Former Juventus and Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci has expressed his disappointment with Juventus’ recent performance against Atalanta in a scathing interview. Speaking on “La Tripletta” podcast by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Bonucci didn’t hold back in his criticism of the team’s display and the subsequent reaction from the coach.
The ex-Juventus star described the match as “heartbreaking” and admitted to watching the game with his children, who were as devastated as he was. “It was a tough day for us Juventus fans,” Bonucci stated, highlighting the team’s visible struggles throughout the match.
Bonucci pointed out that conceding a penalty early in the game disrupted Juventus’ plans, but he emphasized that in such situations, the team needs to understand the momentum of the game. He criticized the team’s approach, suggesting that their eagerness to recover led them to open up, allowing a team like Atalanta to capitalize.
The veteran defender stressed the need for growth across all aspects of the team, calling for both the coach and players to learn from such defeats. He identified a lack of incisiveness as a key issue, noting that while Thiago Motta’s style of play is appealing, the team often struggles to convert chances into goals.
Bonucci was particularly critical of the inexperience and lack of personality among the players, insisting that they need to develop in these areas. However, his harshest words were reserved for coach Thiago Motta.
“Thiago Motta must learn that coaching Juventus is a world apart,” Bonucci declared. He acknowledged Motta’s previous success at Bologna but emphasized that the expectations at Juventus are entirely different. “Juventus plays to win,” he reminded.
The former center-back also took issue with Motta’s post-match communication. “Being ‘sad’ and ‘sorry’ is not enough,” Bonucci stated emphatically. “You should be furious because the team made a fool of itself!”
