Sacchi defends Motta but confirms Juventus out of Scudetto race | OneFootball

Arrigo Sacchi has come to the defence of Thiago Motta despite Juventus’s 0-4 defeat at home against Atalanta in Serie A on Sunday evening, but expects that any hopes of competing for the Scudetto this season are now over.

Juventus were given a humbling by Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium on Tuesday night, as Mateo Retegui, Marten De Roon, Davide Zappacosta and Ademola Lookman inflicted the worst Bianconeri home defeat since the 1960s.

TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 09: Andrea Cambiaso and Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus look dejected after the team’s defeat in the Serie A match between Juventus and Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

While some outlets in Italy claim that Motta risks losing his job even if he qualifies for next season’s Champions League, Sacchi is one of the few to come out in defence of the Bianconeri coach.

Sacchi defends Motta despite Juventus 0-4 Atalanta loss

Writing in his La Gazzetta dello Sport column, Sacchi claims that Juventus have ‘taken the right path’ with Motta and his preferred style of play, and insists that he needs time and patience to make things work in Turin, even if the mood is not particularly positive in the aftermath of the Atalanta defeat.

TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 09: Thiago Motta, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Juventus and Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

He does not deny the fact that the 0-4 loss at home against Atalanta has put a massive dent in the Old Lady’s involvement in the Scudetto race, as they now nine points off the lead and will slip into fifth place if Lazio beat Udinese in Serie A on Monday night.

Sacchi also adds that Atalanta’s victory over Juve was a ‘footballing lesson’ and admits that La Dea were impressively dominating. He suggests that Gasperini should be given credit more than Motta should be given criticism.