Juventus coach Thiago Motta explained that removing Dusan Vlahovic at halftime against Napoli was purely technical.
The Serbian has only managed to score twice since the start of the season, bagging a brace against Hellas Verona in the second round of the Serie A season.
Since then, he has been enduring a torrid time in front of goal, and it was the case yet again in Saturday’s goalless draw against Napoli.
So after a disappointing showing in the first half, Vlahovic was nowhere to be seen after the interval. Motta decided to replace him with Timothy Weah, even though the latter is a winger by trade.
After the contest, the Juventus manager admitted it was a technical decision, while trying to ease the situation with a few pleasant words regarding the striker’s performance.
“Dusan was fine, he wasn’t injured,” said the 42-year-old in his post-match interview with DAZN via IlBianconero.
“He had a good first half, he helped the team by looking for depth even though we couldn’t really reach deep positions.
“Tim came in well, we played well, we managed to reach the last meters, and there we have to improve.”
Moreover, Motta admitted he wasn’t pleased with the final result, as his team must always seek victory.
“We have to win more matches and do better. We found strong teams that played. We did okay too, but we can’t be happy with the result.
“We must always aim to win. We managed to pin back Napoli, but we must improve in the final third.”
Motta has no idea how to beat a defensive team that he didn’t encounter before. That is the major reason small club players/coaches failed at top clubs.
Also the high pressing is not executed properly.
We need more fast and technical players (Conceicao’s injury caused a big problem), and we need to attack with more courage.ly.
I have been a Juventus fan for two decades and it hurts me to say this, but this team does not seem the same. They are no longer exciting to watch. It starts with the coach. Motta is not a a pleasure at all and the half grin on his face all of the time like he just heard a naughty joke makes it hard to take him seriously. He has arrogance about him as if he is the greatest coach of all time and far from it. The team has changed so much that they look like strangers. We need to stop putting our faith in Vlahovic. He cannot handle the pressure and the more we tell him he needs to do better the further he will sink. I think it is time to bring a few second or even third stringers off the bench and give someone else a chance.
You’re not feeling Motta as Juve’s manager? Seriously? The team is clearly improving. Yeah, we need more goals and some long-range shots wouldn’t hurt, but those things will come.
I wasn’t sold on Motta at first either. De Zerbi, Conte, or Sarri would’ve been my picks. But I’m starting to see it. The defense is a brick wall, our passing is on point, and we’re bossing teams around. This is the kind of football I want to watch, not the snoozefest Allegri put me through for three years.