La vecchia signora morente
Photo credits to Maria Bobroba via Unsplash.com
Juventus, the most successful club in Italy, has been slowly deteriorating before our very eyes. With many exits over the years from players to managers to board members, the club has slowly become a shadow of its past self. A team that once won 9 scudetti in a row nowadays awkwardly sits at 5th place in the Italian football league. A club with renowned success that transcends to European glory and familiar league dominance has sunk to an unrecognizable level for many diehard Bianconeri.
In this season particularly, new manager Thiago Motta has come under intense pressure from the devoted Bianconeri about the club's performances. After inheriting the managerial role from Massimiliano Allegri, the club would eventually start this new era under Motta with the departure of key players such as Federico Chiesa and youth talents such as Dean Huijsen and Matías Soulé. The exit of Allegri also meant the arrival of a brand new era, of which the fans were promised the revival of the team to their old winning ways; yet, in a twist of fate, fans were presented with quite the opposite.
Recent fixtures subjected the Bianconeri to embarrassing performances, including a 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina and a 4-0 loss against Atalanta. Prior to these thrashings, the Italian football club had stale performances all season, with 13 draws out of 29 games in Serie A. Unfortunately, there is not just one reason why the club isn't performing well, as it is a chaotic mashup of various crucial factors. Motta's playing style, mixed with many underperforming key players and puzzled board members, have all contributed to this shamble of a season the club is experiencing. The playing style is not suited to the abilities of the players in the squad, and the constant readjustments to tactics have also played a massive role in the goalless games and odd defeats. This awkward season is also a direct result of mismanagement by prominent individuals in the club, such as Cristiano Giuntoli.
Many players brought in under Motta and Giuntoli's collaboration have not been up to par with Juventus's standards, resulting in no strong key team and zero squad depth. Key players, promised as the core talent in the team, have also been severely underperforming, with a lack of consistent attacking advancements and defending exhibited in the first team. The lack of solid performances from Juventus players has also been shown in the many draws and lack of goals in games during this season. Whether that is down to players not understanding Motta's style of play or not adjusting well to the ever-changing system, it is clear that something has to change.
Bianconeri's who started the season hopeful that the change would lead them in an upward trajectory are now at odds with their beloved club. The current lifeless state of the club is a complete stranger to the Bianconeri's who knew and supported the "old" Juventus with their strong teams that would win countless domestic trophies and excel in Europe. Many fans are divided on Motta's managerial abilities due to the lack of great results and question this "project" for which they were once hopeful about.
Poll conducted on @CaledoniaCalcio via X
Over the course of the season, many fans started seeing cracks in this so-called "project," and in true football fan fashion, the hashtag #MottaOut would trend on social media sites such as X and Instagram. Many other fans believe that Motta's "project" is well underway and that the manager needs more time and resources to further execute and develop his plan, labelling the present formation of Juventus as a transitional period for the club. The supporters as a whole are divided on this topic, which not only affects the player's morale but leaves some sort of dissatisfaction in the mouths of many fans who put all their support and spend their hard-earned money on their beloved club, which doesn't seem to acknowledge that and in return gives nothing.
The Bianconeri's support is crucial for the overall development and longevity of the club. A club whose slogan is "Fino Alla Fine," translating to "Until the end" in English, and the melody of "Juve, storia di grande amore" blasting before every match, has to advance through this uncomfortable rut and return to its glory days.
After all, what is a club built on the basis of resilience and legacy without its fans?