Motta: ‘Juventus respected Inter too much’, Kolo Muani won’t ‘fall into trap’ | OneFootball

Juventus coach Thiago Motta feels his players ‘respected Inter too much’ in the first half on Sunday and is convinced Randal Kolo Muani won’t ‘fall into a trap’ after a strong start at the Allianz Stadium.

Juventus secured a crucial 1-0 win over rivals Inter in Turin on Sunday, reaching Lazio in the Serie A top four.

The Nerazzurri had the best chances in the first half, but Juventus bounced back after the break and took all three points thanks to a goal by Francisco Conceiçao.

“In the first half, we respected our opponent too much. They have great quality, that’s no secret, and you can see where they’ve reached,” the Juventus boss said at a press conference attended by Football Italia.

“But at the same time, we respected them too much, conceding too many situations that we shouldn’t have allowed in that way.

“The team responded very well, but we still need to manage certain situations better and refine some small details. Once again, we saw today that we struggled emotionally in some moments. We suffer more at home than away, and that’s something we need to improve, especially considering how we played in the second half.

Motta: ‘Juventus respected Inter too much’, Kolo Muani won’t ‘fall into trap’

TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 29: Thiago Motta, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Juventus and Fiorentina at Allianz Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“They looked at each other and realized it wasn’t enough, so everyone raised their level to compete against a strong team in the league.”

Juventus didn’t track back after taking the lead but continued pressing Inter.

“That’s the right approach because in a match at this level, that’s what you have to do,” said Motta.

“We suffered a bit more than we should have, but we responded well. We created chances and finished the first goal sequence much better. We had the chance to seal the game with a 2-0 lead. Winning is never easy, but in these kinds of matches, you have to play at your best for 95 minutes.

“Sitting back isn’t always the best solution. There are moments to understand, to show solidity, and then push forward. To win, you have to attack and create chances. We could have closed the match in the second half but didn’t finish well, and they were sharper than us. Overall, though, we deserved the win.”

Andrea Cambiaso returned from an injury and was introduced as a substitute in the second half.

“Andrea came on really well today after being out for a while,” noted Motta.

“He returned to training just two days ago. You could see he was in great shape, with quality, personality, and strong communication. I noticed that on the field. We played with the ball on the ground, and he was constantly talking with his teammates.

“He always brings humility. Today, we got the reward of a victory, and sometimes we haven’t been as good, but that’s part of the game.”

Kolo Muani provided the assist for Conceiçao’s winner and Motta was delighted by his performance.

“I expect more than just goals from him. That’s his job, of course, but in football, except for rare cases like Ceni, who scored almost 100 goals, everyone has to defend, attack, press, and hold the ball. When he presses and attacks, he puts everyone in difficulty,” said the Juventus boss.

“He plays for the national team, he was at PSG. Let’s not forget that. I expect everything from him, not just goals but also the overall contribution. He’s doing a lot of things very well, and he has to keep winning.”

Kolo Muani now has five goals and one assist in four Serie A appearances with Juventus, and Motta is convinced the Frenchman won’t get carried away with fans and media’s praise.

“Randal is in great form, but I don’t think he’ll get carried away,” Motta concluded.

“He’s humble and intelligent enough not to fall into that trap because football changes every day. He knows he must keep improving, just like all his teammates. And speaking of those who didn’t play today, they surely wanted to, and we need everyone. There are many games ahead, and each player’s moment will come. It’s all about managing playing time wisely.”