Juventus wakes up in chaos after the eighth day of the Champions League group stage: the 2-0 home defeat against Benfica, the second consecutive defeat after the 2-1 in Napoli in the league, has left a heavy atmosphere among the fans and within the team.
The Bianconeri occupy a disappointing 20th place in the tournament rankings and the atmosphere around coach Thiago Motta is becoming increasingly tense. The coach seems to be having difficulty giving a clear identity to the team, which appeared disoriented and fearful for large parts of the match. The discontent among the fans is now widespread, with #MottaOut dominating social media and with increasingly heated protests, even from those who last year were asking for a change on the bench.
In addition to tactical problems, the club also has to deal with internal tensions: the banner dedicated to former captain Danilo – “In a world without values, we salute captain Danilo with all the honors” – is a clear message of disapproval towards the management, criticized for their handling of the purge of the Brazilian defender.
As if that were not enough, the team must now prepare for the league match against Empoli, scheduled for Sunday 2 February at 12:30, without being able to count on Pierre Kalulu. The French defender, who was out injured in the match against Benfica, has suffered a lesion to the tendon of the semimembranosus muscle in his right thigh. The tests will be repeated in ten days, but the expected stoppage is around twenty days: in addition to the match against the Tuscans, Kalulu will most likely miss the big match with Inter and the double confrontation in the playoffs of Champions League.
Article published on 30 January 2025 - 19:14
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