Maurizio Sarri has always been an unusual sort of revolutionary. He had been a coach for 29 years before he landed his first major trophy. He is the footballing idealist who used to work in investment banking. He is the former banker who does everything he can to avoid wearing a suit.
On Sunday, Sarri, 61, became the oldest manager to become champion of his native Italy, with a Serie A title in his first season in charge of Juventus. "If you've won it with me, the guy who never won anything, you must be really good," Sarri joked to his Juventus players after Sunday night's 2-0 victory over Sampdoria sealed the scudetto with two matches in hand.
The remark sounded slightly barbed. Sarri led Chelsea to the Europa League title in 2019, in his sole season working outside Italy, and - as he likes to point out - oversaw championship seasons in the lower reaches of Italian football during his long climb up from the amateur ranks.
He is not really such a novice. He is in his fifth full season in Italy’s top division, where his work in building a thrilling Napoli between 2015 and 2018 will for a long time recommend him as a genuinely daring and visionary manager.
What his Juventus have not done, yet, is mirror Sarri’s best Napoli teams for entertainment. He may simply need time, and perhaps stronger arguments about why a Juventus now celebrating their ninth successive title should open themselves up to revolutionary changes of style when they know so well the formula that delivers league titles.
In this peculiar stop-start season, overshadowed by the national tragedy of the coronavirus epidemic, Juventus have done one or two revolutionary things under their non-conformist coach. For a start, they let in far more goals they ever did in winning the league under Antonio Conte (2012, 2013 and 2014) or Max Allegri (five years up until 2019).
Mean old Juve, the club who never used to concede more than 30 in a season and sometimes as few as 20, have been leaking them with abandon under Sarri. Thirty-eight and counting in 2019-20, including four in 18 mad minutes at AC Milan and three in 25 minutes at Sassuolo this month alone. The win against Sampdoria featured the first clean sheet in eight games, and only the second Juventus victory in six.
And this at the club who added Matthijs de Ligt - at the time the third most expensive defender in history - to their roster last summer. "We had problems at times understanding the coach's approach," said Leo Bonucci, the veteran pillar of the back line.
But Juve have probably the best possible striker to compensate for shortcomings at the back. This has been another awe-inspiring season for Cristiano Ronaldo, who, had he not struck the crossbar with a penalty on Sunday would have taken his tally of league goals for the season to 32 in his 32 appearances and his record since the June restart to 11 from 10.
Sarri can claim some credit for maximising his best match-winning asset, channeling 35-year-old Ronaldo’s energies in the most productive areas.
The hand of the coach, a studious planner, was apparent in the goal that put Juventus 1-0 up against Sampdoria: a direct free-kick that Samp expected Miralem Pjanic to shoot from, or to float a cross with, was drilled square to Ronaldo, who benefited from the element of surprise to thump in his 31st league goal.
Greater stamina from rivals would have tested Juventus’s flaws. Lazio, who looked the most accomplished team in the division for perhaps two-thirds of the season, fell away badly. Inter Milan, under Antonio Conte, have been exasperatingly brittle.
Atalanta, the most watchable Italian team of the season, lack the depth and resources to be contenders in both Serie A and the Champions League, where they have reached the last eight.
In that competition, Juve are halfway through the last 16, and trailing 1-0 to Olympique Lyonnais in the postponed tie they will complete on August 7 in Turin. Paulo Dybala, a success under Sarri, is a fitness doubt for that game.
Much hinges on it, and on further progress in the European Cup. Sarri may need to get Juve to the final to feel completely secure of being on the touchline for the next season of his three-year contract.
He and his employers will look at how the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Real Madrid finished their league seasons and know that Juve may have won the Italian title, as usual, but that they did so displaying their flaws more obviously than the in-form clubs now preparing for Europe.
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20six-cylinder%20turbo%20(BMW%20B58)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20340hp%20at%206%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20500Nm%20from%201%2C600-4%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20ZF%208-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100kph%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204.2sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20267kph%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh462%2C189%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWarranty%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030-month%2F48%2C000k%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
This is an info box
- info goes here
- and here
- and here
FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
Chelsea v Roma
Barcelona v Olympiakos
Juventus v Sporting Lisbon
Expert input
If you had all the money in the world, what’s the one sneaker you would buy or create?
“There are a few shoes that have ‘grail’ status for me. But the one I have always wanted is the Nike x Patta x Parra Air Max 1 - Cherrywood. To get a pair in my size brand new is would cost me between Dh8,000 and Dh 10,000.” Jack Brett
“If I had all the money, I would approach Nike and ask them to do my own Air Force 1, that’s one of my dreams.” Yaseen Benchouche
“There’s nothing out there yet that I’d pay an insane amount for, but I’d love to create my own shoe with Tinker Hatfield and Jordan.” Joshua Cox
“I think I’d buy a defunct footwear brand; I’d like the challenge of reinterpreting a brand’s history and changing options.” Kris Balerite
“I’d stir up a creative collaboration with designers Martin Margiela of the mixed patchwork sneakers, and Yohji Yamamoto.” Hussain Moloobhoy
“If I had all the money in the world, I’d live somewhere where I’d never have to wear shoes again.” Raj Malhotra
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
|
1.
|
United States
|
|
2.
|
China
|
|
3.
|
UAE
|
|
4.
|
Japan
|
|
5
|
Norway
|
|
6.
|
Canada
|
|
7.
|
Singapore
|
|
8.
|
Australia
|
|
9.
|
Saudi Arabia
|
|
10.
|
South Korea
|
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Top New Zealand cop on policing the virtual world
New Zealand police began closer scrutiny of social media and online communities after the attacks on two mosques in March, the country's top officer said.
The killing of 51 people in Christchurch and wounding of more than 40 others shocked the world. Brenton Tarrant, a suspected white supremacist, was accused of the killings. His trial is ongoing and he denies the charges.
Mike Bush, commissioner of New Zealand Police, said officers looked closely at how they monitored social media in the wake of the tragedy to see if lessons could be learned.
“We decided that it was fit for purpose but we need to deepen it in terms of community relationships, extending them not only with the traditional community but the virtual one as well," he told The National.
"We want to get ahead of attacks like we suffered in New Zealand so we have to challenge ourselves to be better."
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
