Thiago Motta hails Juventus ‘patience’ and emotional bond | OneFootball

Thiago Motta appreciated the ‘patience’ shown by Juventus to break down 10-man Lazio and discussed his coaching style. ‘I have never been able to hide my emotions.’

The Bianconeri should’ve seen it as an easier task after Alessio Romagnoli was sent off just 24 minutes into the match at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin.

However, Ivan Provedel made very few saves until the final minutes and was only beaten by his own teammate, Mario Gila getting it all wrong on the Juan Cabal cross.

“I liked many things about the performance, above all the patience we showed in the second half. It was not easy, as even down to 10 men, Lazio are a very generous side who defend well,” Thiago Motta told Sky Sport Italia.

“With the enthusiasm of the crowd wanting to see us get into the box, at times the lads were a little bit too frenetic and went for goal at the wrong moment. We did better in the second half, the goal arrived at the right time, as Lazio were getting pinned back and under constant pressure.

“It is an important and fully deserved win for us, as it is never easy to score against Lazio.”

Thiago Motta trying to guide Juventus

TURIN, ITALY – OCTOBER 19: Thiago Motta, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Juventus and SS Lazio at on October 19, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

It is nonetheless an important victory, as it allows Juve to climb the table and go three points clear of Lazio, seeing as they had been level on 13 points going into the weekend.

“A shot from distance can be very important when done in the right way. When Fagioli had a go after a rough first touch, that was not the right moment. If he is balanced and in the right position, that is better,” continued Thiago Motta.

“These attempts from outside the box are crucial for breaking down a team that is defending entirely in its own half. Crosses have to be made near the by-line, as crosses too far back are difficult for the strikers to get onto and too easy for their defenders to intercept.”

While Juventus struggle to score goals, they certainly have no problems defensively, conceding only one in the opening eight Serie A rounds.

It’s their best ever defensive start, beating the two conceded at this stage in 1966-67, 1986-87, 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Andrea Cambiaso was unexpectedly the Juventus captain this evening and Thiago Motta is a fan.

“Andrea is becoming an important player not just for Juventus, but for Italy too. He can play in midfield, as a wing-back, a full-back, a forward. He has to focus on keeping his balance both physically and mentally, because he’s playing a lot of games now. There are areas where he must improve, for example when defending as a full-back, but he’s eager to learn.”

Thiago Motta was a very famous and successful player, so how did that influence the coach he is becoming?

“It’s been years since I was a player, I’m getting old now, but I have never been able to hide my emotions and I therefore transmit that. At times it can be positive, at times I’d prefer not to let my worry or uncertainty be seen, but I cannot help that.

“There are situations where I can tell the players either do not understand or do not agree, but when I lose this emotional side, I might want to stop coaching. I like being with my players, they know that I am one of them, so as long as we have this bond, they are my lads. The rapport with my players is the best thing about my job. I have to make decisions on who gets to play and who doesn’t, that is the toughest part of the job.”