Although Nick Woltemade shone with a goal in Juventus’s Europa League victory, he once again came in for criticism from the Italian press.

"It was my best game for Juve. I produced some good moments, but I can do even better," said the Germany international after scoring the equaliser in the Old Lady's 2-1 win over Celta Vigo. "Goals always give me confidence, but I want to keep improving," Woltemade added.

Woltemade's strike partner Randal Kolo Muani scored the winner in the second minute of stoppage time. "When there are two strikers on the pitch, it's harder for defenders to mark us," the Newcastle United loanee said of playing alongside the former Frankfurt player. "But I'm not the coach (Luciano Spalletti; editor's note), and whatever the manager decides will definitely be the right decision."

Marcos Alonso's botched chest control left Woltemade perfectly positioned to score his second Europa League goal for the Bianconeri since arriving in the summer. The goal did not silence his critics in the Italian newspapers, including those at Gazzetta dello Sport.

"Woltemade tries to play the role of centre-forward with the same unsuccessful persistence as a middle-aged man trying to put on his wedding suit from twenty years ago (and a few extra kilos) again," the newspaper wrote. On his goal, its verdict was matter-of-fact: it had gone "precisely into our corner".

Nick Woltemade sharply criticised after latest league appearance

Still waiting for his first Serie A goal, Woltemade continues to have a difficult time in Italy, though he has so far only appeared there as a substitute. After the 1-1 draw against Cagliari at the weekend, Tuttosport was particularly harsh on the former Stuttgart player. "Good luck, Mr Spalletti, giving this player a purpose when he currently looks like a foreign body," it wrote of his performance, awarding him a rating of 5. Other headlines described him as "discouraging", "completely out of place" and a "problem case".

His first goal for Juve came from a penalty against NEC Nijmegen in his first and, until the game against Celta Vigo, only start. The Turin club do not have an option to buy the striker, who is under contract with Newcastle until 2031.