Since the start of the campaign, Juventus have been dealing with an alarming number of injuries in almost every department.
While this shouldn’t be enough to justify the team’s dismal results and dismal performances, the high number of absences surely didn’t help Max Allegri.
However, one absence in particular was not missed. We’re talking about the Old Lady’s first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and we have his deputy Mattia Perin to thank for keeping us safe and secure, at least in this department.
Although we are still in the early stages of the campaign, the Pole has so far suffered two different spells on the treatment table. But luckily for Allegri, his second choice has lived up to the challenge, putting up a number of fine displays between the posts. Arguably the team’s results would have been bleaker were it not for his heroism.
During the international break, Szczesny announced his return to the pitch with a clean sheet for Poland against Wales, which should give him a starting role in Allegri’s line-up, perhaps as soon as Sunday’s match against Bologna.
However, a section of fans and observers hope to see Perin keep his starting job.
So who would make a better choice in the midst of this delicate period of the campaign?
In our book, Tek remains the favorite and for good reason. Since Gianluigi Buffon’s initial departure, the former Arsenal and Roma goalkeeper has been serving the cause bravely.
However, the 32-year-old started the campaign on the wrong foot, making clumsy mistakes against the likes of Udinese and Napoli. But even then, Allegri still supported him, refusing to take him out of the starting lineup.
Ultimately, the strategist was proven right, at least in this regard, as his number one ended up being one of the club’s best players in what was a disappointing campaign at every level.
So Allegri has no reason to be wary of Szczesny at the moment, whose only fault was getting injured.
But while the Poland international should rightfully claim his place, Perin also deserves to play more this campaign befitting his status as one of the best secondary goalkeepers in Europe.
Handling the situation could give Allegri some headaches, but compared to what the club has been through lately, the manager will welcome such a positive dilemma.
