Motta will not be behind Max’s numbers

It is arrival that counts, not departure. But a good start often helps. The Juventus revolution of Cristiano Giuntoli and Thiago Motta, after starting faster than expected, has slowed down in recent games. In part absences and injuries (Bremer above all) and in part as a kind of temporary crisis of rejection after so many changes in one fall. A difficult moment compared to previous months and with the past. Motta has fewer points than the last Massimiliano Allegri (2023-24), but also than the first Juventus Antonio Conte (2011-12), the man who sent two consecutive seventh places in the bases and to set up the legendary cycle of 9 championships, winning. the first three in the series.

the comparison

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The balance sheets are done at the end. But if it was a Grand Prix, at the first intermediate stage (one of the 10 championship games) Thiago Motta would be behind his predecessor, Massimiliano Allegri. Yes, because with the slowdown of the last two days (4-4 with Inter and 2-2 with Parma), Juve TM reached 18 points. Five less than Max had twelve months ago, at the start of the third season of his encore cycle with the Lady. Italian-Brazilian Juventus remain unbeaten in Serie A. Allegri’s team had collapsed in 2023 in Reggio Emilia against Sassuolo, but in this first part of the competition they had won 7 games and only twice they had finished in a draw. If Motta runs after him, it is above all because of that “x” sign too often associated with his Juventus games. Six draws (Roma, Naples, Empoli, Cagliari, Inter, Parma) and only four successes (Como, Verona, Genoa, Lazio). And just two at the Allianz Stadium, once the stronghold of the championships. Fewer points, but more distance from the top. A year ago, the Livorno native was running Inter second in this period. Now, however, Vlahovic and his team have slipped to sixth place, behind leaders Napoli (now 7 points), Inter and also Atalanta, Fiorentina and Lazio. However, the goal situation is almost the same: 16 scored and conceded 6 for Allegri, 17 and 7 for Motta.

beyond the numbers

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Numbers are reasonable, but they don’t always explain everything. Of course, Thiago has no shortage of interesting situations. Starting from the fact that it is, unlike the Tuscan, at the beginning of a circle and not at the end. Juventus were turned around between July and August, both on the market (8 signings and many goodbyes) and on a philosophical level. While the Allegri last bis started again with the team of the previous season freed from some people over 30 (Di Maria, Cuadrado …) and renewed with the arrival of Timothy Weah and the promotion of Andrea Cambiaso (returning from the loan to Bologna) and the diamond Kenan Yildiz from Next Gen. Almost zero market, but also no European commitments this week. Just like the current leaders of Antonio Conte’s Napoli.

severe absence

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Compared to twelve months ago, Motta played three more games in the Champions League: PSV, Leipzig and Stuttgart (just the defeat of the season). Not a detail, even more so with the injuries in the last period. Starting with the one of Gleison Bremer, unattainable until then and also in 2023-24 for Allegri. And while the Brazilian was available and led Motta’s bunker, the Bianconeri conceded only one goal (10 goals conceded after the injury). It is true that Thiago received gifts worth almost 200 million euros between June, July and August, but the most valuable one (Koopmeiners) returned to the pitch on Wednesday after a month’s absence due to broken rib Heavy and unfortunate absences (traumatic, non-muscular injuries) contributed to the physical problems of Nico Gonzalez and Douglas Luiz. And obviously Arek Milik, Vlahovic’s only deputy in the team. The 30-year-old Polish forward, who has been absent since June due to recent knee surgery, will be eligible to register at the end of December.

by account

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Thiago also chases Conte after ten days. Both in the standings of the competition (-7) and in the comparison between Antonio’s first Juve (without cups like Napoli) and the current one: 18 points compared to 22 in 2011-12, but now so without ever losing in Serie A.