Three reasons why Thiago Motta came under criticism after Juventus 2-2 Venezia | OneFootball

Thiago Motta came under criticism in the Italian press on Monday morning following Juventus’s 2-2 draw with Venezia in Serie A over the weekend, as three specific issues have become recurring complaints this season.

The results: Too many draws

Though Juventus are still unbeaten in the league after 16 matches, Saturday’s draw against Venezia was the 10th time the team have been held in the league in 2024-25.

Motta’s tally of six wins from the first 16 matches of the Serie A season is also the club’s worst record since the 1998/99 season. Il Corriere dello Sport suggests that Juve’s biggest issue on the pitch is in their link up in the final third.

TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 14: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus scores his team’s second goal from the penalty spot during the Serie A match between Juventus and Venezia at Allianz Stadium on December 14, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

A Juventus side without personality

A common complaint of Juventus this season is that the team still hasn’t worked out its true identity. This is a young team that is perhaps lacking in natural leaders.

Monday’s papers claimed that Juventus are also currently lacking the ‘top quality’ players needed to fight for both the Serie A title and in the Champions League as well.

Not all players were criticised, though, as Corriere dello Sport praised Francisco Conceicao and his continued show of initiative on the pitch.

Expensive signings struggling to make an impact

Much was made of Juventus’s summer transfer window, but so far, the likes of Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz and Nico Gonzalez have not quite made their mark in Bianconeri colours just yet.

Douglas Luiz of reacts during the Serie A match between Empoli and Juventus at Stadio Carlo Castellani on September 14, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

The club spent upwards of €160m in the summer, not accounting for future buy-out clauses on the likes of Gonzalez, Conceicao, Michele Di Gregorio or Pierre Kalulu, who will bring the tally well above €200m if their loans are made permanent.

Again, only Conceicao came away with any praise from Monday’s reports, but Motta’s failure to bring the best out of any of his other new additions is another issue that needs resolving.