Thiago Motta’s nine-month tenure as Juventus manager came to an abrupt end following back-to-back defeats in Serie A. The Italian giants swiftly appointed Igor Tudor as his replacement, but the sacking has exposed deeper issues within the club.
Motta’s departure was inevitable, according to journalist Julien Laurens, who cited the team’s poor performances, including a 4-0 loss to Atalanta and a 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina. Laurens praised Motta’s work at Bologna but felt that his progressive style of football rarely materialized at Juventus.
Question marks have been raised over Juventus’ dealings in the transfer market during Motta’s time at the club. The £42.35m signing of midfielder Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa failed to yield the expected results, with Luiz starting only three league games. Striker Moise Kean was allowed to leave for Fiorentina, and he is currently the second-highest scorer in Serie A with 15 goals.
Motta’s focus on defensive solidity limited Juventus’ attacking potential, leading to a string of draws. From September 1, they went 19 league games unbeaten, but 13 of those ended in draws.
Italian journalist Mina Rzouki believes that Motta’s refusal to adapt his tactics and his inability to connect with the players contributed to his downfall. Rzouki also criticized the club’s management, stating that Juventus is a “mess on every level.”
The club’s sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, is under pressure for perceived mistakes made with player and manager recruitment. The appointment of Tudor, a former Juventus midfielder, has raised hopes of a turnaround, but the pressure is on Giuntoli to ensure Tudor is the right man for the job.
Tudor has a reputation as a “fixer” and has overseen swift improvements in previous roles at Udinese, Hellas Verona, and Lazio. His contract will reportedly be automatically renewed if he secures Champions League qualification.
As Juventus struggles to find its footing, the sacking of Motta has exposed deeper issues within the club. With Tudor at the helm, the club will be hoping for a swift turnaround, but the challenges ahead are significant.