Juventus boss Thiago Motta defends substitutes decision after Champions League exit | OneFootball

Serie A giants Juventus were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the hands of PSV Eindhoven yesterday and they followed the footsteps of both Milan and Atalanta.

PSV picked up a 3-1 win in extra-time over the Turin side, who had won the first leg 2-1 thanks to goals from Weston McKennie and Samuel Mbangula.

Thiago Motta has been criticised for his usage of substitutes during the game yesterday and after the tie, he was asked by Sky Italia about his decision-making. He defended his calls.

He said: “I don’t think I delayed the substitutions, before the 1-0 I wanted to make the substitutions and give energy to the team, then we drew and when you draw there are moments in which you have to hold the result and calm the game, and then I wanted to change and maintain balance but I don’t think I delayed them but I made them at the right time.”

He was also asked about the changes he made and he revealed that Teun Koopmeiners had been unwell during the day.

“Renato’s substitution was forced, Koopmeiners was the same because he already had a fever yesterday, this morning he had a fever and he asked for the substitution.

“Then we put Cambiaso in midfield, then he asked for the substitution because he wasn’t well and had been out for a long time. They were three forced substitutions, the others were my choices.”

Motta’s in-game management has been called into question in recent weeks and while the fact that they are out of the Champions League is not a surprise, it is the fact that they lost to PSV is the surprise.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN