Juventus secured a crucial 2-0 victory against Verona, bringing them within six points of league leaders Inter Milan and firmly in the Scudetto race. The win came amidst a challenging atmosphere of open contestation surrounding the team before, during, and after the match.
Thiago Motta, Juventus’ manager, spoke to Sky and Dazn following the game, expressing satisfaction with his team’s performance. “We played a good match, we played well and won deservedly. We put our opponents in difficulty and had many shots on goal,” Motta stated. He emphasized the importance of recovery and preparation for their upcoming match against Atalanta, describing it as “a very important game against a great team.”
Despite the tense atmosphere following their recent elimination from a competition, Motta praised his team’s composure. “The three points always feel great, but I completely agree with how we achieved them, involving everyone,” he said. “It wasn’t easy for these boys to maintain calm, which doesn’t mean being slow, but waiting for the right moment to strike. After the elimination, we knew there would be this climate, but we experienced everything without anxiety and played very well, not conceding anything, no counterattacks, to our opponents. The boys deserve it.”
Motta also addressed the situation with Koopmeiners, who faced some contestation from fans. “I’m very happy for him and very happy with him. He’s special, he gives us so much, even when he’s in difficulty he always gives something because he’s a top-level player,” Motta explained. “Some contestation is part of our job, he must continue to look ahead.”
When asked about Juventus’ Scudetto chances, Motta remained grounded. “We played a good game today, but we need balance and to keep our feet on the ground,” he cautioned. “Our next match is against Atalanta, a team that has been in these positions for a long time and is very strong. We need to focus on this game and then take it match by match. The most important thing is to play football.”
Regarding his team’s offensive phase, Motta emphasized the freedom he gives his players. “I don’t forbid anything to my players, especially in the offensive phase. I think the boys did very well today. The boys have a lot of freedom to demonstrate their quality,” he concluded.
