This Friday, Juventus was eliminated from the Italian Super Cup at the semi-final stage, by Sergio Conceiçao’s AC Milan. The choices of Thiago Motta, the coach of the Old Lady, are called into question.
It was an important meeting, played this Friday… in the Al-Nassr stadium, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club. The second semi-final of the Italian Super Cup was held, between Juventus and AC Milan. Inter Milan, winner of Atalanta, was waiting for the winner.
Announced as the starter, Francisco Conceiçao was to reunite with his father, Sergio, who was officiating for the first time on the Rossoneri bench. But the young Juve striker, injured, was finally replaced by Kenan Yildiz who opened the scoring after twenty minutes.
But in the second half, AC Milan turned the game around in five minutes, thanks to goals from Christian Pulisic, from the penalty spot, and Federico Gatti, against his side. A total change in appearance, for which Thiago Motta, the coach of the Old Lady, is held responsible.
Motta replaced Mbangula, the best player on the pitch. We can’t play without a striker!”
Indeed, five minutes before the equalizer, the former midfielder decided to bring out his two most offensive players, who were nevertheless having a very good match: Dusan Vlahovic and the Belgian Samuel Mbangula, decisive passer on the opening of the score. With the idea of retreating and holding on, Juve conceded twice, and never came back.
“Motta replaced Mbangula, the best player on the pitch, and Vlahovic, losing any chance of returning to the match. We cannot play without a striker,” declared analyst and former Italian player Walter Sabatini after the match.
“The idea of establishing Mbangula worked,” wrote Tuttomercatowebgiving the young Belgian winger a score of 6.5/10, the best for a Juventus player. The Italian media also regrets the choice of Thiago Motta to remove his two offensive players so early in the match.
This Saturday, the entire Italian press writes that the month of January will be crucial for Motta, who no longer convinces at Juventus due to his poor results and his often surprising choices. And when we refer to what we saw yesterday, the coach of the Old Lady would do well to line up the young Red Devil, selected but remained on the bench last October, over the coming weeks.
