Thiago Motta: ‘Juventus cannot be happy with another draw’ | OneFootball

Thiago Motta insists Juventus ‘cannot be happy with a draw, but it was a great performance’ in their wide open 1-1 against Atalanta.

The Bianconeri came to Bergamo without any available strikers, as Dusan Vlahovic, Francisco Conceicao, Arek Milik, Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal didn’t make the trip.

Nico Gonzalez was again used as a False 9, although in reality Teun Koopmeiners seemed to be taking that role more during the match itself, even when jeered loudly by his former fans.

Pierre Kalulu had opened the scoring, after an extraordinary Marco Carnesecchi save on the same player, but Mateo Retegui’s diving header sealed the 1-1 result.

Thiago Motta had to watch from the stands following his red card for a touchline row with Paolo Vanoli in the Derby della Mole, but he attended the post-match media duties.

Thiago Motta sees Juventus on right track

epa11824638 Juventus’s ‘and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Atalanta BC and Juventus FC, in Bergamo, Italy, 14 January 2025. EPA-EFE/MICHELE MARAVIGLIA

“We are certainly not happy with the result, but we recognise the effort and performance of these lads. I thank them for their efforts, they worked together and it was a great game,” Thiago Motta told Sky Sport Italia.

McKennie is playing in more of an advanced role and provided the assist, whereas he had been used as a left-back in recent matches.

“These lads have been giving their all in every match and the good performances have been coming for a while now. Atalanta started with a different defence to what we were expecting, but we knew that we could not give them any reference points. It is no coincidence that Kalulu scored the goal, because everyone has to move and participate in the attacking approach.

“Of course, we are not happy with the draw, because we always want to win, but it is my duty to publicly thank these players as well as in private for their efforts.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Atalanta 1-1 Juventus

Kenan Yildiz continues to start from the left flank and cut inside, but fans and some sections of the media want the Turkey international to have a more central role.

“His position can change during the game too. He knows what he has to do wherever he is, how he must defend as well as attack,” added Motta.

It is yet another stalemate for Juventus, who are still unbeaten after 20 Serie A rounds, but also drew 13 of those matches and remain nine points adrift of Atalanta who are now in third place.

“We always have the right spirit, it’s true that we have drawn a lot this season and are not happy about that, we cannot be happy with a draw, because these lads work every day to win, but the spirit was never lacking,” continued Thiago Motta.

Incredibly, they are 15 points worse off than at this stage last season.

There are multiple reports this evening that Randal Kolo Muani has accepted the six-month loan from Paris Saint-Germain and will arrive for his Juventus medical on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, can Vlahovic recover from his muscular issue in time to face Milan on Saturday?

“I do not talk about the transfer market. Dusan is recovering, he is not at 100 per cent and we cannot risk losing him for longer, so we’ll see what happens over the next three days.”