Juventus manager Thiago Motta has hinted that the Bianconeri’s packed fixture schedule played a role in their 2-1 defeat to Napoli earlier today. While Juve put in a spirited first-half performance, they faded after the break, allowing the league leaders to dominate and claim all three points.
The Bianconeri were coming off a demanding midweek Champions League match, which appeared to take its toll on the players. Napoli, on the other hand, benefited from a full week of rest and preparation due to their lack of European commitments this season. This disparity in recovery time became increasingly apparent as the game progressed, with Napoli growing stronger and outlasting a visibly fatigued Juventus side.
Juventus looked sharp in the first half, creating chances and putting the Serie A leaders under pressure. However, after halftime, they struggled to maintain the same energy and focus. Napoli capitalised on Juve’s weariness, turning the tide in their favour and securing the win.

Speaking after the match, Motta reflected on the challenges his team faced and seemed to attribute their second-half drop-off to fatigue. He said, as quoted by Tuttojuve:
“I’m sorry for the defeat because we played a good first half, putting our opponent in great difficulty—an opponent who is currently first in the standings not by chance, because they are a strong team with a good coach. They also have the possibility of being able to prepare during the week. We come from playing many games, and it was clear in the second half that all the good things we did in the first half were difficult to repeat. For this reason, today we were not able to win the game.”
Motta’s comments highlight the ongoing challenge for clubs competing on multiple fronts. While fixture congestion is an unavoidable reality for top clubs, Juventus will need to find solutions if they are to remain competitive in both Serie A and Europe.
Despite the manager’s remarks, Juventus cannot afford to let fatigue become a recurring issue. The season is still in its early stages, and blaming exhaustion in January raises concerns about their ability to handle the grind of a long campaign. Every elite team faces similar challenges, and the best sides find ways to maintain their intensity and consistency regardless of the schedule.
Blamed strikers last time and now Fatigue, next time who? Inter, Milan and Atalanta all played one more game than juventus but none of them complained. When a coach started blaming anyone else, he should be fired.
F u, Motta. U should listen to the song hit’em up by 2pac. U deserve all the f word in the lyric.
Can someone tell me what this piece of shit we call a coach expects at a club of juve’s stature? Fewer games?… because this is Bologna? Always having an excuse to defend is inability as a coach. Never was a great player even when he played so I don’t expect much from him.
Completely agree. They were dominated from the kick off of the second half. Dominated. They didn’t fade. They were completely out coached. Every statistical metric would show this. We are going to see a lot of what would have been draws this season become losses. What excuse will he have then? We got it wrong with Motta. No one can argue that allegri had a better team last season. He is on pace to do worse this season. I do not see any attacking improvement each game. Kolo did well with his finish, but let’s be honest. It was a fluke ricochet that gave him the chance. Other than that. Juve were absolutely inept attacking. I’m giving him til the end of the season for progress. But I think we got it wrong hiring him. Hopefully the club can act appropriately and admit the mistake if it comes to that.
I’m afraid Motta has failed. Now at least we have a striker who, (unlike Vlahovic) can score but we don’t have a team.
The team, can’t attack, can’t improve and has become cowardly. They don’t have the same ferocity as before. We are very close to the need to change coaches.
Regardless, anyone who mentions Allegri most likely didn’t watch the games at Allegri’s time. Allegri’s team was an underdog pity. He shouldn’t have been brought back by chance, the second Allegri term was a terrible mistake.
I mentioned allegri to compare how poorly Motta is doing. I wanted allegri gone quickly. Never wanted him back. His football is atrocious. But the one thing I can say about allegri’s team was that it had character. This Motta team doesn’t. Allegri would be losing his mind on the touch line. Motta just stands there not bothered. Allegri demanded more from his players. Motta just makes excuses. Excuses can only fly when you have trophies. Motta has only achieved what is the lowest bar set at juve- qualifying for the CL- which he isn’t even achieving right now. For the money spent – there needs to be better return.
Motta will need another year.
Changing coaches every year doesnt make a sense. Sarri was a disapointment so the management fired him after a year. Pirlo after a year.
Motta did not shine in the first year at helm of Bologna. The first year of Klopp in Liverpool wasnt great at least from what I remember.
So from my point of view management should fire Motta asap or give him a one year more
Why should Motta get different treatment? How has he proved that he is a better coach than the others? The current table doesn’t reflect that. He has a much better squad than allegri, and pirlo (minus Ronaldo). This latest game showed how completely out coached he was – Napoli came out like a completely different team in the second half. Conte clearly ripped into them. Juve looked, I can’t say tired. They just looked numb and disinterested. Appalling effort from the first whistle of the second half. I would keep him if his team had an identity. But it really doesn’t. That story a little while back where the players said that in training they play fluidly and everything is quick. How has that not translated into actually games after 30 matches? Clearly in training they know the system. So they just magically forget it in real matches? Or does it just not work in a real match? We aren’t running thought experiments here. Your system must work when it matters. If it doesn’t it’s useless.
Motta is FAULTY for BAD tactics and does NOT correct many MISTAKES of players
They should have got Da Zerbi – this guy and the Sporting director has went thru so many players and keep buying (borrowing) more.