Juventus Manager Massimiliano Allegri Kicks Federico Bernardeschi, It Looks Like It Genuinely Hurt

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri decided to give Federico Bernardeschi a good old fashioned kick up the backside during the club's Serie A win against Torino on Saturday night.

A late goal from Manuel Locatelli, who joined the Italian giants on an initial two-year loan deal from Sassuolo this summer, gave his new side a much-needed win after a poor start to the 2021/22 campaign.

The 23-year-old midfielder's late strike at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino means Juve now sit in eighth place with three wins in seven games.

It was an improved performance from the Old Lady and manager Allegri was keen to keep his players alert by any means necessary.

In the 62nd minute, the 54-year-old delivered a literal kick up the backside to Bernardeschi, who was minding his own business on the touchline as his teammate prepared to take a throw-in.

Judging by his reaction, Allegri's kick wasn't a tame one.

Juve have struggled since the summer departure of Cristiano Ronaldo - a player that delivered 101 goals in 134 games during his three-year spell in Turin.

In fact, experienced defender Leonardo Bonucci recently admitted that the rest of the squad may have become complacent because they relied on him too much.

"This was the thing. The idea that one player, even the best in the world, could guarantee Juventus victory," Bonucci told The Athletic.

"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 teammate day after day. Over the last few years, I think you could see that.

"Maybe it was taken for granted that if we gave the ball to Cristiano he'd win us the game.

"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."

Can Juventus win the league this season after a lacklustre start?

Let us know in the comments.

Topics: Football, Serie A, Juventus, Torino, Massimiliano Allegri

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

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