Mauro: Motta ‘has doubts about everyone’, Juventus may be ‘in serious trouble’

TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 11: Thiago Motta, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg match between Juventus and PSV at Allianz Stadium on February 11, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Former Juventus winger Massimo Mauro feels the Bianconeri either have ‘have incredible room for improvement or are in serious trouble,’ while coach Thiago Motta has ‘doubts about everyone.’

Juventus were eliminated from the Champions League knockout playoff on Wednesday, suffering a 3-1 loss to PSV.

The Bianconeri sit fourth in the Serie A table and Champions League qualification is their minimum target this season.

Mauro analysed the Bianconeri’s campaign so far, in an interview with Gazzetta.

“Winning teams have certainties by mid-season. Six or seven untouchable players. But that’s not the case with Juve,” said the ex-Juventus winger via Ilbianconero.com.

“Either Motta is still experimenting, which wouldn’t be fitting for a top team at this stage of the season, or there aren’t players good enough to become key references.

“Juventus have always had two leaders in defence, two in midfield, and one in attack. Now, there are no players with these characteristics.”

Khephren Thuram seemed in good shape against Inter but was benched in the following game against PSV.

Mauro: Motta ‘has doubts about everyone’, Juventus may be ‘in serious trouble’

“I would bet on Thuram, who seems untouchable to me in terms of physicality, role, and intensity,” said Mauro.

“Yet, he’s on the bench. I don’t know the reasons. PSV had two or three individuals, not even at an international level, and the rest were hardworking players. A Juventus with personality and quality would have easily advanced against this team. Instead, PSV fully deserved it.

“Either Juve have incredible room for improvement, or they are in serious trouble,” continued the former Bianconeri winger.

“Of course, they have also been an unlucky season with all the injured defenders, but on Wednesday, they weren’t even able to defend the old way: compact, close together, and launching great counterattacks.

“The coach works with what he has, and he could certainly do better,” Mauro concluded.

“Sometimes, we’ve seen it: at the start, Vlahovic was never questioned; he was the only striker, and he was confident. Now, everyone ends up on the bench, rotates, and changes roles. Thiago has doubts about everyone.”