What went wrong for Motta and why are Juventus in a ‘mess’?

Thiago Motta lasted just nine months at Juventus before the Italian giants sacked him last week and swiftly appointed Igor Tudor.

Motta’s departure came after heavy back-to-back defeats in Serie A – losing 4-0 at home to Atalanta before being beaten 3-0 at Fiorentina.

That appeared to be the final straw, with Motta having also overseen Juventus’ exit from the Champions League and the Coppa Italia, which they won last season.

“It was inevitable,” journalist Julien Laurens said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast.

“You can’t lose 4-0 and 3-0 in back-to-back games, on the back of being knocked out in the Champions League.”

But will his departure solve Juventus’ issues? And is former Croatia defender Tudor the right man to turn things around?

Brilliant at Bologna but unable to make it work at Juve?
Motta, 42, a former midfielder with Barcelona, Inter Milan and Paris St-Germain, was appointed last year after a hugely impressive spell at Bologna.

His progressive style of football transformed the club from one battling against relegation to one that finished fifth in Serie A last season to secure a place in the Champions League.

However, the style of football with which he so impressed at Bologna was rarely on show with Juventus.

“I felt for him, because I am a big fan and I love what he did at Bologna,” Laurens added.

“This doesn’t mean he is not a good coach and that later on in his career he is not going to achieve great things, but maybe this was a little bit too early and certainly it just never started.”