Juventus must back head coach Thiago Motta, or bring in former boss Antonio Conte to replace him, according to former Bianconeri defender Leonardo Bonucci.

Juve suffered an "ugly" 4-0 defeat at home to Atalanta last weekend, only their second loss in Serie A this season.

Nevertheless, the Bianconeri sit fourth in the table - nine points behind leaders Inter - while they crashed out of the Champions League in the knockout phase playoff against PSV.

Their Coppa Italia defence also ended at the quarter-final stage last month, following defeat by Empoli on penalties, with Motta subsequently coming under pressure.

It is now five years since Juve won their last Scudetto, which was also the last of eight won by Bonucci with the Bianconeri during his decorated career.

The first three Scudetti the former Italy defender won came under Conte between 2012 and 2014.

Bonucci, who also made over 500 appearances for Juve, believes the club should look to lure the current Napoli boss back to the Allianz Stadium at the end of the season.

Alternatively, should the current regime of Motta and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli remain, the 37-year-old warned the head coach must do more than just say he was "sad and disappointed" by the Atalanta result.

"With Atalanta, we made a fool of ourselves," Bonucci told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "It hurt my heart. I don't think anything like this has ever happened, an ugly scene.

"The emotions of the fans must be respected. The atmosphere 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."

On Motta's future, he added: "It depends on what the objectives are of the club which, in the summer, invested in some players, but also in young players that they 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."