'Hurt my heart' - Leonardo Bonucci calls for Antonio Conte to replace 'sad' Thiago Motta at Juventus as club legend rages over 'ugly' 4-0 loss to Atalanta

Former Italy defender Bonucci described Juventus' defeat as an "ugly" day for the Old Lady and believes that Motta needs to do more than just saying he is "sad and disappointed" with the result. He added that his former boss Conte - whose Napoli side sit second in Serie A - should be recruited in the summer, or Motta needs to be given more time to turn the club's fortunes around.

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "With Atalanta, we made a fool of ourselves, it hurt my heart. I don't think anything like this has ever happened, an ugly scene that brought me back to the times of Covid. The emotions of the fans must be respected, the Stadium of the last matches puts pressure on those who have little experience and leadership. I hope that it returns to being the extra element that has characterised so many victories.

"It depends on what the objectives of the club are, which in the summer invested in some players but also in young players that it enhanced: if you want to win right away, in June you change and take Conte, otherwise you give Motta and Giuntoli time to create the foundations to return to winning ways. Thiago Motta must learn that coaching Juve is a world apart, saying that you are sad and disappointed is not enough."

Juventus' season is threatening to fall apart after crashing out of the Champions League and failing to retain their Coppa Italia crown in recent weeks. Motta's side still sit fourth in Serie A but they are in a fight to qualify for next season's Champions League and questions are being asked of Juve's manager.

Motta's side will hope to bounce back from this humbling loss when Juventus travel to Fiorentina in Serie A on Sunday.