With Juventus’ stunning elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Empoli still very much fresh in the minds of just about everybody, the big question very much on the minds of those same people is a simple one.
How much does the loss to Empoli on penalties in the Coppa quarterfinals impact Thiago Motta’s job status?
On Thursday, Cristiano Giuntoli provided an answer.
In an interview with Sky Italia that was later posted to Juventus’ official website, Giuntoli — now in his second season as the club’s chief football officer — confirmed that Motta’s “position is not in question” amidst even more heat in the aftermath of the loss to Empoli and Champions League ouster at the hands of PSV Eindhoven seven days earlier. Giuntoli, like Motta following Wednesday night’s loss, was very much critical of the way in which Juve went out of the Coppa.
Ultimately, though, what will be taken most out of what Giuntoli said was about Motta and how the loss to Empoli and the manner of which it came about will impact things behind the scenes.
The full extent of his quote regarding Motta’s future is as follows:
“The project we started this summer is an important one, a project that is creating value by including many young players, and we all agree that the future will bring us great satisfaction, consequently Thiago Motta’s position is not in question.
“We are in line with what the coach said after the match. Yesterday’s performance was unacceptable and the team, the coach and obviously all of us too agree on this. We all met this morning, with a cool head, with President Gianluca Ferrero, CEO Maurizio Scanavino and Coach Thiago Motta to talk to the team. We are all convinced, the players first and foremost, that we have to do more and in the next twelve league games our goal will be to achieve qualification for next season’s Champions League.”
Motta was incredibly critical of himself and the team in his post-game interviews Wednesday night, saying about the loss to Empoli: “I feel completely responsible, I’m ashamed of what we saw on the pitch.” It was, in a season of disappointing results, about as frank as we’ve heard Motta talk about his team — especially when it comes to a critical aspect of things.
Motta was not alone in those sentiments.
Juve goalkeeper Mattia Perin echoed what his manager said, saying after Wednesday’s loss: “We put in a first half performance of which we feel ashamed, I’m struggling to find the right words. We failed to recognise the importance of this match and we all have to take a long hard look at ourselves. We are sad and disappointed, we must understand that what did not give enough for the shirt.”
The rest of Giuntoli’s thoughts regarding the loss to Empoli as well as the season as whole are as follows:
“The match against Empoli was almost inexplicable, we were coming off four consecutive league victories and we absolutely did not think we would put in such a performance. We are sorry and also angry. The coach wanted to bring back the team’s sense of responsibility, and he spoke referring to everyone and not to any individual in particular.
“As for the rest, we are convinced that this project is on course. We knew that we might encounter difficulties, and these have been exacerbated by many injuries in the squad. We are aware, however, that we are on the right path and confident that there will be reward in the future.
“We have changed a lot, we have brought in many new players. We have invested in international profiles who have had great seasons in the past at their former clubs and we are sure that in the future they will do the same with Juventus.
“The Club is always responsible for everything that happens and we are absolutely aware of that. We are responsible to the ownership and also to the fans.”
Juventus, currently in fourth place in Serie A and ahead of Lazio in fifth by two points, return to the field Monday night when they host 14th-place Hellas Verona at the Allianz Stadium.
