Juventus manager Thiago Motta did not mince words after his side’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Tuesday, their 13th stalemate of the Serie A season. Despite remaining unbeaten, the Bianconeri boss made it clear that the mounting draws are falling well short of the club’s lofty expectations.
“We Cannot Be Happy with a Draw”
Speaking candidly to reporters after the match, Motta acknowledged the team’s underperformance:
It’s clear that we can’t be happy with the result; we go on the pitch to win. We played well, created some interesting situations, but we weren’t good enough to score.
Thiago Motta, Juventus Manager
The 40-year-old tactician pulled no punches in his assessment, stressing that while Juve may be undefeated, their current points tally is simply unacceptable:
It’s true that we have drawn a lot this season and are not happy about that, we cannot be happy with a draw.
Thiago Motta, Juventus Manager
Motta Praises Effort, Looks Ahead
Despite his evident frustration, Motta was quick to praise his players’ performance and effort against a tough Atalanta side:
However, they [the players] performed well. I have to acknowledge the effort and the performance.
Thiago Motta, Juventus Manager
Focus now shifts to the massive clash with seventh-placed rivals AC Milan on Saturday. Motta stressed the importance of recovery and preparation for that pivotal match:
Now we have an important match against a great team, we need to recover well.
Thiago Motta, Juventus Manager
Vlahovic, Kolo Muani Statuses Unclear
When pressed on the status of injured star striker Dusan Vlahovic and rumored January target Randal Kolo Muani, Motta remained tight-lipped:
I do not talk about the transfer market. Dusan is recovering, he is not at 100% and we cannot risk losing him for longer, so we’ll see what happens over the next three days.
Thiago Motta, Juventus Manager
Kalulu: Draws Overshadowing Progress
Juventus defender and goalscorer Pierre Kalulu echoed his manager’s sentiments, lamenting how the team’s string of stalemates is detracting from their otherwise solid performances:
A good evening at the beginning, then this goal conceded overshadows everything a bit. We always have to do something more to get points.
Pierre Kalulu, Juventus Defender
Key Takeaways
- Juventus held to 13th draw of the season in 1-1 result vs Atalanta
- Manager Thiago Motta bluntly states current results “not good enough” for the club
- Juve remain unbeaten but have accrued 15 fewer points than at this stage last season
- Motta praises players’ effort but stresses need for victories
- Massive match vs 7th place AC Milan looms on Saturday
- Striker Dusan Vlahovic still recovering from injury, transfer updates scarce
As Juventus navigate this challenging campaign, it’s clear that Thiago Motta and his men have their work cut out for them to meet the Vecchia Signora’s sky-high standards. With a season-defining fixture against Milan fast approaching and the January transfer window in full swing, the coming days could prove pivotal in shaping the trajectory of Juve’s thus far underwhelming 2022-23 season.
