In the wake of Juventus’ shocking eliminations from the Coppa Italia and Champions League, the club’s technical director Cristiano Giuntoli has spoken out about the team’s recent struggles and the ongoing fan protests. Speaking to Sky Sport just before the Serie A match against Hellas Verona, Giuntoli addressed several key issues facing the club.
Responding to the recent defeats and fan discontent, Giuntoli stated, “We are very disappointed, just like our fans, and angry. We’re coming off a performance that shouldn’t have happened, being eliminated by Empoli in the Coppa Italia. We need to get back on track in the league, where we’ve had four consecutive wins, and maintain the continuity of the good things we’ve been doing.”
Giuntoli acknowledged the responsibility that the team bears for their poor performances. “We’ve all taken responsibility. The players know they didn’t put in a great performance, far from it. We need to get back to winning ways and the level of performance we’ve often seen in the league, and return to our objectives.”
Regarding the fan protests, including those that occurred the night before the Verona match, Giuntoli was understanding but hopeful. “The fans have shown their disappointment; they’re angry, just as we are. How they’ll receive us depends on us, on what we put on the field, our attitude and hunger. We need to get back on track in the league.”
When questioned about the team’s character issues, Giuntoli pointed to the challenges of rebuilding with a young squad. “When you change a lot from the start of the year and build a young team, you expect difficulties, ups and downs. There have been injuries, three at the start of the year that led to wear and tear on other players, and when there were many matches with little recovery time, we didn’t perform at our best. But we’re convinced these players will give us satisfaction.”
Addressing concerns about the club’s transfer strategy, Giuntoli remained cautious but optimistic. “The assessment should be made at the end of the year; there are 12 very important matches left. Many players have proven their worth, some haven’t shown it as they did in the past, but we’re convinced they will do so in the future, even at Juventus.”
Notably, Giuntoli expressed continued faith in coach Thiago Motta, despite recent setbacks. When asked if they were still convinced about Motta, Giuntoli simply replied, “Always.”
