Thiago Motta Delivers Honest Verdict on Juventus Champions League Exit | OneFootball

Juventus failed to progress from a Champions League knockout playoff tie for the first time after 20 consecutive triumphs. Indeed, PSV Eindhoven overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit with a 3-1 extra-time win at the Philips Stadion last night.

Despite heading into proceedings buoyed by four successive wins for the first time under Thiago Motta, Juventus looked up the creek without a paddle on Dutch soil. Indeed, the record-time Italian champions beat Inter 1-0 in Sunday’s Derby d’Italia.

That was supposed to be the ultimate confidence booster. However, Juventus struggled in Eindhoven, resulting in a gut-wrenching Champions League elimination. Motta addressed the press after the game, admitting his charges have no one but themselves to blame for the exit.

“We struggled in the second half, had equalized in such an important moment for us and we were not capable of holding on to it,” Motta told Sky Sport Italia via TMW. “It was under control in the first half, it’s true that they pushed harder, while we hit the woodwork.

“We knew PSV were a quality side who push and attack, but we suffered a lot here,” the Juventus boss continued. “We cannot be happy with the two goals we conceded, especially with predictable changes of play and Bakayoko allowed to control the ball in our area.

“We must do much better if we want to compete at this level. At times we were in the game, at others they were superior. We knew that PSV would attack, but we were unable to do the things we needed throughout the match,” the Juventus manager concluded.