U7

Despite the new U7 team being the youngest team of the entire Academy, the players have really shown an amazing spirit to fight on the pitch. They were able to end the season with a four-win run, playing matches under all sorts of weather conditions- a light drizzle, the burning hot sun, or pouring rain. The matches were non-competitive due to the young age division of this team, but the players were able to practice and learn game knowledge throughout the entire season. The young Bianconeri improved game by game their ability to work as a team, and by the end of the season, their performances were truly impressive among their age group. 

The U7’s last match of the season reflected just that, with a strong 4-1 win over Espanyol. Even against a tougher opponent, Juve were able to control the match through superior teamwork and fighting spirit. Though the team conceded first early in the match, Edoardo would almost immediately equalize to put Juve back level. The team made no mistake after that, continuously applying pressure on the opponent throughout the entire match. The first third ended 2-1, the second third 4-1, and the final third was simple enough to keep the comfortable score. As usual, every single player gave their all on the pitch and contributed immensely to this impressive win. Our parents’ support was also important to encourage the players on the pitch. 

There is a lot to say about every single player in this team. Luffie is a strong player both technically and mentally, he has a good understanding of the game and remains determined no matter the ongoing result. William also has a great attitude who gives his all when he is on the pitch, and this is the type of mentality that will surely lead him to constantly improve into the future. Livia is very committed and supportive of the team, showing up every weekend to play and practice which has evidently shown in her progress this season. Oscar is a fighter, going hard on every ball and always getting back up quickly even when he falls. Ricky is a sweet boy who is always smiling, he has volunteered many times as a strong goalkeeper and constantly keeps a positive attitude. Lucas is very strong defensively as well as in other positions, his performance last Saturday was so impressive that our coaches have given him the nickname of “the Glove” (because it’s impossible to get past him as an opponent attacker!) Edoardo is an entire year younger than the rest of his teammates but never struggles to be impactful in the team, his strong personality and ability to score will only improve as he grows year by year. Rafael has played in both the U7 and U8 and is a very strong player, he is versatile and can adapt to any position on the pitch to push the team forward. Gray is also truly a crucial player in both the U7 and U8- not only is he highly talented in-goal, he is also technically strong to dribble and score (13 goals!) 

In all, the U7 team is truly a team full of potential and great spirit. It has been amazing to see their growth on and off the pitch, congratulations team! 

U8

Another equally impressive team is the U8, a true goal-machine team who has scored 50 goals across just 7 league matches! They also had the potential to win every match, as their two losses resulted from tight scorelines such as 4-5. A group of committed, strong, supportive players, the U8 team ended their season with a match that accurately reflected their spirit. 

With McQueen, the team’s top-scorer, unfortunately unable to play, former U8 player Louis joined the team for their last match. The competition between the two sides was strong throughout the entire match, and the first half ended goalless for the first time in the season. Juve defended very well and created many many attacking chances, but the opponent’s overaged goalkeeper made it difficult to score. The players continued to fight with no sign of giving up, and when the opponent was able to score the first goal via a free-kick, this fired up the team even more. Louis equalized soon after and brought the team back level. The Bianconeri continued to have attempts that really threatened the opponent’s goal but we got a bit unlucky and the final score remained a draw. This was a difficult game as the opponent had a few players that were physically stronger, yet this did not scare our players whatsoever and they truly showed their eagerness to fight for a win. This match also showed off the team’s beautiful spirit, as McQueen came to support his team even when he felt unwell and was unable to play. The U8 players and family also celebrated their end of the season with cute Juventus cupcakes from Gray’s family! 

A team full of personality and talent, the U8 is amazing. Dora has done well on the right-wing, creating many chances and always strong on the ball and attack. Francesco’s strong personality is always a great addition on the pitch, as he is not afraid to be aggressive when needed and often makes crucial defensive tackles. Lucca is a strong technical player who also has a great mentality, he is always able to make a strong impact on the pitch and create assists or score goals. McQueen not only is a supportive team player, but he is also undoubtedly the biggest attacking threat on the pitch, scoring 30 goals this season. Adam joined the team only in the last few matches but has shown good potential, playing both as goalkeeper and out-field as well. Mike, similarly, joined Juventus halfway in the season, but the coaches have discovered him to be a great goalkeeper who was crucial in Saturday’s last match of the season. Just like in the U7, Gray and Rafael remain as crucial members of the U8 team, often playing as goalkeepers and scoring when they play in more attacking positions. 

It’s truly been a joy to watch the youngest players of Juventus Academy Shanghai do so well. The genuine spirit and support from the players and parents make the teams special, we hope to see even more of this in the coming season, Forza Juve!