In this summer transfer window, Thiago Motta has undoubtedly become one of the most notable stars in coaching. The tactician, who blends Italian roots with Brazilian flair, has not only shaped the team's glory moments with two seasons in Bologna, but also rekindled their desire to qualify for the Champions League and embark on a return to Europe's top competition.
Motta's name has been intertwined with Juventus' dugout for weeks, and the two sides seem to have quietly reached an initial agreement, but the financial woes facing the 'Old Lady' have cast a shadow over the relationship, which could reinvigorate AC Milan's interest. Despite the delay in communication, many observers and insiders are confident that Milan may take advantage of the situation to step up their pursuit of the master tactician.
Against this backdrop, every step of the process of Milan's search for a manager has been in the spotlight. At the same time, it is important to have a deeper understanding of Thiago Motta's coaching philosophy and football philosophy.
From his first test in Paris, to his honing in Genoa and Spezia, to his brilliance in Bologna, Motta's coaching journey has been a success. There have been questions about the limits of Italian football's understanding of football, particularly the failure to make the most of Thiago Motta's talents, but the high praise of Gianluigi Buffon and others highlights the extraordinaryness of the coach of Brazilian origin. Not only did he show rare success in the player-turned-coaching process, but he also achieved a magnificent transformation from the pitch to the dugout in Bologna, and reaped real achievements.
It all started with Motta's coaching spell at Paris Saint-Germain Under-19s, and a positive season that followed earned him the opportunity to move to Genoa. There, Motta made his first show of his tactical talent and innovative thinking, opening up new horizons for the fusion of Italian-Brazilian styles of football and laying the foundation for subsequent success in Spezia and Bologna.
However, his unfortunate departure in December 2019, set against the backdrop of turmoil at the club, prevented his vision from being fully realised in Genoa, in stark contrast to his illustrious rise in Spezia. There, Thiago Motta not only made a name for himself, but also caught the eye of top clubs with his ability to turn the tide in the face of adversity – he led Spezia to an early Serie A spot in a challenging 2021/22 campaign, while dealing with the impact of the summer pandemic and restrictions on the transfer market. Aware of his self-worth and the call of a higher mission, in the summer of 2022, he resolutely bid farewell to Agulotti on the Ligurian coast and embarked on a new journey in Bologna, and the story that followed has become a football story.
When it comes to Thiago Motta, fate seems to have paved the way for him. Looking back, it all seems to have fallen into place, but there was no shortage of discerning people in the past, such as Laurent Blank, the former coach of Paris Saint-Germain, who said in public in 2015: "Motta is already a commander on the pitch to some extent, and he has the responsibility of living the team's philosophy, even if it requires him to show a tough side occasionally." Blank's words reveal the dual qualities of Motta: on the one hand, it is the "complex personality" based on a deep understanding of football, and on the other hand, it is the "intellectual wealth" forged by this personality that makes it natural for him to make the transition to coaching, and he cannot and does not want to deviate from his football philosophy.
"The striker is the first line of defence, the goalkeeper is the starting point of the attack" – this is not only the core of Thiago Motta's football philosophy, but also the depth of his understanding of modern football. Back in 2013, when he played alongside legends such as Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva at the star-studded Paris Saint-Germain, Motta already had his own unique insights and forward-thinking ideas about football tactics. This concept goes beyond the traditional perception of a player's position in football, and advocates a new, all-offense, all-defense football mindset, emphasizing the full participation and seamless connection of players in each position at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends.
Since then, Motta has not rested on the glory of his career, but has set his sights on the longer term, devoting himself to learning and exploring the art of coaching. He knows that as a coach, he must not only be proficient in tactical layout, but also have strategic vision and psychological adjustment ability. This continuous improvement of self-requirements laid a solid foundation for his future coaching career.
"The game begins with the precise transmission of the goalkeeper, extends to the pressing pressure of the forward line, and wins back the initiative in the attack", this concept not only depicts the beauty of dynamic balance on the football field, but also provides a deep insight into the evolution of modern football tactics. It echoes Pep Guardiola's philosophy of possession-oriented, all-attacking and all-defensive, showcasing the perfect blend of technique and tactics in the sport. Thiago Motta clearly draws inspiration from this and incorporates his own unique insights and innovative thinking from there. He not only inherited the tactical essence of pursuing possession and pressing, but also continued to explore and strive for breakthroughs in practice, showing the relentless pursuit of tactical innovation by a good coach.
The symbiosis between Motta and his players constitutes a source of strength that cannot be ignored. In elite arenas, this spirit of solidarity often serves as a catalyst for victory. As Joshua Zirkze said in an interview with AD not long ago: "There is a lot of enthusiasm in Bologna, and it's all thanks to Motta, who is not only a great leader, but also has a lot of love for football. These words verified the deep friendship that Motta created in Bologna, and also made some people sigh that perhaps Milanello is lacking such a soul traction this season.
In the use of formations, Motta showed the profound skills of a master tactician. He has a knack for switching between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations depending on the weaknesses of his opponents and the strengths of his own team, a tactical versatility that makes it difficult for opponents to predict and maximises the potential of his players. Through this flexible transition, Bologna was able to find the perfect balance at both ends of the pitch, ensuring control in midfield without losing attacking sharpness.
Motta's high regard for possession is reflected in the team's fluid passing and control of the tempo of the game. In Bologna, fans can often see players weaving a delicate network of possession with a high passing accuracy. This control of the ball not only boosts the team's self-confidence, but also opens up more possibilities for creating the fatal blow.
Defensively, Motta emphasized not only a solid defence, but also an immediate reaction to the loss of possession. He has built a team that can quickly organize high-intensity counter-attacks at the moment of conceding the ball, using man-to-man tactics and high pressing strategies to force opponents to make mistakes, so as to quickly switch between attack and defense, this high-pressure tactic requires players to have a high level of physical fitness and tactical discipline.
In terms of offensive strategy, Motta showed his innovative spirit. He encouraged the team to play delicate short passes and space penetration in the final third, using the tacit understanding and skill of the players to break down the opponent's defence. This delicate penetration style of play not only improves the ornamentation of the attack, but also greatly increases the efficiency of the goal.
In addition, Motta's adaptability and ability to adjust in the face of adversity are equally commendable. Faced with injury problems or the absence of key players, he is always quick to adjust his tactics and uncover the hidden potential in the team, ensuring that the team remains competitive in any situation. This ability is especially valuable in the world of football, as it ensures consistency and continuous improvement throughout the long season.
Thiago Motta's success at Bologna is therefore no accident, but the result of a combination of his advanced tactical philosophy, keen tactical tweaks and an extreme attention to detail. These achievements not only earned him the honor of "Serie A Coach of the Month", but also won him the respect of his peers and the love of his fans. In the future, with the accumulation of experience and further maturity of tactics, Motta is expected to leave his mark on a bigger stage and become an even brighter star in the world of football coaching.
In the face of the influx of transfers, one wonders if Thiago Motta, the master tactician, could be the ideal candidate for Milan, and the author is convinced that Motta will bring to Milan a well-branded football philosophy, a style of football that the late former president Silvio Berlusconi coveted and, above all, a pure and aggressive attacking football that will awaken the Rossoneri's dormant glory.