Juve disaster, Thiago Motta caught in the storm: Champions League at risk but there is an important alibi for the coach
Disastro Juve, Champions a rischio e Motta nella bufera: ma il tecnico ha anche alibi importanti – Serieanews
Juve ended the first phase of the Champions League in the worst possible way. A home defeat against Benfica that ousted it from the possibility of finishing among the top eight in the group and flying directly to the round of 16. A real disaster in short, with the Allianz Stadium harshly protesting everyone with resounding booing rained down from the stands at the end of the match.
Now Juve will have to play a playoff of sorts, probably against AC Milan, to continue their European journey. And in the league it is certainly no better: if the current Champions League is at risk in its continuation, in the next one the Bianconeri risk not even participating.
Koopmeiners and his teammates are in fact fifth in the standings with 37 points, two points less than fourth-placed Lazio, but they have Fiorentina behind them, one length behind but with one match less, as well as AC Milan and Bologna – opponents – who in case of success can hook it up. In short, not the best of situations for Thiago Motta, who is increasingly in the storm.
Thiago Motta rischia? La posizione della Juventus
No one at Continassa expected such a performance. Sure, maybe they did not believe in a Juve capable of fighting for the title (or maybe they did, who knows) but they certainly did not anticipate these difficulties. And it is clear that some reflection against the coach has begun, inevitably.
Thiago Motta rischia? La posizione della Juventus (Ansa Foto) – Serieanews
At the moment, however, Motta is in no way in danger of being exonerated. The last two defeats – against Napoli and Benfica – have raised the alert in the Bianconeri household and from now on the results will be scrutinized very carefully but Giuntoli still strongly believes in the project. After all, it was the Bianconeri football director who chose Motta in the first place and entrusted him with the keys to the new Juve, which is young, economically sustainable and capable of being a narrow winner.
It goes without saying that despite the difficulties, there is still a desire to bet strongly on the project, which is obviously on a multi-year basis. However, the team must react on the field: already against Empoli a reaction is expected, because in case of failure, well, really the wind of crisis could start blowing very strongly.
Motta nella bufera: gli alibi del tecnico
Motta has naturally ended up in the storm, so much so that the hastag “mottaout” has become a trending topic on X: on the technician falls the major blame for a team that on the field appears confusing, without a precise game much less an identity. And many also point the finger at the ability to read the match in progress as well as on the initial formations perennially changed or on the changes, often judged illogical.
Motta nella bufera: gli alibi del tecnico (Ansa Foto) – Serieanews
Nevertheless, there is no shortage of alibis for the HCL coach. Suffice it to say that already since October he has in fact been working without any changes in the defense and with a department limited to the bone. Bremer – the most representative player in the back row, on which the team’s defense had been founded – and Cabal will be out until the end of the season, and so far only Kalulu and Gatti have been available.
The two began to lose steam from too many games played due to objective lack of alternatives: Locatelli’s backline did not work and the well-known affairs with Danilo took away another pawn from Motta in a numerically counted department. On the flanks, too, the situation was no better: said of Cabal and Danilo, taken out too early and without apparent explanation, the continuing injuries first of Savona then of Cambiaso took away alternatives from Motta.
All to the point of going for Weah and McKennie full-backs, a pair that could not be more adapted. Just a few days ago the market gave them Renato Veiga and Alberto Costa, who will obviously need to settle in. It has not been any better in attack, with Milik injured since the beginning of the season and only Vlahovic pulling the strings.
And when the Serbian ended up knocked out, well, room for the false nueve who did not prove to be the right choice. The arrival of Kolo Muani gave a new alternative (perhaps a new starter) but frictions with the Serbian may have compromised the picture again.
This article Juve disaster, Champions at risk and Motta in the storm: but the coach also has important alibis appeared first on SerieANews.
