The 42-year-old recalled Dusan Vlahovic for his first Serie A start in 2025, and his gamble paid dividends with a stylish goal.
Juve were expected to breeze into the Coppa Italia semi-final when they tackled Empoli midweek, only to come a cropper 4-2 in the penalty shootout after a 1-1 stalemate at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
Frustrated home fans vented their anger at half-time, full time and after the defending champions were knocked out.
Motta was furious during the post-match press conference, criticizing his players and apologising to both the club and their fans. There were rumours swirling in the Italian media that he had started to lose the dressing room.
There followed an emergency meeting. It was decided that the Brazilian-born boss would continue with his three-year plan of Project Motta, which kicked off last June.
Scudetto is up for grabs
He has 12 Serie A games remaining this term. His aim is not just to secure a top four finish that guarantees European soccer next term, but also to try and win the Scudetto.
The Bianconeri sit fourth, nine points behind table-topping Inter Milan but with a game in hand. Juventus host Hellas Verona on Monday.
Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport reported that the squad are staying at the club-affiliated J-Hotel the night before the important match. Usually the Juventus team only stay when kick-off is in the morning or early afternoon.
Under pressure Motta spoke candidly in the pre-match press conference about their Coppa Italia shock defeat, and said: "I was angry after Empoli because I love my players very much and because I know them.
“Losing a game [to Empoli] the way we did isn't simple. There is great disappointment from everyone.
“In my role, I make decisions for which I spend a lot of time to avoid making mistakes with them, because I love the guys, but then there are decisions that I have to make and for this reason our relationship is fantastic.”
Ready to tackle Hellas Verona
He was optimistic about steadying the ship by masterminding a victory over relegation-threatened Verona, who stunned Fiorentina 1-0 last weekend.
Motta added: “Our duty and our job is to think about the next game, prepare ourselves, train and be ready to face the next opponent at our best. We must put all our energy into playing a great game technically, physically and with great character.
“Our opponent is Verona, it will be complicated. At the same time we have great energy and a great desire to transform this anger of ours and demonstrate, on the field, that we are superior to the opponent and to get all three points.
"We always take to the field to win, at this moment even moreso, and in every game we will enter the pitch and give our best. Our ambition is to add three points to reach our goal [for a top four finish].”
Boos expected around Allianz Stadium
Champions League and Coppa Italia exits in the space of a week, despite being on a roll of four Serie A wins on the bounce, have resulted in the Juventus Ultras issuing a statement that they will protest for two days. This includes booing in the Curva Sud during the home match against Verona.
Motta responded about the reaction from fans this week: “We feel the same disappointment that the supporters felt. Fans have the freedom to express themselves. We have the same anger as them.
“We don't want to repeat what we did in the [Coppa Italia] cup and we want to give our best, I expect a complicated match.”