Juventus coach Thiago Motta shared his thoughts following his team’s 2-1 victory over Monza in Serie A. The match featured goals from Weston McKennie, Samuele Birindelli, and Nico Gonzalez, with Juventus securing a hard-fought win. In his post-match interview, Motta reflected on the performance and the challenges faced during the game.
When asked about McKennie referring to him as “professor,” Motta expressed surprise but praised both McKennie and Gonzalez for their versatility and professionalism. “McKennie calls me professor? I had never heard that. McKennie and Nico Gonzalez are two players with great adaptability to play in different roles. They are high-level players with the right attitude. It’s a pleasure for me to coach two guys like them.”
Motta acknowledged that Juventus struggled at times against Monza’s defensive setup but emphasized the importance of closing out games effectively. “We have almost always struggled against teams that sit back and counterattack. The important thing was to finish the game off. This is part of our growth—facing teams where we control the game. When they started attacking, we defended but didn’t handle transitions well.”
The coach also highlighted the impact of Nico Gonzalez in a more central role behind striker Dusan Vlahovic. “The player behind Vlahovic? Nico Gonzalez performed perfectly today. When someone can play in different roles, it means there’s something special about them. He belongs to that category of players. He knows how to play one-touch, two-touch football, can operate on the wings, and even as a forward.”
When asked about Juventus’ schedule and their position in the league, Motta remained focused on taking one game at a time. “The calendar? We’ll take stock at the end of the season. For now, we step onto the pitch to play our game and face every opponent with maximum respect. Then we’ll evaluate everything at the end of the season.”
