Domenico Criscito, the coach of Genoa’s U17 team and former teammate of Thiago Motta, shared his thoughts on the current Juventus manager in a recent interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. Reflecting on their time together at Genoa, Criscito provided valuable insights into Motta’s coaching philosophy and character.
Recalling their successful 2008-09 season, Criscito said, “When such champions arrive at a not-so-great club like Genoa, it always has a strange effect. I knew him as a player from his time at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. He had some knee problems, yet he immediately made himself available to the coach and medical staff. That was when I noticed the greatness of the man. He had great humility.”
Criscito praised Motta’s playing style, noting, “With Thiago, you could ‘put the ball in the bank.’ If you were in trouble and passed him the ball, you could be at ease. He was a guarantee on the field.”
When discussing Motta’s transition to coaching, Criscito remarked, “Even when he was playing, he had the mindset of a coach. During his first real experience as a coach with us at Genoa, he faced challenges after taking over in a tough period. It was clear that we might have lacked the right players for his style of play.”
Addressing the complexity of Motta’s ideas, Criscito stated, “No, not at all. Thiago asks to play from the back; he wants courage. It takes courageous people who know how to take responsibility in difficult moments. Watching him coach, you realize he played for Barcelona. As soon as you lose the ball, he wants to go and win it back. You have to command the game.”
On what makes Motta an effective leader, Criscito said, “Thiago is a loyal person. A real man. If he has to tell you something, he speaks to your face without too many words. This is a quality I appreciate, even if sometimes it might not be pleasant. We saw this when he had to communicate that an important player like Chiesa was not part of his technical project.”
Criscito expressed confidence in Motta’s ability to succeed at Juventus: “Absolutely yes. He did a great job at Spezia and was fantastic with Bologna. Of course, there’s more pressure at Juventus; they want immediate results, which are not always coming now. It’s normal for the blame to fall on the coach, but he’s facing this journey with serenity. You can see it in his interviews; I’m certain he will have a great season.”
Looking ahead to his own challenges as a coach, Criscito said, “Challenging Juventus is always exciting for me because I’m in my world. I coach at Genoa; I live for football. It’s the best feeling. I’m happy with the path I’ve taken and grateful for having had great mentors along the way.”
In closing, Criscito emphasized the importance of courage in football: “It’s essential for players to step up and take responsibility when things get tough. That’s what Thiago demands from his players.”
