Juventus Must Enhance Overall Performance To Compete For Serie A Title, Claims Thiago Motta

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Juventus needs to enhance their overall performance to compete effectively in Serie A this season, according to Thiago Motta. Despite being unbeaten, they have only secured two wins in their last eight matches, placing them sixth with 18 points. They trail leaders Napoli by seven points. Juventus will face Udinese on Saturday, who are seventh with 16 points after losing four of their last six games.

Motta emphasised the need for improvement across all areas, including his own contributions. He stated, "No club has won the Scudetto in November. We think about Udinese and we want to improve in all aspects, we must all do more, including myself." Juventus finished third last season, 23 points behind Inter, and were seventh the year before.

Despite Motta's assertions that Juventus deserved better results, data suggests otherwise. The team has outperformed their expected goals (xG), scoring 17 times from an xG of 15.2. This ranks them seventh in Serie A for xG performance. Their defence has been strong, conceding seven goals from an xG against of 7.6, the lowest in the league.

Recently, Juventus conceded six goals over two matches: a 2-2 draw with Parma and a dramatic 4-4 tie at Inter. Motta believes the problem isn't solely defensive but involves overall team coordination and decision-making. "We must improve collectively," he said. "We must make the best decisions as a team."

Juventus has drawn 16 of their 30 league games in 2024 (W10 L4), setting a record in Europe's top five leagues. Only once before have they recorded more draws in a single calendar year in Serie A history—17 draws in 1956.

Motta stressed the importance of aggression and reducing space between lines to prevent opponents from feeling comfortable on the pitch. He highlighted the need for unity and mutual support among players to achieve better results.

As Juventus prepares for their upcoming match against Udinese, they aim to address these challenges and climb higher in the standings. The focus remains on improving performance across all facets of play while maintaining their defensive strengths.