Juventus coach Thiago Motta expressed his satisfaction with his team's performance following their comfortable 3-0 victory over Como in the Serie A opener on Monday. The Bianconeri delivered a convincing display, defeating the newly-promoted side with goals from Samuel Mbangula, Timothy Weah, and Andrea Cambiaso in their season debut at the Allianz Stadium.
"I was pleased with both the performance and the outcome. We fully deserved the win," Motta shared during a press conference. "Today, I appreciated the defensive strategy, the timing of pressing, repositioning, and the eagerness of the forwards, particularly Dusan Vlahovic's initial pressing effort." He added, "I'm content with our current progress. There's room for improvement, and we aim to enhance every aspect. I believe this team is capable of doing so."
Juventus, champions of nine consecutive Serie A titles from 2012 to 2020, are looking for a revitalized beginning under the Italian-Brazilian coach, with their primary goal being to reclaim the Serie A title after a four-year absence. "Humility is crucial," Motta emphasized. "Like Vlahovic's role today in supporting the defense... we played effectively against a highly motivated team." He continued, "We approached them with utmost respect, defending cohesively; when in possession, we showcased high-caliber players with excellent game awareness, performing well throughout the match."
Motta, 41, also commended Serbian striker Vlahovic, who had multiple opportunities and a disallowed goal due to offside. "Dusan had an outstanding game on and off the ball; he's a vital player who needs the support of the team," Motta stated. Vlahovic nearly extended Juve's lead just before halftime with a free kick, but Como's keeper Pepe Reina made a save, and the striker later struck the post.
"We must recuperate from this match, restore our energy, and concentrate on our upcoming game against Hellas Verona," Motta noted. "We're set to face a challenging team, as they showed in their first match, and we need to perform well." Verona, who ended last season in 13th place, surprised Napoli with a 3-0 win at home on Sunday, thanks to goals from Dailon Livramento and a brace from Daniel Mosquera.
