Serie A: 5 Tactical changes to expect from Maurizio Sarri at Juventus

#1 A flexible forward line

Juventus talisman Cristiano Ronaldo

With a mobile defense, intricate passing patterns, a mechanical nature of the play, and quick movement, the final piece in Sarri's constantly evolving system is to employ a flexible forward line that can adapt to different plays.

At his former clubs, Sarri slowly evolved the positioning of his forward line. Initially dependent on a number nine in the form of Gonzalo Higuain, his departure forced Sarri to incorporate Dries Mertens as false nine. Sarri shaped his front three around Merten's ability to occupy different striking zones.

When dropping deep to offer space, the team would look on to play Insigne and Callejon. When drifting away from the goal line, the wingers would look to play on the periphery of the box, and even occasionally look to cross the diminutive Belgian. The cut back from Callejon on the right side would become another promising feature of this role.

Lorenzo Insigne would also find a new lease of life through this role, as it allowed him to swap positions with the Belgian and cut inside to score. At Chelsea, the system largely failed as a result of a combination of a lack of personnel and a failure to quickly transition the forward play.

Sarri would expect his Juve front line to adopt a similar approach to the one embraced at Naples, with none other than a Herculean Cristiano Ronaldo occupying the role previously held by Mertens.

Ronaldo has had some success in playing in a 4-4-2 formation at Madrid as the second deep lying striker, and such a role is perfectly suited to his clinical heading and finishing abilities, coupled with a penchant for exchanging quick passes. This aspect of the system also requires wingers to press and track back, a burden that the veteran would not have to worry about.

If this Juve team can embrace the tenets of Sarri's philosophy, then surely, the club is set to have one of its most exciting and riveting seasons in recent memory.