Five Former Juventus Players Talk Thiago Motta and Team Drama With The Guardian Five Former Juventus Players Discuss Thiago Motta and the Team Crisis

The aftermath of Juventus’s dramatic 2-1 defeat at the hands of AC Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final continues to divide fans and commentators. Five ex-Leonardos from Juventus have come out and shared differing opinions on Thiago Motta, the recent form of the club and what’s going to change in Turin. Alessio Tacchinardi, Alessandro Birindelli, Angelo Di Livio, Franco Causio, Domenico Marocchino – all reported in Tuttosport.

Juventus Takes Over Early but Fails to Recover.

The Bianconeri took control early in the game against Milan, cruising ahead for an hour before opening the scoring through Kenan Yildiz. But an abrupt mental slip allowed them to fall two goals down in five minutes, depriving them of a place in the final. The substitution of striker Dusan Vlahovic with a goal on the scoreboard has caused a big conversation, many questioning Thiago Motta’s approach.

Mixed Reactions from Juventus Icons

Alessio Tacchinardi: "Juve don’t obsess about winning"

As far as Tacchinardi is concerned, the problem at Juventus isn’t strategy, but mentality. ‘This team plays hard but loses focus,’ he said. "At Milan we were in control for 70 minutes and then gave up. Locatelli’s foul is excusable but the other goal was just bad positioning."

Tacchinardi thinks the group can be great but they just haven’t cultivated the incessant winning drive it takes to compete at the highest level.

Alessandro Birindelli: "winning is a game"

Birindelli spoke the same words, saying that Juventus have to develop a love for victory. ‘You’re not going to shout ‘win at all costs’ in the changing room. "It’s about being attentive to every single detail from top to bottom," he said. Birindelli believes that establishing this routine would give Juve the edge over their opponents in tight games even when Juve are under the weather.

Angelo Di Livio: "Motta’s critics have it right"

Di Livio wasn’t shy about criticising Motta’s dubious substitutions. "It was not a good idea to have Vlahovic go at 1-0," he said. Still, Di Livio made it clear that their own individual miscues, such as Locatelli’s own goal and Di Gregorio’s bad footwork, were also to blame.

He urged Motta to concentrate on getting injured stars such as Nico Gonzalez and Douglas Luiz fully fit, which could be a game-changing moment for the team.

Franco Causio: "Character isn’t cheap"

Causio highlighted the team’s dearth of character, which he believes Motta must inculcate. ‘With a young team like that, the coach plays a very important role,’ he said. While admitting Motta’s errors, Causio justified giving him time to get better as a coach, noting that even previous Juve squads needed a clean slate.

Domenico Marocchino: "Time and squad depth are key"

Marocchino turned to structural problems – lack of attacking possibilities. "It was a mistake to begin the season with only one recognised striker," he said. He also regretted losing key veteran batsmen such as Rabiot and McKennie who could have served as insurance.

Moroccochino claimed that unlucky circumstances — with injuries to star players such as Bremer — have exacerbated Juve’s woes. ‘Bremer’s presence alone would’ve brought goals and points to the table,’ he wrote.

What Happens Next for Juventus and Thiago Motta?

Juventus’s loss to Milan has revealed gaps in the Juventus’s system but, in general, the old-boys agree that the club needs time and patience to rebuild. Whether it’s changing a winning attitude, fixing mistakes or strengthening the team, Juve and Thiago Motta’s path to redemption will be long but not untraceable.