The 2-0 success achieved in the Champions League against Manchester City suggested a turning point at home Juventushaving obtained 3 points against a great opponent by displaying defensive solidity and cynicism up front. Qualities to be shown also in the championship, where Atalanta and Napoli (victorious today against Cagliari and Udinese) certainly aren’t waiting for their pursuers. The home match against the bottom team Venice it seemed tempting, but it wasn’t exploited. Yet another draw and always the usual flaws for the Bianconeri, unable to close out the match and saved by Vlahovic almost on the final bell. A turning point is really urgently needed, because otherwise even the Champions League zone (especially if it includes the top 4 of the table and not the top 5) could move away.
Motta grooms his men
“We didn’t have a good performance, you can see it in the result. Faced with a team that did its job, we certainly should have done better and the match against City had nothing to do with it. Today we shouldn’t be happy with the performance and result.” Thiago Motta doesn’t mince words when commenting on the match in this way. The team’s flaw, for the coach, is one in particular: “We put the game on our side and there we have to continue to find solutions up front to close it out. We didn’t do it, leaving the opponents the possibility of coming back”. Two words also on the argument between Vlahovic and the fans at the end of the match: The players themselves are the first ones who want to win. It happens, it’s not the first time and it won’t be the last. We must be united and continue, we are the first to want to change the situation. The fans have the right to express their emotions, we must remain united to change things.”
Di Francesco between pride and bitterness
If on the one hand Motta is disappointed, on the other Di Francesco cannot fully rejoice. The draw achieved in Turin moves the rankings and gives continuity to last week’s point against Como but, for the umpteenth time, Venezia leaves points along the way and does so within a whisker of the final whistle. The Lagoon coach comments on the match like this: “I think it’s two points lost, we had no malice and we should have managed the ball better on the corner kick which then leads to the penalty episode. I’m sorry, because a match like this is we have to take it home and we would have deserved it for what we showed, however, it’s only our fault.” And again: “The company recognizes that there is work behind it and there is growth, but these details are missing that can no longer be mistaken”.