Thiago Motta pleased with Juventus’ first performance under his leadership

TURIN – Juventus coach Thiago Motta appeared well pleased with his new team after they strolled to a 3-0 home win against Como in their Italian Serie A opener on Aug 19.

Juve delivered a confident performance as they beat the newly promoted side with Samuel Mbangula, Timothy Weah and Andrea Cambiaso all on target in the first game of the Italian season at the Allianz Stadium.

“I was satisfied with the performance but above all with the result. We deserved to win,” said the 41-year-old Motta, who played for big teams like Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.

“Today I liked the defensive phase, understanding the moment to press, recompose, the willingness of the attackers, of Dusan (Vlahovic) to start the first pressing.

“I’m satisfied. We can improve there too and we’ll try to do it in everything.

“I think this team should and can do it.”

Juve, who won nine consecutive league titles from 2012 to 2020, are hoping for a fresh start under the Italian-Brazilian coach, whose main objective will be to restore the Turin club’s Serie A supremacy.

“Humility is always needed,” Motta added.

“Like that of Dusan today in dropping back to consolidate the team... we played well against a very good team that was coming with great enthusiasm.

“We faced them with great respect, in the right way – defending ourselves together; and when we have the ball we have players of great quality, with a great understanding of the moment and the game and we did very well throughout the match.”

Motta had more words of praise for Serbia’s Vlahovic, who had a series of chances and a goal ruled out for offside.

“Dusan had a great game with and without the ball, he is an important player for us,” he said.

Vlahovic could have doubled Juve’s advantage just before the break from a free kick, but Como goalkeeper Pepe Reina dived to deny him, before the 24-year-old striker rattled the far post seconds later.

“We need to recover from this game, regain our energy and focus on Hellas Verona,” Motta added.

“We will face a tricky team, they demonstrated that on the first day and we have to do a good job.”

Como, coached by former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, sealed promotion to Serie A after finishing second in Italy’s second tier last season, three points behind Serie B champions Parma.

“Today was a reality check. We need to be better,” Fabregas told DAZN.

“What I saw was a difference in quality... They were devastating when they took the ball off us and we gave away too many easy balls. That’s not tactics, that’s down to individual quality.”

Verona, who finished 13th last season, stunned Napoli 3-0 at home on Aug 18 thanks to a Dailon Livramento opener and a Daniel Mosquera double. REUTERS