Thiago Motta Confident Juventus Can Bounce Back Against Cagliari

Juventus manager Thiago Motta is confident his team can bounce back from their Champions League disappointment with a win against Cagliari in Serie A.

Following their disappointing exit from the Champions League, Juventus manager Thiago Motta is looking to their Serie A match against Cagliari on Sunday as an opportunity for his team to bounce back. The Italian giants were knocked out of the Champions League by PSV Eindhoven in the knockout phase playoffs, losing 4-3 on aggregate. “After such a disappointment, the best thing is to get on the pitch and play,” Motta said, emphasizing the importance of moving forward. “We know the difficulties and we have to try to win...”

Juventus currently sits fourth in the Serie A standings with 46 points from 25 matches, trailing leaders Napoli by 10 points. Motta acknowledged the disappointment of their Champions League exit but urged his team to focus on the task at hand. “The disappointment is a lot, because we thought we could go to the round of 16,” Motta said. “Now we have to start again and think about tomorrow's game. We still have a very busy week and we have to be smart as we always have been.”

🎙️ Thiago Motta: "The group has understood which way to go, against PSV we gave the maximum we could give at that moment - with all the variations that exist in football. The boys know what we want to achieve: they are intelligent and capable, then sometimes the opponent proves…

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According to Italian media reports, Motta addressed the Juventus squad after their Champions League exit, calling for more intensity from the team. When asked about his discussions with the players, Motta expressed confidence in their understanding and commitment. “They understand everything, and we give the maximum effort,” Motta said. “The players are smart and capable; they know what we want. Sometimes, even without a huge difference, the opponent was superior.”

Juventus manager Thiago Motta is aware of the challenges that Cagliari poses, particularly at their home stadium. While Juventus defeated Cagliari 4-0 in their last meeting in a Coppa Italia tie in December, their last two Serie A encounters have ended in draws. Motta acknowledged the complexity of playing at Cagliari's pitch, but expressed confidence in his team's ability to secure a win. “Many games have passed and we have faced Cagliari both in the league and in the Cup,” Motta said. “It is a very complicated pitch and it has been like that for all the teams, at the same time we have confidence that we can put them in trouble to take the three points and move on.”

🎙️ Thiago Motta: "Weah is doing very well as a full-back: he knows how to be aggressive, defend and win duels. He can improve, but he always goes to attack his man. In addition to this, he also gives us a big hand in the offensive phase: I'm happy with what he's doing in that…

— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) February 22, 2025

Motta also took the opportunity to praise winger Timothy Weah's adaptability in a more defensive role. Due to injuries and a lack of options in defense, Weah has been forced to play as a right-back recently. Motta has been impressed with Weah's performance in this new role, highlighting his defensive skills and aggressive approach. “I see him very well in this role. He defends well, is aggressive and wins a lot of duels,” Motta said. Weah's ability to contribute to both defensive and offensive phases has been a significant asset for Juventus. “He can improve in that role and brings us a lot in the offensive phase,” Motta added. “I'm very happy with Timothy, then you can score goals so that's a plus.”