Socrates

Serie A nevrotica

Perché tifi per l'Inter Mi hai sgamato. Da piccolo avevo il poster di Sandro Mazzola in cameretta.

Nerazzurri maledetti. 1-1

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Quelli bravi lo definiscono un professionista .......

Ma no dai. Inzaghi dice che é un bravo bambino e non dice mai le parolacce.

Gasperini in arrivo?

Motta should have resigned after the Empoli game declares Massimo Mauro Juventus delivered a dismal performance as they were eliminated from the Italian Cup by Empoli in midweek, and Thiago Motta is now facing serious pressure. Having only taken charge in the summer, he was expected to revitalise the team, but his side has failed to reach the heights many had anticipated. ............ As is often the case in football, the manager will be held accountable if results do not improve. Massimo Mauro has suggested that Motta should have resigned following the poor display against Empoli, arguing that such a performance was unacceptable for a club of Juventus’s stature. He stated: “In the post-Empoli, I expected Motta’s resignation, since he was the leader of the group. I don’t believe in his dismissal during the season; in the history of Juve, it has almost never been seen. I was convinced that he would have done better, the good game was seen only sporadically. Now, after three huge disappointments, he must at least go to Europe. Otherwise, his resignation is something else…” ............ If Motta is to remain in charge, Juventus must show significant improvement in the coming weeks. Consistency and strong performances will be key, as his future at the club depends on the team’s ability to respond positively. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/motta-should-have-resigned-after-the-empoli-game-declares-massimo-mauro/

Porrini blasts ‘spoiled’ Juventus players after being eliminated from another cup Juventus’s players have come under heavy criticism after their shocking elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Empoli in midweek. Despite having some of the best footballers in Italy within their ranks, the team has consistently failed to meet the high expectations placed upon them. ............ Sergio Porrini has voiced his displeasure with the team’s attitude, particularly during the loss to Empoli, a match most expected Juventus to win comfortably. He questioned the players’ overall approach to the game, remarking that it seemed as if they were going through the motions without any real desire or urgency. He said: “Regardless of the defeat, it seemed like a team without strength, it seemed like the players had taken to the field almost out of duty, a game interpreted without heart, grit, as if they didn’t know that a victory would have projected them into the semi-final of a competition now coveted for various reasons. I don’t want to say the team is in disarray, but I saw players who were unmotivated, presumptuous, I would say spoiled. In my opinion, they don’t understand Juve’s delicate moment.” Porrini’s words reflect a growing frustration with the squad’s attitude, and it’s clear that Juventus’ poor form is not just a question of talent but also one of mentality. There is a sense that the players are not fully recognising the gravity of their situation, and their lack of passion and grit on the pitch has been deeply concerning. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/pundit-blasts-spoiled-juventus-players-after-being-eliminated-from-another-cup/

Juventus criticised for their treatment of teenage attacker Juventus has made Kenan Yildiz an integral part of their squad, entrusting him with the prestigious number 10 shirt, a jersey historically worn by some of the club’s greatest players. The decision to hand such responsibility to the young Turkish attacker was a testament to the faith the Bianconeri have in his abilities. However, while Yildiz has shown glimpses of brilliance this season, his form has dipped in recent weeks, raising concerns over whether too much pressure has been placed on his shoulders too soon. ............ Andrea Bosco believes that the club may have mismanaged Yildiz’s development and that sending him on loan would have been a better approach. He said: “He is definitely a very technical player who could have a brilliant career. Yildiz is not Del Piero, today he is not even Galderisi in terms of goals scored. My idea is that you should have loaned him to a mid-table team and let him mature so as not to put pressure on him, instead here he was even given the number ten shirt. There is a management that I don’t like at the club.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-criticised-for-their-treatment-of-teenage-attacker/

De Paola claims Vlahovic does not deserve 12m euros per season Dusan Vlahović has been a key figure for Juventus since his arrival, establishing himself as one of the highest-paid players in Serie A. As he enters the final year of his contract, the Serbian striker is set to earn a staggering €12 million net per season, a figure that has become a point of contention between him and the club. Juventus is keen to extend his deal but wants him to take a pay cut—something Vlahović is reluctant to accept. Instead, he is determined to prove his worth on the pitch and justify his salary. However, at the moment, his performances are falling short of expectations. ............ But does the Serbian actually play like a €12 million-per-season striker? According to journalist Paolo De Paola, the answer is a resounding no. He was particularly critical of Vlahović’s overall technical ability and recent performances. He said: “He has no ball control, he takes an absurd penalty, he seems neurotic when he touches the ball. He earns 12 million a year, a million a month. He’s a dud.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/journalist-claims-vlahovic-does-not-deserve-12m-euros-per-season/

Giuntoli: Motta ‘not under discussion’ despite ‘unacceptable’ Juventus performance Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli insists Thiago Motta is not under scrutiny and reveals he, the club president and the coach met the team this morning after an ‘unacceptable’ performance against Empoli. ............ Thiago Motta said he was ashamed of his players’ performance but also took responsibility, saying he failed to convey the game’s importance to his team. “We are in line with what the coach said. The performance was unacceptable,” Juventus director Giuntoli told Sky Sport Italia on Thursday. “We, the coach, and the team are all convinced of that. This morning, we met with President Ferrero with a clear mind and spoke to the team. They are the first to acknowledge that they must do more to secure a Champions League spot.” ............ “We believe in the project that started this summer, one that creates value by giving many young players opportunities, and we are confident it will bring us great satisfaction in the future. Motta is not under discussion,” Giuntoli insisted. “Yesterday’s match was almost inexplicable because we were coming off four consecutive league wins, so we were disappointed and frustrated,” he continued. ............ Motta accused some players of being demanding without giving much back. “He wanted to bring the team back to a specific sense of unity. He addressed the entire squad,” Giuntoli clarified. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/giuntoli-motta-not-under-discussion-juventus/

Three reasons why Thiago Motta isn’t popular in Juventus locker room Juventus coach Thiago Motta has a poor relationship with several of his players. Despite the team’s woeful results this season, the Italian Brazilian has often cut a calm and composed figure. But that wasn’t exactly the case on Wednesday night following the team’s shocking Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of Empoli. ............ The source thus reveals three factors that created a rift between the manager and the squad, beginning with his too-direct approach. Motta has been too frank for his own good when making assessments. He reportedly has a knack for criticising his players in front of the whole group rather than taking them aside. ............ The second reason is the curious treatment of some of the players who were supposedly part of the group, only to be alienated by the coach. This is of course a reference to Danilo and Nicolo Fagioli who were pushed out of the door in January after being suddenly dropped from the manager’s plans. Finally, the report notes how the constant shifting of the captain’s armband irked some of the senior players, particularly Federico Gatti. The latter started the campaign as the designated skipper, and has been forced to play non-stop due to the injury crisis. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/three-reasons-why-thiago-motta-isnt-popular-in-juventus-locker-room-report/

Giuntoli sets the prize for Kenan Yildiz amidst interest from Arsenal, Chelsea & Manchester duo These days, everyone apparently has a prize at Juventus, and this includes the club’s crowned future superstar, Kenan Yildiz. ............ Last summer, the teenager penned a new long-term deal and was also rewarded with the iconic Number 10 jersey which was donned by some of the club’s biggest icons, including his idol Alessandro Del Piero. But like the vast majority of his teammates, Yildiz hasn’t been enjoying his best campaign, as he continues to struggle to make an impact at a team that lacks a clear direction. Juventus Football Director Cristiano Giuntoli would be willing to entertain offers for Yildiz starting from 80 million euros, a figure that could prove irresistible for the Serie A giants who are not enjoying the healthiest finances at the moment, to say the least. ............ The winger doesn’t lack suitors, as at least four Premier League giants are on his trail. The source confirms the interest of Chelsea and Arsenal. The two Londoners have been linked with the Turkiye international for quite some time now. Moreover, the report mentions Manchester City and their crosstown rivals Manchester United as keen admirers as well. Juventus don’t want to be caught unprepared. This explains why they have been recently linked with wantaway Atalanta star Ademola Lookman. The Bianconeri have also revived their interest in Borussia Dortmund star Karim Adeyemi. These two players would be direct replacements for the young Turk. They also have lower asking prices, which would allow Juventus to reinvest some of the cash collected from Yildiz’s hypothetical sale on bolstering other departments. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/giuntoli-sets-the-prize-for-kenan-yildiz-amidst-interest-from-arsenal-chelsea-manchester-duo/

Tacchinardi urges Elkann to bring back Del Piero: “Make him president” Former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi is hoping to see his old teammate and captain Alessandro Del Piero assert the highest positions at the club. The Bianconeri are currently in dire need of technical and administrative leaders, as the club seems to be in complete disarray. ............ The Juventus hierarchy has been suspiciously silent, but this shouldn’t come as a surprise since the likes of Gianluca Ferrero (club president) and Maurizio Scanavino (CEO) are hardly considered inspirational figures. These officials are loyal EXOR men with little football knowledge who have been appointed by John Elkann to replace his cousin Andrea Agnelli and his crew who were forced to resign amidst legal and financial troubles in 2022. Therefore, Tacchinardi believes Juventus are crying out with a character like Del Piero who can bring the club’s various entities back together and restore the old Juventus values. “At this moment the club had to make itself heard, speak out and explain the situation,” said the retired Italian footballer. “Even the decisions on the market didn’t convince me. Motta has finally taken his responsibilities. This attitude is not acceptable when you wear this shirt. This team is not in the game and has no desire to run back. I also saw some similar situations in the match against Benfica. “The players have to show their faces a bit like Perin did, but he didn’t know what to say. This team lacks leaders. Juve needs Alex Del Piero as the main figure because, in my opinion, a special character is needed to act as a link between the players and the club. “If I were Elkann, I would make him president like Boniperti, for life. If he doesn’t win the Serie A title, it will be a season of failures for Juventus.” . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/former-juventus-star-urges-elkann-to-bring-back-del-piero-make-him-president/

‘Ashamed’ Juventus star agrees with Motta: “We didn’t give enough for the shirt” Juventus goalkeeper Mattia Perin admits he and his teammates were too complacent in their Coppa Italia tie against Empoli. ............ Thiago Motta expressed his shame after the contest, insisting that his players should be feeling the same too. He also blamed himself for failing to convey the importance of the contest to his squad. ............ While Perin wasn’t necessarily to blame for the outfielders’ poor display, his comments aligned with his manager’s, admitting he and his teammates didn’t do enough to earn a result. “We put in a first half performance of which we feel ashamed, I’m struggling to find the right words,” said the former Genoa goalkeeper. ............ “We failed to recognise the importance of this match and we all have to take a long hard look at ourselves. We are sad and disappointed, we must understand that we did not give enough for the shirt. “It is unacceptable to fail to progress through the quarter-finals at home, it is a huge disappointment. We were not at the level required when you play in this shirt and for this club.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/ashamed-juventus-star-agrees-with-motta-we-didnt-give-enough-for-the-shirt/

Juventus player ratings in Italian press: Koopmeiners horror show against Empoli The Italian newspapers tore into Juventus stars in their player ratings following the club’s shocking Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of Empoli. ............ Therefore, several Juventus stars earned below-par grades, and chief among them is Teun Koopmeiners who was poor in the middle of the park, at times preferring to pass back to his goalkeeper rather than advance the play, which infuriated his manager. ............ Tuttosport Perin 5 Weah 5 Gatti 5,5 Kelly 5,5 Locatelli 6,5 Cambiaso 5 Thuram 6,5 Koopmeiners 4 Yildiz 5,5 Kolo Muani 6 McKennie 5 Nico Gonzalez 5 Conceicao 5 Vlahovic 5 All. Motta 4 giornalaccio rosa dello Sport Perin 6 Weah 4,5 Gatti 5,5 Kelly 5,5 Locatelli 6 Cambiaso 5 Thuram 6,5 Koopmeiners 4 Yildiz 5 Kolo Muani 5,5 McKennie 5 Nico Gonzalez 4 Conceicao 4,5 Vlahovic 4 Motta 4 Corriere dello Sport Perin 6,5 Weah 6 Gatti 5,5 Kelly 5,5 Locatelli 6 Cambiaso 4,5 Thuram 6,5 Koopmeiners 4 Yildiz 5 Kolo Muani 6 McKennie 5 Nico Gonzalez 4 Conceicao 6,5 Vlahovic 4 Motta 4 . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-in-italian-press-koopmeiners-horror-show-against-empoli/

“Lacking the right attitude” – The three Juventus stars who enraged Thiago Motta revealed Juventus coach Thiago Motta was absolutely furious with his players following the Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of Empoli. ............ “You can misplace passes, you can miss shots. But you can’t lack the correct attitude. It was a very important game for us and we got it completely wrong,” said the former Bologna coach in his post-match comments. While Motta thankfully didn’t mention any names, he was obviously infuriated with the demeanour of some of his players. ............ The first was obviously Teun Koopmeiners who endured another miserable showing in the middle of the park. Motta also mentioned how he was disappointed with his players who kept passing the ball back to Mattia Perin rather than advancing the play, and this seems to be a direct reference to the Dutch midfielder who was guilty of several uninspiring back passes. ............ Nico Gonzalez squandered an early chance with a complacent finish. He also received a raucous reaction from the fans upon his exit. The last name on the list is Vlahovic who failed to inflict the damage upfront and also scuffed the first spot-kick wide in an ominous fashion. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/lacking-the-right-attitude-the-three-juventus-stars-who-enraged-thiago-motta-revealed/

Non gliela faranno vincere la coppa Italia ....... Gli arabi non vogliono ......

Juventus give away the first half of Coppa quarterfinal and fall to Empoli on penalties After Juventus’ elimination from the Champions League last week, the Coppa Italia was the most plausible route to silverware for Juventus this season. With their path to the final far easier than any of the other top teams left in the competition, the holders had to be considered favorites in the competition. ............ Were it that someone had told them that before the took the field against Empoli on Wednesday. It took Juve more than half the game to realize that they were among the favorites to defend their title playing against a team that was making only its fourth appearance in the quarterfinals in their history, hadn’t won a match since early December, was in the thick of the relegation fight, and was coming off a humiliating 5-0 drubbing on their home field by Atalanta. They held almost 70 percent of the possession during that half, but did jack squat with it. It took 52 minutes for them to finally put a shot on target, while Empoli burst out in front with a goal from a long shot halfway through the first half. Eventually managing to respond and tie the score with 25 minutes left, the Bianconeri weren’t able to push through a winning goal despite sustained pressure on Empoli’s goal, and paid for it in the shootout when two of their biggest star names missed penalties in flaccid fashion, ushering them out of the competition 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. ............ We got an indicator of just how Juve’s day was going to go less than two minutes in, when Kelly lofted a ball over the top and Kolo Muani headed it perfectly into the path of González. Vásquez came off his line but he’s still in no-man’s land when González reached the ball. It should have been a simple matter to tap it into the open net, but the Argentine somehow contrived to balloon the ball into the stands. It was the harbinger of a horrific night for the winger. Juve dominated possession as the game moved forward, but did nothing with it. The next shot either side took came after 20 minutes, when Konate blasted well wide. But four minutes after that, Empoli were very suddenly out in front. Things started going downhill after an awful pass by González, whose attempt to return a ball from Cambiaso went a good seven or eight yards in front of him into no-man’s land. Bacci ran onto it and pushed it to Malleh. The midfielder — who had been sent off when Juve came from behind to beat Empoli 4-1 a few weeks ago — easily moved away from the attentions of Thuram, and no one else closed him down as he loaded up from 22 yards and hit a thunderbolt with his weaker foot across the grain and past the desperate dive of Perin. In the next 20 minutes, Juve looked absolutely flaccid. Their possession created nothing, while Empoli came close to doubling or either tripling their lead. ............ Substitutions were finally made shortly thereafter, and Juve started pushing a little bit harder as the clock ticked away. A couple of tantalizing crosses only just missed their target before Thuram made up for his malaise on Empoli’s goal with a fantastic solo effort to equalize, taking a simple pass from Kolo Muani and executing an exquisite back-heel flick to wrong-foot Henderson before stuffing the ball in under Vásquez’s arm at the near post. Henderson made a feeble effort to trick the officials into calling a foul for a strike to his face while Thuram was making his turn, but referee Francesco Forneau saw through it easily. Juve immediately started pushing for a winner. ............ Five minutes from time the big Serb had an incredible chance to put the game to bed when he received a beautiful through ball from Thuram, but managed to skew it wide with Vásquez at his mercy. Yildiz missed with one of the last kicks of stoppage time when he latched on to a cleared corner kick and blazed a shot just over the top corner. Forneau called a halt to proceedings, and Juventus’ first penalty shootout in the Allianz Stadium was on. The Bianconeri were up first and sent Vlahovic to the spot — only to see him blaze over the bar. Empoli nailed their first two kicks, then Cacace managed to get a ball through Perin’s hand on the third, a shot that maybe should have been kept out. Yildiz then stepped up and hit an incredibly tame shot to his right that Vásquez — who had guessed correctly on Juve’s two makes before that — easily parried away. Marianucci stepped up for Empoli’s fourth and easily sent Perin the wrong way to seal Empoli’s first-ever trip to the semifinals, and Juve to the locker room to figure out what the hell had just happened. ............ LE PAGELLE MATTIA PERIN - 6. Kept Juve in it with a couple saves sandwiched around halftime, but I keep on looking at that third penalty wondering if he should’ve managed to get it out. TIMOTHY WEAH - 5.5. ............ FEDERICO GATTI - 6. Completed 95 percent of his passes and was generally solid defensively, not letting much in his remit get through. LLOYD KELLY - 5. Made four clearances, but was far too disengaged when Maleh was setting up for his shot. Getting pulled for a midfielder out of position isn’t a good look. ANDREA CAMBIASO - 5.5. ............ KHÉPHREN THURAM - 6.5. Let Maleh get past him far too easily on Empoli’s goal, but made up for it with that absolutely exquisite turn for the equalizer. He led the team with 109 touches and 93 pass attempts, including the setup for what really should’ve been the winner in the 85th minute. TEUN KOOPMEINERS - 5. The numbers — two key passes, 96% passing — belie just how dead he looked on the day. He’s cutting a really demoralized figure right now, and he probably needs to be dropped for a few games. RANDAL KOLO MUANI - 6. Tallied four key passes, including the assist for the equalizer, and buried his penalty in the shootout. But he also lost possession 19 times — a rate that isn’t really sustainable in a big game like this. WESTON McKENNIE - 5.5. ............ NICO GONZÁLEZ - 3.5. Yeah, we’re in waters that are not oft sailed in terms of how low Nico’s number goes. He was simply awful in all phases of the game. Couldn’t put away a relatively simple early opportunity that would’ve totally altered proceedings, and made a terrible pass in a giveaway for the first goal. The fact that he was on the field and not in a pinnie when the second half kicked off was stunning. DUSAN VLAHOVIC - 4. Gave a lot of effort, but man his execution was bad. Had one opportunity that he could’ve turned into an easy 1-v-1 had his first touch been a little more gentle, and the miss he had in the 85th minute was a goal that a striker of his caliber should hit the target with in his sleep. Then the shootout miss — goodness gracious, man. SUBS KENAN YILDIZ - 4.5. Made a pair of key passes, but couldn’t put any of his shots on target, and his penalty miss was tame. MANUEL LOCATELLI - 5.5. Completed 44 of 47 passes, had a key pass, and was five of six on long balls, but he got exposed a bit in the back as Juve pushed up for the equalizer. FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 5.5. ............ ALBERTO COSTA - NR. ............ MANAGER ANALYSIS Thiago Motta got a lot wrong in this game, both from the start and in progress. First off, it’s time to put Koopmeiners on ice for a few games. I know that’s more difficult at the moment with Douglas Luiz seemingly incapable of staying fit under Italian training. But he’s clearly demoralized right now, and when you put that next to the fact that the early portion of the season indicated that the best combo in the pivot is Thuram and Locatelli, it’s questionable as to why that pair has been split up. As the game went on, Motta’s decisions still failed to impress. Why Koopmeiners and González weren’t hauled off at halftime is beyond comprehension given their travails in the first 45 minutes. The fact that González remained on the field for 60 minutes was even more boggling. Motta slammed his players for their effort and attitude in this game — very much his purview, as he acknowledged — yet left two of the players with the worst combo of attitude and performance on the field far longer than any sane viewer realized was necessary. Even toward the end of the game Motta’s decisions can be questioned. Putting in Costa was fine — especially considering the need to protect Cambiaso’s health at the moment — but leaving a substitution hanging in the wind with the game heading toward penalties was, in my opinion, his final strategic blunder. Specifically, he should’ve replaced Perin. I know that the Coppa is his arena, but his record stopping penalties over the course of his career — even understanding how difficult it is — is straight lousy. Michele Di Gregorio’s career percentage is very close, but he’s faced far fewer over the course of his career and has developed a reputation as a better stopper, something that I genuinely believe should be taken into account in shootouts. ............ LOOKING AHEAD Juve will have a chance to reset themselves on Monday with a home game against Hellas Verona, then face two road games with big implications for the race for the top four, first at Atalanta and then Fiorentina. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/2/27/24373813/juventus-empoli-2025-coppa-italia-quarterfinals-final-score-result-match-recap-analysis

Juventus 1 (2) - Empoli 1 (4): Initial reaction and random observations Sometimes, you just have no words. There are performances that, honestly, don’t deserve the words. Mostly because you’re just have a desire to do nothing but shake your head both out of some sort of amazement but mostly frustration. There are final scores that confuse you, final scores that anger you. On Wednesday night, we got all of the above. So as much as there are no words for how Juventus went out of the Coppa Italia and who it came against, we might as well try. ............ If the loss in the Champions League one week earlier was about as deserved as deserved gets, then this one is right alongside of it and getting all cozy because there’s very little to separate the two. Well, there is this one major difference: PSV Eindhoven are a solid yet unspectacular side. Empoli, on the other hand, hadn’t won anything since the early December and were coming off a 5-0 dismantling the last time they stepped onto the field. They had more injuries than Juventus — which, knowing how things are in Turin, is certainly saying something. Empoli manager Roberto D’Aversa basically white flagged his starting lineup, rolling out a bunch of reserves and primavera players to take on the mighty Juventus. And it was that same Empoli lineup that, after 24 minutes, had the lead. ............ Juventus were bad — very, very bad. The possession was stale and barely had Empoli keeper Devis Vasquez — who had recently been benched by D’Aversa — doing anything before the second-half rush to try and salvage something out of all that mess commenced. And even after Khephren Thuram and his brilliant individual effort to tie the game happened, it’s not like Juventus did much to put Vasquez under serious heat over and over again to force after after save. Juventus had 13 shots in the second half. They put just four of them on target. The penalty shootout — a new element of the one-legged Coppa Italia ties rather than going to extra time — was just the cherry on top. To see Vlahovic blast his shot over the crossbar right out of the gate put Juventus behind the 8-ball in a shootout that suddenly relied on Mattia Perin being heroic in goal to get back in front. That didn’t happen. Instead, Empoli made all four of their penalties, with Yildiz’s effort being saved by Vasquex and Luca Marianucci — a 20-year-old defender with all of eight Serie A appearances to his name this season — putting the final nail in Juve’s Coppa Italia coffin. ............ RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS EMPOLI HAD NOT WON A GAME SINCE EARLY DECEMBER. I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, FOLKS. THAT IS HOW BAD THEY HAD BEEN PLAYING BEFORE THIS GAME. That first half. Goodness gracious that was awful. Thiago Motta got things so incredibly wrong to begin this game. His team looked more than half-asleep. It was hard to see if they would ever snap out of it. And they really didn’t. ............ Juventus couldn’t do much of anything right. Little, if not nothing good at all. Just look at how the Empoli goal came about. Andrea Cambiaso tries to pass out of the back. Nico Gonzalez tries to flick it on, instead seeing the ball go right to an Empoli player. Then Thuram is slow to close down and gets beat by Youssef Maleh, the same guy who got sent off in Empoli’s visit to Turin earlier this month. Maleh then unleashes a hammer of a shot past Perin. It’s 1-0 just like that. It was a highlight in a first half in which Gonzalez was pretty bad. Gonzalez and Randal Kolo Muani combined to lose possession 23 times in the first half. That’s a lot. ............ If not for Perin, this game could have been 3-0 early in the second half. Imagine that. For as bad as his defending was on Empoli’s opener, that’s how good Thuram’s effort was on his goal to tie things up. Holy crap was that such a dirty move and just a perfectly placed shot to beat Vasquez at the near post. Federico Gatti surpassed the 3,000-minute mark this season. It’s late February. That man has to be absolutely exhausted ... and there’s still three months of the season to go. ............ Both of those scoring chances for Vlahovic late in the second half. Ah, what could have been. You gotta put something on frame. Instead, neither of them were on frame, and the first touch Vlahovic had on the ball on the second chance was pretty brutal. Teun Koopmeiners, brother what has happened. Is he gassed? Is he low on confidence? Is he being played out of position after months of being played out of position? Do we just need to hit a complete factory reset and try and bring back the Atalanta version of Koop? I just don’t know at this point, folks. It’s a complete mystery to me. It’s becoming harder and harder for me to try and find ways to be positive. That’s on Motta. That’s on the players. That’s on Cristiano Giuntoli who constructed this roster. This season has one singular thing left to try and accomplish: finish in the top four in Serie A. If they can’t do that with who else they’re competing for fourth place with, then I dunno what to say other than the summertime might end up being quite dramatic. What else is there to say after that one other than “I’m just incredibly disappointed”? Nothing. ............ Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2025/2/27/24373705/juventus-empoli-2025-coppa-italia-quarterfinals-final-score-result-initial-reaction-observations

Thiago Motta: ‘Juventus shameful, did not deserve Coppa Italia’ qualification Thiago Motta blasted his Juventus players after their shock Coppa Italia exit on penalties to Empoli. ‘I am ashamed, it was embarrassing. You need to deserve things in life, this team expected it instead.’ The Bianconeri had been the undoubted favourites to go through to the semi-finals after facing Empoli at the Allianz Juventus Stadium, but found expectations turned on their heads. ............ “We are left with shame. I feel honestly shame for what we saw in the first half and I hope my players feel the same. We cannot get this attitude so wrong. It was embarrassing and evidently it is my fault, as I did not show my players the importance of the match or what this jersey means,” Thiago Motta said. “We are not in the semi-final because we did not deserve to be.” ............ “I hope the criticism is very strong. I thought our fans were actually quite kind with us, considering the first half performance. I expect an immediate reaction from these players, because I feel ashamed of what I saw from my team today,” added the coach. “I also have to shoulder a large part of the responsibility, because I didn’t teach them what it means to wear the Juventus jersey. We played against an Empoli side that was rotated from the usual starters. Talking about mentality at this moment means understanding where you are, what you need to do, why you must deserve it every day and not just expect things to happen without giving your all. “We assumed today that we’d get through and we gave nothing on that pitch. We got the one thing wrong you absolutely cannot do at this club and that is the attitude. We played back to the goalkeeper 20 times at least, without taking responsibility, without going forward, always looking to someone else. This is inadmissible. “We can only apologise to our fans, apologise to the club, apologise to the history of this club, because we really hit rock bottom today.” ............ “I believe in the team because we have players of quality, but quality is not sufficient. You need other elements to compete in football and attitude is the main thing, which is the first thing I talked about when I got here. “This is why I feel ashamed, because getting the wrong shot, the wrong touch, that’s nothing. Getting the wrong attitude is not acceptable. There is no negotiation on that.” ............ “We have to start from the basics of football and life, which is attitude. In life, you need to earn things, to deserve them, not expect them. Today I saw a team that expected things to go their way and that makes me ashamed,” continued a visibly furious Thiago Motta. “These are the foundations, giving your all on the field and in training, working hard for each other, respecting the history of your club. This is crucial both in training and in a match, but we showed the total opposite of that, especially in the first half. “It was not technical or tactical, it was completely the wrong attitude. I take full responsibility, as clearly I did not teach these lads the importance of playing in this competition with the Juventus jersey.” . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thiago-motta-juventus-shameful-coppa-italia/

Empoli dump sorry Juventus out of the Coppa Italia on penalties Empoli has knocked Juventus out of the Coppa Italia on penalties, leaving the Bianconeri facing the prospect of finishing the season without silverware. Nicolas Gonzalez set the tone early with a shot that narrowly missed the target inside the opening two minutes. Juve continued to push, with Dusan Vlahovic heading wide, but their missed opportunities would soon prove costly. Youssef Maleh produced a stunning strike from outside the box to give Empoli the lead, shocking Juventus into action as they pressed forward in search of an equaliser. Just past the hour mark, Juventus finally found their equaliser through Khephren Thuram, who finished brilliantly after a superb solo run. With momentum on their side, the hosts pushed for a winner, with Vlahovic drawing a brilliant save from Vásquez Llach before Kenan Yildiz and Vlahovic both missed chances to seal victory. With neither side able to find another goal, the match went to penalties. Empoli completed the upset as Kenan Yildiz and Vlahovic missed from the spot, sending Juventus crashing out of the competition. . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/empoli-dumps-sorry-juventus-out-of-the-coppa-italia-on-penalties/