium: Juve, a family celebration of hope and belonging.
Thirty thousand fans attended the match against Next Gen: Yildiz fired up the Juventus fans, who dreamed of a comeback. Tradition is renewed.
Thirty thousand people flocking to the stadium, with temperatures forecast to reach 37 degrees Celsius in the shade at 6:00 PM, in a Turin deserted by the August bank holiday, is a sign of hope and belonging that the Juventus fans send to the team and the club. Five-euro tickets are fine, and tradition is fine, but given the circumstances and the temperatures, such a massive turnout for the match against the Next Gen means that the bad years, the bad transfer markets, and the illusions generated and shattered by changes in the coaching staff ultimately haven't ruined the most traditional celebration of Juventus: the family friendly. Family in every sense, not only because there's only Juve on the pitch wearing two different jerseys, but because the August match has always been the Christmas of the Bianconeri community, uniting owners and fans.
Of course, the backdrop of Villar Perosa is missing, and this, for many, uproots a fundamental part of the ritual. But there are pros and cons: while climbing into the valley and watching one of the world's greatest teams play on a small pitch in the mountains added poetry to the setting, the Stadium is more democratic and extends the celebration to a wider audience (and at a more reasonable price). The iconic images of the Lawyer, sitting on a plastic chair on the sidelines, remain immortal in Juventus iconography, but the Stadium has been the club's true home for fourteen years, the most logical place to throw a party. And Villar Perosa , for the record, is no longer hosting the friendly due to the legal dispute between the Elkann brothers and their mother Margherita, which also involves their properties in the Chisone Valley.
Thirty thousand, then, will brave the heat to show their support for the team. Juventus fans are a people of mixed feelings. Recent disappointing seasons have swelled the ranks of skeptics and critics, yet there remains a large group of fans in love regardless, many of whom will be at the Stadium today, probably without the illusion of witnessing the dawn of a triumphant season, but blending hope and a sense of belonging, the two essential molecules that make up the fan base. And this summer tradition makes Juventus unique, and this match, insignificant from a technical standpoint, crucial from an emotional standpoint, as it brings together the people who go because they feel part of something important and who, deep down, hope that something miraculous will happen at the end of this extremely lean summer transfer window. We need a magic from Yildiz , the boy who makes people dream, the little wizard from whom everyone expects the spell, the number ten in whom the fans dream of being reincarnated at least a little of the talent of Del Piero , Kenan's great sponsor.
Beyond the results, in recent years, the personalities have been lacking. The retirement of the heroes of the astonishing nine-league run has swept away the key figures for the fans, but also for the team itself, which continues to search for leaders to cling to. Besides Yildiz , there are other candidates for the role, starting with Bremer , and there's a coach who, perhaps, doesn't manage to inspire the excitement of the crowds like Antonio Conte, but with his understatement, very Juventus-like and quiet, he's winning the trust of the majority of Juventus fans, who have always appreciated, and in some cases adored, those who work without making too much fuss . Elkann , more or less two months ago, followed the same reasoning when he confirmed Tudor as coach, even though he was revolutionizing the club around him. It was the footballing equivalent of not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, or perhaps, a recognition of the Croatian's seriousness.
John will be in the stands (perhaps with his children, whose Juventus passion is strong), not only to bless the season, but because he's closely following the work of the new management team he personally selected and with whom he maintains close contact, from Comolli to Chiellini, as well as Scanavino. It's not the ideal setting for transfer market talks, but in the Stadium foyer, it's not out of the question that a few words will be exchanged about Kolo, O'Riley, and the Vlahovic case . If you don't talk about certain things in your family, after all...
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Thirty thousand people flocking to the stadium, with temperatures forecast to reach 37 degrees Celsius in the shade at 6:00 PM, in a Turin deserted by the August bank holiday, is a sign of hope and belonging that the Juventus fans send to the team and the club. Five-euro tickets are fine, and tradition is fine, but given the circumstances and the temperatures, such a massive turnout for the match against the Next Gen means that the bad years, the bad transfer markets, and the illusions generated and shattered by changes in the coaching staff ultimately haven't ruined the most traditional celebration of Juventus: the family friendly. Family in every sense, not only because there's only Juve on the pitch wearing two different jerseys, but because the August match has always been the Christmas of the Bianconeri community, uniting owners and fans.
Of course, the backdrop of Villar Perosa is missing, and this, for many, uproots a fundamental part of the ritual. But there are pros and cons: while climbing into the valley and watching one of the world's greatest teams play on a small pitch in the mountains added poetry to the setting, the Stadium is more democratic and extends the celebration to a wider audience (and at a more reasonable price). The iconic images of the Lawyer, sitting on a plastic chair on the sidelines, remain immortal in Juventus iconography, but the Stadium has been the club's true home for fourteen years, the most logical place to throw a party. And Villar Perosa , for the record, is no longer hosting the friendly due to the legal dispute between the Elkann brothers and their mother Margherita, which also involves their properties in the Chisone Valley.
Thirty thousand, then, will brave the heat to show their support for the team. Juventus fans are a people of mixed feelings. Recent disappointing seasons have swelled the ranks of skeptics and critics, yet there remains a large group of fans in love regardless, many of whom will be at the Stadium today, probably without the illusion of witnessing the dawn of a triumphant season, but blending hope and a sense of belonging, the two essential molecules that make up the fan base. And this summer tradition makes Juventus unique, and this match, insignificant from a technical standpoint, crucial from an emotional standpoint, as it brings together the people who go because they feel part of something important and who, deep down, hope that something miraculous will happen at the end of this extremely lean summer transfer window. We need a magic from Yildiz , the boy who makes people dream, the little wizard from whom everyone expects the spell, the number ten in whom the fans dream of being reincarnated at least a little of the talent of Del Piero , Kenan's great sponsor.
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