Thiago Motta Accepts Responsibility For Juventus' Defeat Against Benfica In Champions League

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Thiago Motta took full responsibility for Juventus' 2-0 loss to Benfica in the Champions League, acknowledging that the team got what they deserved. Despite having already secured a spot in the knockout-phase play-offs before matchday eight, Juventus fell to 20th place in the 36-team standings after the defeat in Turin. They will now face either AC Milan or PSV as an unseeded team in the play-offs.

Juventus' recent form has been shaky, with their unbeaten domestic streak ending against Napoli last weekend. The loss to Benfica led to boos from frustrated fans at the Allianz Stadium. Motta admitted, "Today we didn’t deserve the victory. Benfica created and finished better than us." He emphasised the need for quick improvement ahead of their next match against Empoli on Sunday.

In Naples, Juventus played well during the first half, but struggled in the first half against Benfica. Although they improved slightly in the second half, it was not enough to secure a win. Motta acknowledged that Benfica deserved their victory. Juventus attempted 17 shots compared to Benfica's 16, yet their expected goals (xG) was only 0.92, while Benfica's was 2.4.

The Bianconeri have now lost five of their last eight home Champions League matches, with none of their last 25 such games ending in a draw (16 wins and nine losses). Motta refused to blame individual players for the defeat, stating: "After a defeat I certainly don’t want to point the finger at anyone. I’m definitely the one responsible, but the boys are trying to give their best."

Motta highlighted that there are areas needing rapid improvement since another game is approaching on Sunday. He pointed out that Juventus lacked effectiveness in crucial moments during the match against Benfica. "Today we lacked in the last meters," he said, adding that there was little else to say because Benfica deserved their win.

As Juventus prepares for their upcoming match against Empoli, Motta stressed that they must quickly address these issues. The team is eager to bounce back and regain momentum after recent setbacks.

The conclusion of this challenging phase sees Juventus needing swift adjustments and improvements if they hope to succeed in future matches and regain their standing both domestically and internationally.