Thiago Motta continues Juventus experiments with new roles in versatile 4-2-3-1

MONZA, ITALY – DECEMBER 22: Juventus head coach Thiago Motta looks on prior to the Serie A match between Monza and Juventus at U-Power Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Thiago Motta sees progress from Juventus in their 2-1 win away to Monza but confirms he will continue to experiment with different players in the tricky trequartista role. “It depends.”

The Bianconeri badly needed a win in the top flight after four successive stalemates and ended their 43-day wait for success at the U-Power Stadium in Monza.

It was far from pretty as Weston McKennie turned in a corner and Nico Gonzalez got the winner around a stoppage time equalizer from Samuele Birindelli, but they remain unbeaten in Serie A this season.

It was the first time in all competitions that Juventus had started Teun Koopmeiners, Nico Gonzalez, Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao and Dusan Vlahovic together.

“Nico Gonzalez and McKennie are open to taking on roles that they don’t always have, but they do it very well because they have a high level and it’s a pleasure for a coach to work with boys who have that setting.” Thiago Motta told DAZN.

Thiago Motta wants versatile Juventus stars

The experiment only lasted until half-time, when Koopmeiners went off with an adductor problem just in case, but it was curious to see Gonzalez in the central ‘trequartista’ role behind the striker.

“We have always fought against teams that defend and go on the counter. We needed to kill the game, it’s part of the growth process, to take the extra risk against these teams and potentially allow counter-attacks,” continued Thiago Motta.

“We were able to make the transitions with quality in the second half when we took the lead, but we didn’t do it well enough.”

At one point, McKennie even moved into the trequartista role, while some are calling for Kenan Yildiz to be used there in the center. Is Thiago Motta getting closer to his ideal for that position?

“It depends on their form and the kind of game we will play against the opponent. Nico Gonzalez can do very well, I see him in training and he has already played in many roles in his career. When someone can have many different roles, it means he is aware of what his teammates are doing, he is special and wants to improve himself all the time.

“Nico Gonzalez can play on the right or left as a center forward, but I see him doing well there as well. As I said, I only use players in a role if they are convinced they can do it.”

The win strengthens their position, but Juventus remain nine points off leaders Atalanta, who today registered their 11th.^th win in a row.

“We only look at the table at the end of the season. Until then, we will take it one game at a time and try to aim for the maximum result against each opponent,” Thiago Motta insisted.