Meet the Former PSG Midfielder Who Has Transformed Serie A Club Into Contenders for UCL Places

• Thiago Motta has transformed Bologna into a Champions League-chasing team
• The former PSG midfielder is one of the most promising young football managers
• His Bologna side sit just two points behind third-placed Juventus in the Serie A

We need to have a serious discussion about Thiago Motta.

In terms of promising young managers in Europe, the spotlight is primarily on Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, and rightfully so.

The former Liverpool man is on course to secure an unprecedented title with Leverkusen who are on an impressive unbeaten run this season.

In the Serie A, however, there lies another former midfield maestro who is turning out to be a masterful tactician in the dugout.

Motta, 41, took charge of the Serie A club in 2022 after failing to agree terms with the low-spending Spezia.

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In his first season in charge of I Rossoblu, Motta showed glimpses of promise, guiding the club to a ninth-place finish in 2022/23, the highest the club has managed in a decade.

This was not a fluke either, as Motta has now firmly instilled his principles in the team, and with the help of owner Joey Saputo and expert recruitment of technical director Giovanni Sartori, the team has continued with its remarkable resurgence.

Bologna on the Serie A this season

Under Motta, Bologna has been on the ascendancy, going from a club whose main objective at the start of the season is to avoid relegation, to becoming genuine contenders for European football.

According to ESPN, the club conceded just six goals in their opening eight fixtures, a stat that highlighted their intent to avoid defeat.

Motta has applied his preferred 4-2-3-1 system which has worked tremendously well as his team is a combination of balance, discipline and threat up front.

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Like Alonso’s Leverkusen, Bologna have also shown mental grit, coming back from losing positions to earn points on seven separate occasions.

It goes without saying that Motta has been the mastermind behind this brilliant stat, as he is never afraid to make the necessary changes to his squad during games, and practically all his players have a part to play for the team.

The transformation of Ferguson

Speaking of players, one midfielder in particular has proven to be a gem for Motta’s team, and he was only signed for £3m - £2.1m up front and £900,000 in add-ons, according to Sky Sports.

His name is Lewis Ferguson, a Scotland international who is one of the most important players in the Bologna squad.

The former Aberdeen man can play almost anywhere in midfield and has struck up a frightening linkup with striker Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee.

Bologna closing in on history

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If the Serie A season ended today, Motta and Bologna should be proud of what they have achieved, regardless.

But as mentioned earlier, avoiding relegation is no longer the target, as Bologna is aiming higher.

With eight games of the season remaining, Motta and his wads want to qualify for Europe for the first time in 22 years.

Their latest 3-0 win over Salernitana on Monday, April 1 further cemented their credentials as a team to watch between now and the end of the season.

Thomas Tuchel concedes Bundesliga title

In the Bundesliga, Sports Brief reported on how Thomas Tuchel conceded the title to Bayer Leverkusen.

This came after his side’s 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening.

Bayern’s defeat coupled with Leverkusen’s win over Hoffenheim left a 13-point gap between first and second place in the German top flight.