Former Juventus player Massimo Mauro has voiced his concerns about the current state of affairs at the Turin-based club, offering a candid assessment of recent decisions and the club’s management structure.
In a recent interview, Mauro expressed his belief that Thiago Motta should have been dismissed earlier, though he acknowledged that the blame doesn’t solely rest on the coach’s shoulders. “I would have let Thiago Motta go earlier, but the blame is not just his,” he stated. While commending the initial vision of Cristiano Giuntoli and Motta to implement a different playing style, Mauro ultimately deemed its execution a “total failure.”
Mauro emphasized the importance of respecting Juventus’ history, citing recent examples where successful coaches were dismissed despite achieving notable results. “The lesson is that Juventus needs to respect its history more,” he remarked, pointing out that even Maurizio Sarri, who won the Scudetto, was let go after just one season, while Andrea Pirlo was sacked despite securing a fourth-place finish and winning both the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa.
The ex-midfielder’s most striking criticism was directed at the concentration of power within the club. He suggested that Giuntoli has been given unprecedented control, even surpassing that of the legendary Giampiero Boniperti. “Too much power has been given to one person. Giuntoli, in fact, has had complete control of Juventus in recent months,” Mauro stated. Drawing from his personal experience, he recalled how Boniperti regularly consulted with the coach and players, advocating for a more collaborative approach to club management. “Not even Boniperti commanded alone, and I say this from personal experience. He was a president who consulted extensively with Trapattoni and also with us players. At Juventus, it has always been this way: there has never been one person with complete control.”
Looking to the future, Mauro endorsed the idea of bringing Giorgio Chiellini into a management role, praising him as “a Juventus man and a person of great value.” He also expressed support for Antonio Conte’s potential return, highlighting Conte’s proven track record of success both in Italy and Europe. “Juventus is Conte’s home, and I would certainly see him doing well. But Antonio has shown he can achieve results almost everywhere in Italy and Europe.”
Regarding the current squad, Mauro called for the players to take greater responsibility, especially in light of the coaching change. “The players are the first ones responsible,” he asserted. He expressed optimism about Igor Tudor’s appointment, noting his success in similar situations and his familiarity with Juventus. “Thiago wasn’t lucky, especially with the serious injuries at the start: Bremer above all. Motta had all sorts of problems. When you change a coach, especially at Juventus where it has happened rarely in history, the impact is huge. And I expect this change to motivate the players. Now they have the greatest responsibilities, not Tudor.”
Mauro emphasized the importance of nurturing Italian talent within the squad, mentioning players like Di Gregorio, Gatti, Cambiaso, and Locatelli. He also included Yildiz in this group, considering him “a bit Italian” due to his time at the club.
In conclusion, Mauro advised against selling promising young talents like Yildiz, suggesting that Juventus should rebuild around their strongest players. “Igor is a coach who seems to have done well almost always in similar situations. And he knows Juventus. I would tell him to bring energy, enthusiasm, and points to reach the Champions League. I am confident, also because things can’t get any worse for Juventus. To Tudor, I would say another thing: please make the players take responsibility. I would have also liked Roberto Mancini, someone who has won everywhere.”
Mauro concluded by emphasizing the need to reevaluate key assets quickly. “Now I expect more from the Italians. I think of Di Gregorio, Gatti, Cambiaso, Locatelli. And I include Yildiz, who has been at Juventus for a couple of years and so I consider him a bit Italian. Is Tudor enough to revive Cambiaso, Yildiz, and Vlahovic? I hope so, also because they represent capital for the club. Cambiaso and Yildiz are Juventus’ most valuable players, but both were inherited from the previous management. The same goes for Vlahovic, who needs to be reevaluated quickly. Look at what happened to Kean in just a few months with a bit more confidence. The risk is that the same thing will happen with Vlahovic. Would I sacrifice Yildiz? No, I would keep strong players and start again from them.”
