Marco Tardelli, legendary Juventus midfielder and 1982 World Cup winner, has voiced his concerns about the current state of the club under Thiago Motta in an interview with Tuttosport. Tardelli did not hold back, addressing the fractured locker room, questionable decisions, and the overall decline in the team’s identity.
“There’s No Locker Room Anymore”
Commenting on the recent losses to Atalanta and Fiorentina, Tardelli stated, “If only the last two games were the problem. The relationship between Thiago Motta and the team seems clearly broken: there’s no locker room anymore.”
“No Room for Reconciliation”
When asked how to resolve the situation, Tardelli expressed doubt that it could be salvaged. “How to fix it? It should have been fixed earlier. Now it’s difficult, now it’s too late. There’s too much disconnection; I don’t see any room to preserve relationships. The club missed the moment—it never intervened and hasn’t acted decisively even after the loss in Florence.”
“Everything is Wrong at Juventus”
Tardelli criticized the club’s overall management: “At Juventus right now, everything is wrong—at all levels. The club had two captains, Danilo and Rabiot, and let them leave. Now they have seven or eight captains in a team that lacks the character to react to difficulties.”
On Vlahovic: “A Defeat for Everyone”
Tardelli also pointed out the mishandling of star striker Dusan Vlahovic: “The players seem abandoned, starting with Vlahovic. A striker of his caliber cannot spend his time on the bench. This is a defeat for everyone.”
The Fiorentina Debacle
Reflecting on Juventus’ loss to Fiorentina, Tardelli advised against overanalyzing such performances: “Games like the one against Fiorentina shouldn’t even be analyzed. They should just be set aside. But afterward, everyone needs to sit down and have an honest conversation, looking each other in the eyes. That’s how you recover some dignity to finish out the season.”
Champions League Qualification in Doubt
Despite Juventus’ struggles, Tardelli believes a top-four finish is still possible but warned that drastic improvement is needed: “The possibility of finishing in the top four still exists because the Champions League threshold isn’t that high. But they need to change gears—at this pace, I don’t see how Juventus can achieve it.”
Motta’s Future: “He Doesn’t Understand Juventus”
Tardelli opposed sacking Motta mid-season, fearing it would only add to the confusion: “Firing the coach now would just increase the chaos, which is already significant. I believe in Juventus’ tradition of finishing the season with the coach who started it. I’m convinced Thiago Motta is a good coach. But unfortunately, he hasn’t understood what Juventus is.”
He continued: “At the end of the season, there needs to be a serious discussion within the club about what happened. Only then will they understand what solution is best.”
Conte or Gasperini for Next Season?
Looking ahead, Tardelli suggested potential replacements for Motta: “I always see Antonio Conte as a great fit for Juventus—he knows this environment deeply. But Gasperini could also be a good choice since he knows players like Koopmeiners well.”
On Koopmeiners: “A Good Player in a Bad System”
Tardelli lamented how Koopmeiners has struggled under Motta’s system: “Koopmeiners was brought in at all costs and will eventually succeed because he’s an excellent player. But he hasn’t worked in this system.”
Transfer Market Failures
Tardelli criticized Juventus’ transfer strategy: “The new signings haven’t made an impact. Meanwhile, Kean and Fagioli are thriving at Fiorentina, and Miretti is doing well at Genoa. That must mean something.”
A Time for Reflection
Finally, Tardelli called for a pause to reassess: “The break is welcome—they need to stop and figure out what’s happening. There needs to be a tough confrontation like in the old days because these players are capable; they just aren’t performing.”
The Solution? “Start Winning Again”
Tardelli concluded with a simple yet urgent prescription: “The solution? Start winning immediately. Even a draw after this break would be catastrophic—not just for dropped points but for everything another misstep would bring.”
