Juventus: Thiago Motta is no longer unanimous

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By: Manu Tournoux

Football can go fast, very fast. After a flourishing transfer window, Thiago Motta’s new Juventus started its rejuvenation very strongly with two big victories in Serie A, against Como (3-0) then Hellas Verona (3-0). Three consecutive goalless draws (0-0) brought the Bianconeri back to earth, before giving way to a daily life full of ups and downs. The excitement of the new resolutely offensive project carried by a modern and appreciated coach with growing popularity finally recalled nostalgic flanges of a Juventus that was not as attractive and entertaining as it was under Massimiliano Allegri. Journalists are less and less tender with the former Inter and PSG midfielder. Fans are even starting to lose patience. Even though Juventus is still undefeated in Serie A, they remain ranked in a disappointing 6th place and have not won in the league since the beginning of November. It must nevertheless be remembered that the context was not easy for Thiago Motta with an infirmary, which was furnished with around ten key elements.

Just a few weeks ago, Dušan Vlahović, Vasilije Adžić, Douglas Luiz, Nico González, Arkadiusz Milik, Pedro Felipe, Juan Cabal, Nicolò Savona, Gleison Bremer, Weston McKennie and Douglas Luiz were all injured, forcing the coach Italian to call five young players from the training center in a group restricted to 13 available outfield players: “they are the first who want to participate and play, they are the first who are not happy if they do not play, because of an injury or a technical choice. Today these players are back in the group and we are happy to help each other from the start and during the current match. I never gave an alibi regarding the injuries. I will never do it, because I don’t believe in these things 200%. All teams have this moment, the important thing is how you handle them“, explained Motta. The American midfielder and the Brazilian midfielder are now back, as are the Serbian striker, the Italian nugget and the young Montenegrin. A way to relieve Motta’s headaches.

A strange paradox at the start of the season

After five days of the Champions League, the Old Lady is 19th in the championship phase standings. With 8 points, the Turinese are not sure of being qualified, especially as they cross swords with Manchester City at the Allianz Stadium this Wednesday. They will then challenge Bruges and Benfica. The encounter against sick Cityzens can be decisive: “Facing a big club like Manchester City is a great opportunity. As always, we prepared for the match to give the best of ourselves, grow as a team, improve as a team, always entering the field with great concentration. The weight is what it is, it’s a Champions League match between two big clubs facing each other. We must concentrate on what we have to do. Everything else is relative, weight or no weight. We just have to be ready and prepared», Explained Thiago Motta, while his team had to settle for a draw (2-2) in Bologna in a mixed atmosphere between applause and boos for Motta’s return to the Renato-Dall’Ara stadium. Juventus in this first part of the season highlighted well-defined playing characteristics.

His team kept the ball a lot, made a huge effort to stand upright and then look for a goal with efficiency. And it is in this last aspect that the Bianconeri have difficulties. The match against Bologna, in fact, highlighted a stuck Juventus. Incapable of moving quickly and anchored in ideas that do not follow the necessary speed of execution: “we can still improve, we are a young team, we can improve on all aspects of the game. On technique, on play, on physique. Everything counts. We showed it, we have great character, in a difficult moment. In the end, we look at everything, but we prioritize the most important things: staying compact, playing with intensity in game situations, in the use of the ball, being of high quality, because we are going to face a team that likes tackle. There are many things we need to think about and focus on what we can do“. With nine draws in Serie A, the Motta version of Juventus has nine points less, at this stage of the season, than last year with Allegri. For now, there is no trace of the long-awaited “Motta revolution”.