Ivano Trotta, a coach and former player for Napoli and Juventus, spoke on ‘1 Football Club’ about Juventus’s current situation.
Is Juventus’s performance this season disappointing?
“Yes, definitely, especially in the last two matches. Conceding seven goals and scoring none is significant. Motta’s statements, always calm despite the difficult situation, are perplexing. Choosing Thiago Motta seems to have been a mistake, at least for now. Maybe things will change, but Juventus is in a tough spot. They backed players they believed in, but they haven’t delivered. Match management is also concerning; they concede goals, and substitutions seem confused. Motta did well at Bologna last year, but considering Italiano’s work, Bologna’s club structure, especially Giovanni Sartori, a football expert, likely helped Motta manage the team.”
Do you think Juventus might sack Thiago Motta?
“I don’t think they will sack him mid-season, but it could happen in the summer.”
Regarding Giuntoli, does he still deserve trust?
“The only criticism of Giuntoli is choosing Motta, which hasn’t worked out. However, Juventus is rebuilding from scratch, which is difficult. So yes, I would continue with him; he has shown great ability over the years. New players need to come in, and others must leave. Seeing Vlahovic and Yildiz on the bench against Fiorentina is puzzling. This management is unclear and risks devaluing important players.”
There’s been talk of Juventus’s strong interest in Antonio Conte. Could he leave Napoli at the end of the season for Juventus?
“If Conte leaves Napoli, it won’t be because of Juventus’s pressure but because he might lose faith in Napoli’s project. There were some minor issues in the January transfer window between him and De Laurentiis. We need to see if this is resolved in the coming months or if it will be a problem when discussing next season.”
You mentioned building a project. Is Inter Milan an example of a well-built team over time?
“Exactly. Inter was built over time and has a strong coach, Inzaghi, who I rate highly. He remained steady even in tough times, handled criticism well, and there were no internal disputes. Napoli, for example, has seen different situations. Inter also has competent directors. They have debts, but they built a winning team, while Napoli has maintained financial fair play. They are different approaches, but Inter is currently very difficult to play against.”
Is Inter’s success due to player quality or the balance between team and coach?
“Managing many top players is challenging, but at this level, you need players who accept their role even if they don’t always start. At Inter, players like Arnautovic always give their best when they come off the bench. Inzaghi has avoided internal conflicts, which makes a difference. They compete in all competitions, which is significant. Historically, winning with Inter has been tough, even for great coaches. Mancini won, but his Inter didn’t play great football. Mourinho’s Inter won everything but wasn’t known for beautiful play. This Inter is enjoyable to watch.”
What’s the difference between Spalletti’s Napoli and Conte’s Napoli?
“Spalletti found a healthy environment with players ready to commit. Conte had to rebuild a group that had lost confidence. Some wanted to leave; others were unhappy. His job was more complex than Spalletti’s in such a short time. He had to recreate synergy between the team, fans, and club after a difficult season with three coaching changes.”
There’s talk of Napoli’s interest in Federico Gatti. Do you like him as a player?
“Honestly, I’m not a huge fan. He’s a physically strong defender, but he doesn’t give me the security I look for in a center-back. Buongiorno, for example, is someone I can rely on 100%. Gatti’s performances are too inconsistent.”
Moving to attack, there’s talk of Osimhen moving to Juventus. Would he be considered disloyal?
“No, I wouldn’t see it that way. Osimhen has done extraordinary things at Napoli, like Higuaín before him. Today’s football is like that; players often change teams. The problem isn’t joining Juventus, but his attitude at Napoli in recent months hasn’t been the best. He seemed eager to leave, affecting his performances. If he had remained as motivated as with Spalletti, Napoli would have more points. Comparing Osimhen and Lukaku, both are strong strikers with different traits. If Osimhen had been at his best, Napoli’s season could have been very different because his goalscoring ability is much higher than Lukaku’s.”