Motta Commends Extraordinary Relationship With Vlahovic Following Juventus' Victory Against Cagliari

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Thiago Motta expressed his admiration for Dusan Vlahovic after the striker's decisive performance against Cagliari. Vlahovic, a Serbian forward, secured a 1-0 victory for Juventus with a goal in the 12th minute at Sardegna Arena. This marked his first start since January 29 and his 50th goal involvement in 95 Serie A matches for Juve.

Motta acknowledged that Juventus had several missed opportunities, especially during the first half. "We had so many chances in the first half," he noted, expressing concern about not capitalising on them. Despite dominating early on, Juve faced challenges as Cagliari gained control later in the match.

Despite their struggles in the Champions League, where they were eliminated by PSV in the play-off round, Juventus has climbed into Serie A's top four. They are now eight points behind league leaders Inter. Motta emphasised the importance of focusing on each game as it comes during this crucial phase of the season.

Motta praised Vlahovic's professionalism and contribution to the team. "He plays because he deserves it," Motta stated, highlighting their strong relationship. The coach also mentioned how easy it is to manage a player of Vlahovic's calibre due to his character and mentality.

Reflecting on Juventus' overall performance, Motta admitted that they lacked clarity in the second half. He noted that while they didn't concede much, they also failed to dominate as they did earlier. Allowing Cagliari to take control was something he felt should not have happened.

Motta remains optimistic about Juventus' prospects in Serie A despite recent setbacks. He believes that taking each match individually is crucial as they navigate this competitive league season. "It is a very balanced league," he remarked, acknowledging that even top teams have faced difficulties recently.