Published: September 29, 2021 9:17 pm
Last Updated: September 29, 2021 10:45 pm
Leonardo Bonucci criticizes dressing room atmosphere during Ronaldo era at Juventus
Juventus veteran and long-time Italian international Leonardo Bonucci unloaded a scathing assessment of the Bianconeri dressing during the Cristiano Ronaldo era in Turin.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s impact at Juventus condemned in damning Leonardo Bonucci claimshttps://t.co/q7rNxqahG3 pic.twitter.com/AcAGPZ20iQ
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) September 29, 2021
When speaking with the Athletic (cited by the Mirror), Bonucci claimed that the presence of Ronaldo in the dressing room and the star-power that he carried with him changed the mental dynamic within the team.
“This was the thing, the idea that one player, even the best in the world, could guarantee Juventus victory.
Cristiano’s presence had a big influence on us. Just training with him gave us something extra but subconsciously players started to think his presence alone was enough to win games.
We began to fall a little short in our daily work, the humility, the sacrifice, the desire to be there for your team-mate day after day. Over the last few years, I think you could see that.
TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 02: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates his 3-0 opening goal during the Serie A match between Juventus and Spezia Calcio at Allianz Stadium on March 02, 2021 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Giorgio Perottino/Getty Images)
Bonucci continued, discussing the balance that was eventually struck between Ronaldo and the collective group as the club went on to Coppa Italia success despite failing to win their 10th consecutive Scudetto;
“But Cristiano needed the team as much as we needed him.
There had to be a trade-off because it’s the team that lifts the individual even if the individual is the best player on the planet.”
One-man wrecking crew’s rarely guarantee success
The prime example of one player struggling to life a side above every adversary comes from none other than the biggest rival of Ronaldo in Lionel Messi.
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – SEPTEMBER 05: Lionel Messi of Argentina looks on during warm up prior to a match between Brazil and Argentina as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Arena Corinthians on September 05, 2021 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images)
Long burdened with the task of bringing Argentina World Cup glory as he was the anointed successor to the late great Diego Maradona, Messi failed at every time of asking across his international career until La Albiceleste lifted their first major trophy since 1993 when they defeated fierce rivals Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final.
But the likes of Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, David Villa, Samuel Eto’o, Sergio Agüero, Robert Lewandowski, and Luis Suarez did not enjoy the great deal of success they achieved at club level without lifting up those around them.
Henry would not have been the same player for Arsenal without Robert Pires and Dennis Bergkamp, nor Rooney without David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs.
While it is not a slight on Ronaldo for players putting faith in his incredible ability as a footballer, the onus should remain on the best and brightest of the game to elevate their club mates rather than revel in the adoration.
Read more:
Ahead of Chelsea clash, Leonardo Bonucci tells Premier League defenders how to combat Romelu Lukaku
Barcelona set unwanted club record following Bayern Munich Champions League loss
This article was edited by
Ben Browning.
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| # | Team | MP | D | P |
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| 3 | Chelsea FC | 6 | 10 | 13 |
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| 5 | Everton FC | 6 | 5 | 13 |
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| 9 | Brentford FC | 6 | 3 | 9 |
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| 13 | Leicester City | 6 | -3 | 7 |
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| 16 | Southampton FC | 6 | -3 | 4 |
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| 18 | Leeds United | 6 | -8 | 3 |
| 19 | Burnley FC | 6 | -6 | 2 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 6 | -14 | 0 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 5 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 5 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 4 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Gray, Demarai | Everton FC | 3 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 3 |
| Lukaku, Romelu | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 3 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 3 |
| Greenwood, Mason | Manchester United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 2 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 2 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 0 | 3 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Cooper, Liam | Leeds United | 0 | 3 |
| Etebo, Oghenekaro | Watford FC | 0 | 3 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 3 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 0 | 1 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 2 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 0 | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 2 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 0 | 2 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 2 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 0 | 2 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Gudmundsson, Johann | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 2 |
| Norgaard, Christian | Brentford FC | 0 | 2 |
| Rudiger, Antonio | Chelsea FC | 0 | 2 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 3 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 2 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 2 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 2 |
| Gross, Pascal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 2 |
| Pereira, Ricardo | Leicester City | 2 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 2 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 2 |
| Luiz, Douglas | Aston Villa | 2 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 1 |
