What ruined Motta’s relationship with part of Juventus dressing room

epa11703986 Thiago Motta, head coach of Juventus gestures during the UEFA Champions League league phase match between Lille OSC and Juventus FC, in Lille, France, 05 November 2024. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

La Gazzetta dello Sport explains how Thiago Motta’s relationship with part of the Juventus dressing room has collapsed in recent weeks, involving the likes of Dusan Vlahovic and even Andrea Cambiaso.

Empoli shocked Juventus on Wednesday, beating the Bianconeri on penalties in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals, qualifying for the semis for the first time ever.

“Ashamed” Juventus coach Motta blamed himself after the match but was also highly critical of the players.

Gazzetta has reported that Motta will be under scrutiny until the end of the season, and not even finishing in the top four could be enough to remain at the helm beyond the summer.

Motta’s harsh post-match comments further highlighted tensions between the coach and some players, and Gazzetta explained what’s behind their poor rapport.

One of the players who is unhappy with Motta’s management is surely Vlahovic.

‘Before the Supercoppa, the coach had criticized the Serbian’s attitude, who then found himself sidelined for several weeks,’ wrote the pink paper.

‘Previously, there were cases of Fagioli and Danilo, who were both sold in the January transfer window. Douglas Luiz publicly spoke about misunderstandings at the start of the season.

‘Not to mention the issue of the rotating captain’s armband and the demotion of Federico Gatti in the hierarchy,’ Gazzetta continued.

‘Gatti was the first to wear it at the start of the season but hasn’t even been considered in the past month, with even the previously outcast Weston McKennie being preferred over him. There were ups and downs with (almost) all the players, including his protégé Andrea Cambiaso.’

According to the report, Juventus players appreciate Motta’s tactical ideas but are not exactly fans of his strict methods.

Motta said during a post-match interview that some players are demanding but give nothing back. According to Gazzetta, the coach referred to Teun Koopmeiners, Nico Gonzalez, and Vlahovic.

The first two were subbed off in the second half against Empoli and booed by the Allianz Stadium crowd, while Vlahovic remained on the pitch for 90 minutes but missed the target in the penalty shootout.