Not for the reason that Portuguese celebrity performed for his first membership, Sporting, in 2002 has he featured within the Europa League — then the UEFA Cup — however that now seems to be a very actual risk.
Juventus’ 3-Zero dwelling defeat to AC Milan on Sunday left Andrea Pirlo’s facet in fifth place in Serie A, one spot outdoors the Champions League locations, and now counting on groups above it to drop factors within the remaining three video games of the season.
Only three factors separate Juventus in fifth and Atalanta in second, however the Old Lady’s difficult run-in options newly-crowned champion Inter Milan and a harmful, in-form Sassuolo facet.
Ronaldo and Co. must win all three of their remaining video games and hope that one in every of Napoli, AC Milan or Atalanta drop factors alongside the way in which.
Pirlo has been broadly criticized for Juventus’ type this season, which included a shock elimination to Porto within the Champions League spherical of 16 and a failure to win Serie A for the primary time in 10 seasons.
This is the 41-year-old’s first job in administration following a storied profession as a participant, however many questioned the choice to advertise him from Juventus’ U23 facet after simply 9 days following the dismissal of Maurizio Sarri as head coach of the primary staff.
“I knew we had been going to run into difficulties, however now all of us need to get out of this collectively. There should at all times be satisfaction in carrying this shirt and sure performances should not be there. I had a completely different challenge in thoughts, I attempted to work in accordance with sure ideas, at occasions we needed to adapt, however I’m satisfied that I’ve a superb staff at my disposal.
“If something went wrong, I take responsibility for it.”
The season is not over solely, nonetheless, with the Coppa Italia remaining nonetheless to play towards Atalanta on May 19.
Ronaldo’s present contract runs till the tip of subsequent season, however there have been studies the 36-year-old is eager to return to Sporting. However, Juventus managing director Fabio Paratici insisted earlier this 12 months that the membership could be “holding on to him,” regardless of its struggles on the pitch.
