Motta: Juventus Needed to ‘Kill Off the Game’ Sooner Against Monza
Juventus manager Thiago Motta expressed relief after his side ended a frustrating run of four consecutive Serie A draws with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Monza on Sunday. However, he admitted the team should have secured the win earlier in the game.
First-half goals from Weston McKennie and Nicolas Gonzalez, either side of Samuele Birindelli’s equalizer, were enough to claim all three points. The result marked Juventus’ historic 1,700th win in Serie A and extended their unbeaten league streak to 25 matches (W9 D16), the longest active run in Europe’s top five leagues.
Motta’s Reaction
Speaking to DAZN, Motta highlighted his team’s need to capitalize on opportunities to finish games off:
“We have always struggled against teams that defend and go on the counter. We needed to kill off the game. This is part of the growth process, taking the extra risk against these teams and potentially allowing counter-attacks.”
Despite holding a lead, Motta was critical of Juventus’ second-half transitions:
“We were in the position to do the transitions with quality in the second half when we were in the lead, but we didn’t do it well enough.”
Juventus’ League Position
Juventus remain nine points behind Serie A leaders Atalanta heading into the festive season. However, Motta downplayed the significance of the standings at this stage of the campaign:
“We only look at the table at the end of the season. Before that, we take it one game at a time and try to aim for the maximum result against every opponent.”
Injury Update: Teun Koopmeiners
Key midfielder Teun Koopmeiners was substituted at halftime due to discomfort in his adductor muscle. Motta confirmed the decision was precautionary:
“Koopmeiners felt a bit of a pull in his adductor, we didn’t want to risk it.”
Nicolas Gonzalez Shines in Versatile Role
Nicolas Gonzalez, who has now scored in consecutive games for the first time since September-October 2023, played a pivotal role in the victory. The winger, deployed in an attacking midfield position behind striker Dusan Vlahovic, netted the decisive goal.
Motta praised Gonzalez’s adaptability:
“He can play on the right or left, as a center-forward, but I also see him doing well there. I only ever use players in a role if they are convinced that they can do it.”
For his part, Gonzalez was willing to do whatever is necessary to support the team:
“To help the team, I can also play as goalkeeper. I also let the coach know that,” Gonzalez joked in his post-match interview with DAZN.
Looking Ahead
Juventus will look to build on this victory and carry momentum into the new year as they aim to close the gap on Atalanta. While the performance against Monza showcased resilience, Motta’s side will need to improve their ability to finish games decisively to keep pace in the title race.
