Shameless Pirlo suddenly remembers he wanted a different team

Starting a new job is always tricky. You need to get to know the people, get to know the employer and your co-workers, and understand what you have to do. But what happens when you change your career completely, the whole world is watching you – and you aren't allowed any mistakes or time to get settled in your new role? What happens when you're Andrea Pirlo?

For a start, you realize that your new job is entirely different to the old one. There are deceiving similarities, but you quickly find out that the rules are entirely new. You used to run out to the pitch, pass the ball around and make your teammates look good by influencing the play. And now? You stand on the sidelines and watch eleven guys underperform for 90 minutes. And you know it really is your fault.

Milan trash Juventus in Turin!

When the match is over, the press asks what went wrong. You can either take responsibility or say that the players are not good enough. After a short pause, you say their words:

I had a different project in my mind and thought I would have a different group at my disposal. I had been working on some concepts, but then I had to make changes to suit their characteristics and adapt.

Andrea Pirlo let himself and the players down with his post-match comments. Not only he was utterly outsmarted by Milan boss Stefano Pioli, but he also allowed himself to moan about the squad he's got at his disposal. It's not fair to the players – regardless of whether they're good enough or not—some things you just don't say publicly.

"There must always be pride in wearing this shirt and some players didn't deliver. If you've got some ideas in your mind, and some players cannot carry them out on the pitch, then it's a problem. If I cannot get the best out of these players, that is my fault, and I certainly need to do better."

That is more like it. Pirlo realized what he was saying and changed his story. It might be his fault Juventus are close to missing out on a Champions League spot for the first time in a decade.

"I knew we would run into difficulties, but now we have to get out of it together. I am at the club's disposal, there are still three games to go, so I will continue doing my work as long as I am allowed to. If something didn't go right, I take responsibility. This squad is made up of great players. Clearly, something did not work."

Yes, Andrea. You should take responsibility. You lost 3-0 at home to a team that was beaten by Sassuolo, Atalanta and Spezia not so long ago.

Juventus now face a gamble in their three remaining fixtures, the next of which comes on Wednesday night away to Sassuolo, followed by a clash with new champions Inter Milan and then Bologna in the last round. The Bianconeri must win all three of those games and hope that results elsewhere go their way.

Italian media are rightly tearing Juventus apart today. Headlines of 'Goodbye Pirlo', 'Unwatchable Juventus' and 'No, you won't continue' are just some of the darts fired at the 2006 World Cup winner.

The latest reports from Italy suggest that Andrea Pirlo will not be sacked - at least not before the end of the season.

Settling into your new job isn't always smooth. Just ask the rookie on Juventus' bench.