Capello gives advice to Motta, warns Juventus about Vlahovic-Zirkzee ‘error’ | OneFootball

Ex-Juventus coach Fabio Capello believes Thiago Motta must adapt to his player’s characteristics and insists Dusan Vlahovic must be required to score goals rather than link up with the rest of the team, as Joshua Zirkzee does.

The Bianconeri are still unbeaten in Serie A, but they’ve collected 12 draws in 19 league matches and are still three points below the top four with a game in hand.

They also have a tough fixture list with games against direct opponents Atalanta, Milan and Napoli coming up in Serie A.

“I’d never expect Juventus to be so behind, especially considering the club and coach’s firm decisions in the summer, starting with Chiesa’s sale,” Capello told Gazzetta.

The Bianconeri will play their game in hand on Tuesday, when they visit Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.

Capello gives advice to Motta, warns Juventus about Vlahovic-Zirkzee ‘error’

Fabio Capello (Photo by Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images)

“The team’s identity is still unclear. They didn’t concede much at the start of the season, but they struggled to score. Now it’s the other way around,” continued Capello.

“The feeling is that the play is too slow and that it’s easy for opponents to find adjustments.”

Is there any advice he’d give to Thiago Motta?

“Don’t think only about your idea of football and adapt to the players’ characteristics. The same is true for any other coach, not only Motta,” Capello replied.

This is particularly true of Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus best scorer this season, who is still somehow struggling to adapt under Motta as he’s been subbed off 12 times already.

“Vlahovic is not a link-up striker, which the coach would like,” noted Capello.

“However, he remains one of the best centre-forwards inside the box. The error is to think that Vlahovic can link up with the rest of the team, like Zirkzee. Vlahovic must be required to score goals.”

Zirkzee is still believed to be Motta’s ideal striker, and there have been rumours that the pair could reunite in Turin in January. Nevertheless, PSG outcast Randal Kolo Muani seems to be Bianconeri’s primary target in the current transfer window.

“He’s a good player. If they are looking for him, it means they are convinced he can help,” said Capello.

Another underperforming Juventus player is Teun Koopmeiners.

“His performances are not on the same level as his time at Atalanta, but you can see he’s angry, and he’s doing all he can to emerge,” noted Capello.

“For the moment, he goes around the pitch without finding the appropriate position. He would benefit from a goal against his former club to take a bit of pressure off himself.”

The ex-coach sees a similarity between Koop and a former Milan player he coached at San Siro.

“Kluivert arrived at Milan with big expectations after the Ajax years, but he struggled to settle in,” concluded the ex-Milan boss.

“He undoubtedly had talent, and it’s not a coincidence that he continued scoring consistently once he joined Barcelona.”