Juventus Supports Tudor in a Bid to Shift Momentum Following Unsuccessful Motta Experiment

Juventus has taken a significant risk with their immediate future by parting ways with Thiago Motta, in a bid to secure a spot in the upcoming Champions League and entice a high-profile replacement to rectify past errors.

Motta’s exit on Sunday stemmed from a lack of satisfactory results and a fractured relationship with both the club’s management and his high-priced squad, plunging the “Old Lady” back into chaos.

In a statement released on Monday afternoon, he expressed gratitude to Juventus for “the chance to be part of a remarkable club,” which belied the tumultuous 10 months he spent at the helm.

The former Italy international was expected to be a pivotal figure in Juve’s departure from a troubling history marked by controversies, mismanagement, and substantial financial losses after joining in June.

Motta represented a fresh face for a revamped Juventus that, in recent seasons, has faced disgrace due to points deductions for transfer violations and the fallout from Paul Pogba’s doping scandal, all while teams like Inter Milan, Napoli, and even lesser-known Atalanta enjoyed the spotlight.

Motta was charged with rejuvenating the squad and bringing a modern approach to play, following the dull tactics employed by Massimiliano Allegri. Upon his arrival, he was backed with over 200 million euros to revamp the squad, having come off a successful stint at Bologna that saw him guide the club into the Champions League.

The feeling around Turin was optimistic last summer, with many expecting Juve to contest for the Serie A title against arch-rivals Inter Milan. This seemed plausible when they kicked off the season with convincing wins of 3-0 against both Como and Verona.

However, the anticipated transformation on the field never materialised, overshadowed by a string of lacklustre performances and two of the highest summer signings—midfielders Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz—failing to validate the over 100 million euros spent to acquire them from Atalanta and Aston Villa respectively.

Early exits from the Champions League and Italian Cup, alongside disappointing defeats to Atalanta and Fiorentina (4-0 and 3-0 respectively), made it clear that Motta’s tenure would not extend into the summer, even if he had managed to see out the current season.

At the time of his dismissal, Juventus found themselves one point adrift of a top-four finish and below Bologna, his former club, who, under Vincenzo Italiano, may clinch Italy’s final spot in Europe’s elite competition.

Moreover, the Juve board has strained its relationship with the fanbase by the manner in which they executed Motta’s sacking, coming just a week after sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli stated that Motta was an integral part of a “long-term project.”

Igor Tudor, a former player with a somewhat itinerant coaching career, is now charged with steering the club towards Champions League qualification and the financial windfall that comes with it.

Tudor was set to conduct his first training session on Monday afternoon as the team prepares for Saturday’s clash with Genoa. However, it is highly probable that he will not remain in charge once the new season kicks off, as he seizes the opportunity to showcase his abilities during his interim tenure at Juventus.

The former Croatia midfielder, while a somewhat surprising pick as interim manager given that he has been out of the coaching scene since last summer, previously filled a similar role at Lazio after Maurizio Sarri’s resignation.

Juventus was compelled to make a swift decision as two of their potential targets, club icons Antonio Conte and Gian Piero Gasperini, are engaged in a title race with Napoli and Atalanta, while Roberto Mancini expressed a desire for guaranteed contract renewal contingent on Champions League qualification.

The hope at Juventus is that one of these three, particularly Conte, will be capable of steering another rebuild and restoring the club’s status as the foremost team in Italy.