Thiago Motta’s time at Juventus is over after just nine months, with the club sacking him following back-to-back Serie A defeats to Atalanta (4-0) and Fiorentina (3-0). The Italian giants wasted no time in appointing Igor Tudor as his replacement, but Motta’s struggles raise deeper questions about Juventus’ problems both on and off the pitch.
A Promising Start That Never Took Off
Motta, 42, arrived in Turin with high expectations after a remarkable spell at Bologna, where he guided the club from relegation battles to a Champions League qualification spot. However, his attacking philosophy never fully materialized at Juventus.
Despite initially making the team defensively solid—keeping six consecutive clean sheets—his side struggled to score goals. Juventus went on a 19-game unbeaten run but drew 13 of those matches, leaving them adrift in the Serie A title race.
“I felt for him,” said journalist Julien Laurens. “This doesn’t mean he’s not a good coach, but maybe this job came too early for him.”
Transfer Failures and Dressing Room Issues
Motta’s Juventus tenure was also hampered by questionable transfer decisions. The club spent £42.35 million on midfielder Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa, yet he started just three of the 17 league games he was available for. Meanwhile, striker Moise Kean was sold to Fiorentina, where he has since become the second-highest scorer in Serie A with 15 goals.
Motta’s reluctance to adapt his tactics reportedly led to frustration in the dressing room. “He refused to be pragmatic,” said Italian journalist Mina Rzouki. “When players lost confidence, he still doubled down on his philosophy.”
Juventus’ Problems Go Beyond the Coach
Motta’s departure alone may not solve Juventus’ problems, as turmoil behind the scenes has also played a major role in the club’s struggles.
“Juventus is a mess on every level,” Rzouki added. “They don’t even have a main sponsor after Jeep pulled out. The management is failing at every level.”
Sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is also under pressure for recruitment mistakes, both in player signings and managerial appointments.
Is Tudor the Right Fix?
Juventus have now turned to former player Igor Tudor, who has a short-term contract that will be extended if he secures Champions League qualification. Known for stabilizing struggling teams, Tudor has previously turned things around at Udinese, Hellas Verona, and Lazio.
“Am I someone who resolves problems? I consider myself a coach,” Tudor said. “I want to be here for 10 years, but I will do my work in the same way regardless of the future.”
With Juventus in crisis mode, Tudor’s immediate challenge is to get the team back on track. But with deep-rooted structural issues, fixing the club’s problems may take much longer than a single managerial change.
