New Delhi: Former Italian midfielder Thiago Motta built his reputation as one of the best young upcoming managers in the world in the past few seasons. The Brazilian turned Italian started his career with former club Genoa before impressing at relegation battlers Spezia, guiding them away from relegation despite a transfer ban. That led to the manager signing for Bologna and the second of his two impressive spells at the club ended with Motta guiding them to a UEFA Champions League spot.
His unprecedented feat with Bologna helped him gain widespread recognition and all the big clubs started surrounding the manager. Motta though always had his heart set on a move to Juventus and got his wish this past summer. He arrived at Juventus with high expectations after an impressive spell at Bologna, after establishing himself as one of Italy’s most promising young coaches.
His tactical philosophy, inspired by possession-based football and fluid attacking play, was seen as a refreshing change for a Juventus side that had grown stale under previous managers. However, as the season progressed, it became clear that his tenure in Turin was anything but smooth. With poor results, questionable squad management, and growing tensions within the dressing room, Motta’s debut campaign at Juventus has turned into a nightmare and reports are surfacing that his job is now under threat at the club.
Tactical Disarray and Poor Results
The biggest reason for uncertainty over his future in Turin has been down to the club’s wonky form this season. The Old Lady began the season strongly, appearing well-positioned to challenge for the Serie A title. However, their form has collapsed in recent weeks, culminating in a 4-0 loss to Atalanta and a 3-0 loss against Fiorentina in back to back games. These losses have left the club struggling to secure a top-four finish, a scenario that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago.
While they have only lost three games this season, what has been a real challenge for the Bianconeri has been the lack of wins for them. Out of their 29 games, they’ve only emerged victorious in 13 of them, drawing another 13, which is the highest in the entire league. Their 13 wins are less than the likes of Lazio, Fiorentina and even AS Roma, who have gone through three managers this season, as the Old Lady occupies the fifth spot in the table.
❌ Juventus CAN’T win a game
13 ties in 20 matches. Madness pic.twitter.com/ywb1YmSW9e
— Italian Football TV (@IFTVofficial) January 14, 2025
Motta’s tactical approach, which worked well at Bologna, has failed to translate effectively at Juventus. He has experimented excessively with his formations and line-ups, using 39 different starting XIs in 42 matches. This lack of consistency has resulted in disjointed performances, with players seemingly unsure of their roles on the pitch. Juventus have also struggled defensively, conceding an alarming number of goals while failing to establish an effective attacking system.
Adding to the frustration, Juventus crashed out of the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven and suffered an embarrassing Coppa Italia exit at the hands of Empoli. These failures have intensified the scrutiny on Motta’s leadership, with many questioning whether he has the tactical nous to succeed at a club of this stature. There were question marks over the appointment as well when it was announced and current reports and performances now seem to suggest that those question marks were valid.
Mismanagement of Key Players
Motta’s handling of key squad members has been erratic. Andrea Cambiaso, for example, has been dealing with an ankle injury but was rushed back into action before he had fully recovered. Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz, a €50m signing from Aston Villa, has been completely marginalized and was even linked with a move away from the club in the winter window. The Brazilian midfielder started just two of Juventus’ first eight league games and has since disappeared from the rotation, leading to a significant drop in confidence.
Young talents like Kenan Yildiz have also suffered under Motta’s management. The Turkish International is a promising forward but was controversially started against Atalanta despite struggling with a stomach bug in the days leading up to the match. Unsurprisingly, he was ineffective and was hauled off at half-time. However, instead of receiving further opportunities, he was left on the bench during the humiliating loss to Fiorentina. These questionable decisions have raised doubts about Motta’s ability to nurture and develop young players.
Their attacking problems were further intensified after Motta’s altercation with Serbian International Dusan Vlahovic. The striker has been Juve’s star attacker since his big money move from Fiorentina. However, under Motta, he has long expressed frustration over the lack of service and the defensive responsibilities placed upon him. Both of them clashed over this and since then Vlahovic was dropped in favor of new signing Randal Kolo Muani, further straining their relationship.
Thiago Motta’s Future at Juventus
🚨⚪️⚫️ Understand Juventus keep discussing Thiago Motta’s position internally.
The manager’s job is still in danger, as reported.
❗️ In case Juventus decide to sack Motta before the end of the season, Igor Tudor is the main favorite to take over as new head coach. pic.twitter.com/bcG1Gejqtd
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 20, 2025
Despite these mounting issues, Juventus have publicly backed Motta to be their manager for now, however, if results do not improve immediately, a managerial change may be inevitable. The club’s ambitions remain high, and missing out on Champions League qualification would be unacceptable. If Juventus suffer another defeat in their next game, the pressure to sack Motta will become overwhelming.
There are reports circling as well that the club are now internally considering options and lining up potential replaces. If the club does decide to part ways with Motta before the season expires, the first choice for the Old Lady will be the Croatian manager Igor Tudor, who had previously been in charge of fellow Italian club Lazio. Tudor has been a former Juventus player during his playing days, making over 100 appearances, winning multiple titles with the club including two Serie A titles.
Motta was expected to usher in a new era of exciting football at Juventus, but his debut season has been defined by poor results, fractured relationships, and an overall sense of instability. If he cannot turn things around quickly, his tenure at the club could come to an abrupt and disappointing end. With Igor Tudor waiting on the wings if, room for error is even less for Motta and the pressure is at an all time high.
Juventus manager Thiago Motta’s job at the club is currently under threat after an underwhelming first season with the club following his huge arrival from fellow Italian side Bologna this past summer. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
