Di Gregorio, signed by Motta in the summer from Monza, appeared surprisingly upbeat at the post-match press conference following the Fiorentina flop.
The 27-year-old was let down by a makeshift defence, with the winter transfer window recruits of Lloyd Kelly and Renato Veiga both having a nightmare during Sunday’s showdown in Florence.
Di Gregorio and his team-mates were greeted by sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli after the final whistle against Fiorentina, with the pair entrusted to take over press conference duties while Motta went missing.
The ‘keeper, currently being monitored by English Premier League champions Manchester City, explained: “We need to react. The director [Giuntoli] spoke to us and, as always, tried to give us energy and a push to start again.
“We are the first to suffer, to be disappointed, and to know that performances like the last two are not enough — they are not up to Juventus’ standards.
"We all share frustration"
“This is the moment to come together, the staff and the coach. Everyone needs to be united, because we all share disappointment and frustration.
“Feeling sorry for ourselves is useless in football, just as it is in life. We need to work. The way out is through work, sticking together as a team, working and working.
“We follow the coach, what he tells us, his ideas. It’s hard to pinpoint precisely what’s missing, we need to approach it from every angle. We need to analyse ourselves both individually and as a group.
“These are difficult, challenging moments. We need to figure out where the difficulties lie. Now there’s a break [for international soccer], we will have time to reflect.
“When we return, we will all talk and regroup — the team will not give up.”
Project Motta faith remains
Motta has claimed that he won’t resign following this latest setback and the club are wary of dishing out millions to dispense with his services mid-season.
Giuntoli has repeatedly shown faith in Motta and splashed the cash during the summer and winter transfer windows.
He was supportive of the manager at an emergency meeting following last month’s Coppa Italia debacle, and again when addressing the press after the Fiorentina failure.
Yet Giuntoli reiterated at the press conference the importance of winning a Champions League berth for next season. Should Motta fail to achieve that, then it is highly probable that his coach journey could be halted.
Six sides are chasing the all-important fourth place behind the Serie A runaway trio of Atalanta, Inter Milan and Napoli, with nine league games remaining.