TURIN, ITALY – JANUARY 18: Thiago Motta, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Juventus and AC Milan at on January 18, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
Thiago Motta explains why he starts Randal Kolo Muani on his debut and drops Dusan Vlahovic as Juventus visit Napoli. ‘He is a player we had been looking for, Vlahovic reacted very well.’
It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 17.00 GMT.
There had been suggestions he might take this action, but it is still a surprise to see Randal Kolo Muani make his debut in the starting XI for Juventus just days after completing his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain with Dusan Vlahovic on the bench.
“Randal is a player we had been looking for, who can give us a lot of movement, not allow the opposition defenders any reference points,” Thiago Motta told DAZN.
“When defending, he has important duties today to ensure Napoli cannot pass the ball around cleanly in areas that can cause us problems.”
Is Kolo Muani going to be playing as the centre-forward or a winger today with Nico Gonzalez taking the False 9 position?
“The strikers have all the freedom to change places, as Nico, Kenan and Kolo Muani can all play as wingers or as centre-forwards, so they know what to do in any position.”
Thiago Motta denies Vlahovic tension at Juventus
Randal Kolo Muani holds up his Juventus shirt after the official announcement of his signing from PSG. (Picture via www.juventus.com/it)
The DAZN crew tried to find a diplomatic way of asking if Vlahovic was upset at effectively being dropped for one of the biggest games of the season.
“Vlahovic reacted very well, he is a very positive leader in this squad,” assured Motta.
“He is coming back from a small injury, he helped the team a great deal and knows he can be a very important choice off the bench to give us different characteristics in the second half to maintain or even raise the level over the 95 minutes.”
This was meant to be a Scudetto showdown, but there are a whopping 13 points separating Juve from leaders Napoli going into this Week 22 fixture.
Kolo Muani: The Player Juventus Were Looking For
As Week 22 of the Serie A season unfolded, all eyes were on Fiorentina’s striker, Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian sensation had been on fire throughout the season, attracting interest from top clubs across Europe, including Juventus. However, in a surprising turn of events, Vlahovic failed to impress in the latest round of matches, leaving many fans and pundits questioning his ability to perform consistently at the highest level.
Amidst Vlahovic’s underwhelming performance, another player caught the attention of Juventus scouts – Kolo Muani. The Nantes forward has been in impressive form this season, showcasing his speed, skill, and eye for goal. Muani’s ability to play across the front line and create chances for his teammates has drawn comparisons to some of the top strikers in the game.
With Vlahovic’s stock falling and Muani’s rising, could Juventus shift their focus to the talented Frenchman as they look to bolster their attacking options? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – Kolo Muani is a player to watch in the coming weeks and months.
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