Thiago Motta, the head coach of Juventus, unleashed his fury following his team's unexpected exit from the Coppa Italia, expressing feelings of shame and disappointment over their performance against Empoli. The loss, which occurred during penalty shootouts after the match ended goalless, marked another failure for the struggling Juventus side, previously eliminated from the Champions League just days before.
"I feel complete responsibility, and I am ashamed of what we saw on the pitch. We completely lacked attitude, which means I failed to convey to the players what it means to play such an important match wearing the Juventus jersey," Motta stated bitterly to Mediaset following the match. The coach's sentiments underlined the gravity of the situation as Juventus continued to falter this season, with this being their third elimination out of four competitions.
Motta's frustration was particularly directed at the poor showing during the first half of the match. "We could make mistakes with passes or shots, but we cannot lack the required attitude. This was such an important game for us, and we completely messed it up," he remarked. His chastising comments not only highlighted the players' deficiencies but also reflected deep self-criticism, acknowledging his failure to prepare them adequately.
"The fans were far too kind to us considering what we witnessed, especially during the first half," Motta continued, insisting on the need for significant self-reflection among the players. "I hope the criticisms are strong; we deserve every bit of it. There are players who expect things without giving anything back. Today we hit rock bottom, and I apologize to the club and the fans."
Motta's comments provoked introspection not only within the team but also from his players. Mattia Perin, who was among the few to perform decently, echoed Motta's sentiments about feeling embarrassed. "I feel shame too. I don’t know if we had too much pressure or if we were simply underperforming, but from the outset, we lost challenges and second balls. The first half was unwatchable; had we played like the second half, we might have avoided penalties," he said.
The shocking elimination from the Coppa Italia has renewed questions about the effectiveness of Motta's strategies and the overall direction of Juventus this season. Despite having quality players, Motta emphasized the need for more than talent - they require the right mentality and focus. "Our team has quality, but quality alone is not enough; we have to understand the importance of wearing this shirt," he asserted.
The possibility of mental fatigue perhaps explains part of Juventus' struggles, having faced intense pressure and expectations throughout the season. This inconsistency has led to disappointing outcomes, emphasizing the need for recalibration both on and off the pitch. Moving forward, Motta stressed the importance of attitude over technical execution, sharing, "Since I arrived, I've said attitude is the first thing on the agenda. It cannot be negotiated. One can accept technical mistakes, but I will never accept the wrong attitude on the pitch. I feel ashamed, and we need to restart from the basics. We must earn our right to play here every day."
The season continues to spiral for Juventus, with this latest exit serving as both a wake-up call and opportunity for reflection. Moving forward, the team has to learn from this moment if they hope to salvage their season and restore the honor associated with wearing the Juventus colors.