Giuntoli: ‘No Juventus timeframe for Thiago Motta’ | OneFootball

Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli insists there is ‘no timeframe’ for coach Thiago Motta to find success as they host Manchester City in the Champions League.

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 20.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Milan-Crvena Zvezda and Benfica-Bologna on the Liveblog.

The pressure is really on both teams, as they have been struggling both domestically and in Europe, where they are on eight points from five rounds.

They are also both dealing with an injury crisis that has ruled out players like Andrea Cambiaso, Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzalez, Rodri, Arek Milik, Oscar Bobb, Gleison Bremer and Nathan Aké.

Giuntoli stands up for Thiago Motta’s Juventus

epa11697689 Juventus’s Head Coach Thiago Motta prior the Italian Serie A soccer match between Udinese Calcio and Juventus FC, in Udine, Italy, 02 November 2024. EPA-EFE/Ettore Griffoni

“We certainly want to always do more and better, obviously the coach never clings to alibis, we are happy with that, but it is also fairly obvious that we’ve had to deal with a lot of problems,” Giuntoli told Amazon Prime Video Italia.

“At this moment, we can only appreciate the extraordinary effort that these lads are putting in and everyone is trying to hold on until the others can return to full fitness.”

Pep Guardiola said in his press conference that he did not win in his first season at Manchester City, so do Juventus have the patience to wait for Thiago Motta to lay the foundations?

“We started the season with a totally new project, one that respects the balance sheet and involves many young players who can play a certain style of football,” replied Giuntoli.

“Clearly, we would like that process to be done as soon as possible, but we have not set any timeframe for that.”

Francisco Conceicao is currently only on loan from FC Porto, so will Juventus move to buy him on a permanent basis?

“The rapport with both the player and his agent is excellent, so we absolutely want him to remain with us and we think that’s his intention too. As of today, he is 100 per cent staying.”

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Giuntoli also reiterated that Juve are seeking a new defender in January.

“We suffered two anterior cruciate ligament injuries in those roles, so if we are to do something in January, it will be to strengthen the defence.”