Arrigo Sacchi has defended Juventus coach Thiago Motta following their devastating 0-4 home loss to Atalanta in Serie A. Despite the heavy defeat on Sunday, Sacchi believes Motta needs time and patience, though he acknowledges that Juventus’s chances of winning the Scudetto this season are now practically non-existent.
Juventus suffered a significant setback against Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium. Goals from Mateo Retegui, Marten De Roon, Davide Zappacosta, and Ademola Lookman contributed to Juventus’s most severe home defeat in decades.
While there is speculation in Italy about Motta’s job security, particularly if Champions League qualification is not achieved, Sacchi is among those who have publicly supported the Juventus manager.
Sacchi’s Support for Motta Amidst Juventus’ Struggles
In his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi argued that Juventus is on the ‘right path’ with Motta’s approach to the game. He emphasized that implementing a new style of play requires time and understanding, even after a painful defeat like the one against Atalanta. Sacchi recognizes the significant blow this loss inflicts on Juventus’s Scudetto aspirations, as they now trail the league leaders by a considerable margin and risk dropping further down the table.
Sacchi also described Atalanta’s victory as a ‘footballing lesson’ for Juventus, highlighting Atalanta’s dominant performance. He suggested that Gasperini and Atalanta deserve more praise than Motta deserves criticism in this situation.