The numbers don’t lie: Juventus are experiencing their worst season in 14 years under the guidance of Thiago Motta. With only 37 points after 21 matches, the Bianconeri find themselves in an unfamiliar 5th position in Serie A, struggling to maintain their traditional dominance in Italian football.
Gazzetta dello Sport report that Motta’s tenure at Juventus have been marked by a series of disappointing results and underwhelming performances. The team’s win percentage of 38.71% under his leadership is the third-lowest in recent club history, surpassing only Zaccheroni (38.10%) and Puppi (24.19%). Even Luigi Delneri, who led Juventus to a seventh-place finish in 2010-11, managed a slightly better win rate of 40%.
The current season has been particularly challenging for Juventus, with the team struggling to maintain consistency and close out matches. A staggering 17 points have been lost from winning positions, highlighting a worrying trend of mental fragility within the squad. Notable examples include matches against Cagliari, Venezia, Milan in the Supercoppa, and most recently Napoli, where Juventus squandered halftime leads.
January proved to be a difficult month for the Turin giants, with elimination from the Supercoppa and a series of draws in the league. The recent defeat to league leaders Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona served as a stark reminder of the team’s current limitations, particularly their inability to maintain performance levels throughout an entire match.
While Motta has faced challenges such as injuries to key players like Bremer, the team’s lack of character and fighting spirit has been a major concern. The absence of the traditional Juventus “fino alla fine” (until the end) mentality has been glaringly apparent, with the team often seeming to accept mediocrity rather than pushing for excellence.
Despite these struggles, the Juventus hierarchy, including John Elkann, continue to support Motta’s project. The club appears committed to a long-term vision, acknowledging the need for patience during this period of transition and squad rejuvenation.
As Juventus looks to salvage their season and secure a Champions League spot, Motta faces the daunting task of instilling the winning mentality that has long been associated with the club. With 16 matches remaining, the team must find a way to overcome their inconsistencies and rediscover the grit and determination that have been hallmarks of successful Juventus sides in the past.
For Motta and Juventus, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether this season of struggle will serve as a foundation for future success or mark the beginning of a prolonged period of rebuilding for one of Italy’s most storied clubs.
