ROME — Thiago Motta may find himself with limited options to remain at the helm of Juventus. Following consecutive eliminations in the past week from the Champions League and the Italian Cup, the club’s priority has shifted to ensuring a top-four finish in Serie A to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The Bianconeri suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Empoli in the Italian Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday after squandering a first-leg advantage against PSV Eindhoven a week earlier.
Motta expressed his frustrations, stating, “I’m ashamed. I failed to convey the importance of this match and the significance of wearing this shirt to the players.”
He added, “I expect the criticism to be fierce. I am hoping for a swift response from the players.”
The team also fumbled a lead during its elimination by AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup semifinals last month. Currently sitting fourth in Serie A, Juventus must maintain its position to remain among Europe’s top contenders.
Throughout the season, Motta has been battling to move away from the defensive tactics ingrained by his predecessor, Massimiliano Allegri. This approach has resulted in Juventus drawing half of its Serie A matches, 13 out of 26.
Allegri was dismissed after a controversial incident involving the referee and others during the Italian Cup final, which Juventus won last season.
In the match against Empoli, Juventus found itself trailing in a lackluster first half. Although Khephren Thuram managed to equalize, the game proceeded to a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, Dusan Vlahovic missed his kick, and Kenan Y?ld?z’s attempt was saved, leading to the club’s unexpected exit. Once again, Juventus faced humiliation in a competition it had previously dominated.
“We owe an apology to our fans, the club, and the legacy of this team,” Motta remarked. “There’s no deeper point we can sink to.”
As the season progresses, the stakes remain high for Juventus, which is striving not just to reclaim its place in European competitions but also to regain its standing as a formidable force in Italian football.
