Adrien Rabiot’s second-half winner propelled Juventus to a narrow 1-0 victory against familiar foes Roma on Saturday night. It also fired Massimiliano Allegri into Serie A folklore, helping the former Milan manager fully live up to his nickname ‘Il Corto Muso.’
Aptly named ‘Short Nose’ in domestic circles, Allegri has mastered the craft of narrow-margin wins during his illustrious managerial career in Serie A. Beating his opponents by a goal to nil has been the 56-year-old’s hallmark, especially during his time at Juventus.
Often criticized for his philosophy and tendency to jangle fans’ nerves, Allegri couldn’t care less about malicious talks. Results speak for themselves as Juventus head into the new calendar year only two points adrift of Serie A leaders Inter.
While many consider his style an abomination to football, Allegri continues to thrive. And a 1-0 scoreline has been at the thick of his success. Almost 50% of Juventus’ league wins this season have yielded this precise score (6/13).
Saturday’s triumph marked the Italian manager’s 76th 1-0 win in Serie A as he went to the top of the pile, leaving Carlo Ancelotti in his wake. It’s a fitting recognition, which probably best illustrates Allegri’s understanding of football.
Value a clean sheet above all else. That’s Allegri’s policy. And it works magic for Juventus this season. After an uneventful recruitment campaign in the summer, no one gave them any legitimate hope of entering the Scudetto frame.
But Allegri’s insistence on defensive-minded football has turned Juventus into credible title contenders.
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