Juventus: Thiago Motta’s special connection with Conte and Napoli | OneFootball

Juventus‘ home clash against Napoli on Saturday will feel particularly special for Bianconeri boss Thiago Motta as he’ll face a team that marked a turning point in his coaching career and is now managed by Antonio Conte, with whom he has a ‘fantastic’ relationship.

Motta’s Juventus will host Conte’s Napoli at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday, marking the first time the two face off in the dugout.

During a pre-match press conference on Friday, Motta was asked to comment on his experience with Conte at Euro 2016 with Italy.

The former Bologna tactician was still a player when he was included in the Azzurri’s expedition in France that he defined as ‘extraordinary’, although it ended with a defeat on penalties to Germany in the quarter-finals.

Now, he hopes to displease his former coach by beating his Napoli side. Motta already defeated the Partenopei in 2021 when he was managing Spezia, a game that ultimately changed his fortunes.

Juventus boss Motta recalls special connection with Conte and Napoli

“It was a great pleasure to work with Conte,” Motta said at a press conference on Friday, recalling when he played under the Italian tactician.

“It was an extraordinary Euro [2016]. We were eliminated by a strong side [Germany] at that moment. We were also a strong team, but in the end we couldn’t reach the target, but the rapport with Conte has always been fantastic”.

Motta will face Conte for the first time as a manager at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday, as Juventus will take on Napoli, a team that sparks positive memories for the Italo-Brazilian boss.

Back in December 2021, a relegation-threatened Spezia coached by Motta defeated Napoli 1-0 at the Stadio Armando Maradona, an outcome that was almost impossible to foresee.

Motta’s job was reportedly on the line then, but that away win bought him time and eventually allowed him to keep his post until the end of the season, which saw Spezia avoid relegation.

That turned out to be a crucial turning point for Motta, who moved to Bologna a few months later.

“Everyone changes and improves; it’s a continuous evolution. At that moment, we played an interesting game. I was struggling, and we were struggling as a team, and after that victory, things went well,” he said.

“Today, everything has changed. I coach another team, and we’ll compete against a strong side. We want to improve our playing style to get a positive result.”