In the wake of the crushing defeat Juventus faced against Atalanta, Head Coach Thiago Motta remains unruffled, refusing to succumb to histrionics. The match saw the end of the Bianconeri’s five-game winning streak in Serie A, a run that had propelled them back into title contention. However, their aspirations were brutally dashed as they were annihilated by Atalanta, with four unanswered goals leaving their supporters reeling.
The performance of Juventus from the outset was lackluster at best, with many opining that they were fortunate not to have conceded more goals. Goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio was the team’s saving grace, pulling off a series of impressive saves, particularly towards the close of the first half.
Motta, despite his previous explosive reaction to Juventus’ elimination from the Coppa Italia by Empoli, chose to remain calm. Speaking to IlBianconero in his post-match interview, the 42-year-old coach asserted, “We had a difficult match against a strong team. We started well, then suffered the penalty episode.”
When asked if he was expected to react dramatically, Motta replied, “If you expect me to throw bottles or make a scene, that’s not part of my character. I’m a serious and honest person, with the obligation to start the week off right now. You’ll never see something from me that I don’t feel, that I make a scene because someone has to see it.”
Expressing his disappointment at the result, Motta emphasized the need to regroup and focus on the forthcoming matches. He dismissed any speculation of internal divisions within the team, stating, “Internally we have always maintained balance. Now we are thinking about the next match, this is difficult to digest but it is part of our job. We all take into consideration what is said on the outside but we are a great team, so rumours are normal.”
Motta also questioned the penalty awarded to Weston McKennie and acknowledged the team’s failure to recover thereafter. “Atalanta deserved it, we started the game well and the penalty incident is questionable. Then everything became more difficult, we went too far in attack, losing our balance against a team that was waiting for our mistakes,” he explained.
Despite this setback, Motta remains confident and focused, keen to learn from the defeat and move forward. It’s clear that he’s not about to let this loss hamper the team’s spirit or determination. After all, there’s always the next game.
