In explaining Cristiano Ronaldo's omission from the Juventus squad to face Brescia on February 16, coach Maurizio Sarri quite reasonably pointed out that the 35-year-old "had to rest. He cannot play 75 games a year."
How Juve wish he could, though, because, at the moment, there is little more to Sarri's squad than their superstar No.7.
Indeed, the day before the Brescia game, the headline on the Corriere dello Sport read, "Ronaldo – and that's it!"
Granted, Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici was correct when he pointed out last week that the club had to put up with similarly negative press coverage at this stage of last season.
“We have had some very good performances, some less good, but that happens to all teams over the course of a year, with varying fitness levels," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"If we go back one, two, three years in February, we’ll see the exact same newspaper articles that we’re seeing now.
“We’re well aware of the period we are going through and are not remotely concerned.”
They should be, though. The headlines are the same this February because Juve's issues are the same as last February.
Ronaldo may have made a slow start to his second season in Italy but Juve have once again become utterly reliant on the forward for goals.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has scored in a record-equalling 11 consecutive Serie A appearances, netting 16 times in total.
That remarkable run stretches back to December 1, with Juve having racked up 38 goals in 17 games in all competitions.
Ronaldo accounts for half of that tally, despite sitting out two of those matches: the Coppa Italia last-16 tie against Udinese; and the aforementioned meeting with Brescia.
Goal
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