In the wake of Juventus’ dismal 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina, the club’s sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has publicly backed manager Thiago Motta, despite growing speculation about his future. The loss, which follows a 4-0 thrashing by Atalanta the previous week, has plunged the Turin giants into crisis, with the team now sitting in fifth place in Serie A.
Speaking to Sky Sport and DAZN after the match, Giuntoli emphasized the need for unity within the club: “In these moments, we must all stand together. We are very disappointed with the last two subpar performances in a season of ups and downs. We are convinced we can overcome this together, including with Thiago Motta.”
Giuntoli addressed the team’s recent struggles, acknowledging the delicate situation but maintaining faith in their Champions League qualification prospects: “We shouldn’t think about anything other than qualifying for the Champions League. We must all unite; it’s an achievable goal for us. We need to emerge from this delicate situation.”
The director called for a balanced perspective, noting the team’s fluctuating fortunes throughout the season: “After the Verona match, we were hailed as potential league winners. We need balance and can’t go from the stars to the gutter. In the coming days, we’ll analyze together what needs to be fixed.”
Giuntoli highlighted the importance of maintaining equilibrium both on and off the pitch: “Until two games ago, we had the best defense in the league. We’ve lost psychological and tactical balance. We need to start again from where we left off.”
Addressing concerns about the team’s lack of reaction to setbacks, Giuntoli noted: “The team had always bounced back after a poor performance; this is the first time we’ve stalled. In these situations, I say we need to address all issues. The tactical aspect will be looked at by the coach, but we all need to help regain balance.”
In a strong show of support for Motta and the squad, Giuntoli concluded: “We’ve already intervened at the end of the match. We must all calmly regain our balance. Until two weeks ago, we had the best defense; we need to find that equilibrium again. It’s a discussion that goes beyond tactics. We are confident, we are all behind the coach and the players.”
