Juventus players describe Motta’s last training sessions as ‘surreal’

COMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 07: Juventus coach Thiago Motta looks on before the Serie A match between Como 1907 and Juventus at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on February 07, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

La Repubblica newspaper reports that some Juventus players described Thiago Motta’s final training sessions as ‘surreal’, with the coach showing no intention of adjusting the methods.

Thiago Motta was sacked by Juventus on Sunday with nine Serie A games remaining.

The club informed the former Italy international, who is currently in Portugal, yesterday.

It is no secret that part of the dressing room was no longer on good terms with the ex-Italy international, who had signed a contract until 2027 last summer.

Therefore, it was no real surprise that only one Juventus player, Samuel Mbangula, sent a public message to Motta after his dismissal.

Juventus players describe Motta’s last training sessions as ‘surreal’

Cristiano Giuntoli had met Juventus players and the coach last week and Juventus ultimately decided to sack Motta after another meeting between John Elkann and Maurizio Scanavino.

‘The outgoing coach, who arrived amid much fanfare, was disappointing on every front, including his handling of the crisis, which he seemed unaware of. Almost as if he didn’t grasp the danger of the situation the team had fallen into,’ noted Repubblica.

‘The final training sessions, with half the squad missing [due to international duty], were described by some players as surreal, with him standing impassively and silently on the sidelines, saying nothing different from what he used to say when things were going well.

‘He showed no intention of adjusting the methods that had led him to be eliminated from three cups and, ultimately, from the Champions League race, following an irreversible path to collapse. In his unwavering commitment to consistency, Thiago chose to be replaced rather than change.

‘He received the news in Cascais, where his family lives and where Italy’s last king, Umberto II, once lived in exile.’

Igor Tudor has been hired to leave Juventus until the end of the season. The Croatian tactician is currently leading his first training session at Continassa.