TMW Exclusive
It’s Juventus-Napoli day. At 6pm Thiago Motta’s team is looking for a home win against the Azzurri of former Antonio Conte. In view of the match at the Stadium, we interviewed exclusively Angel of Livio: “It’s not a challenge for the Scudetto but it’s a challenge that will tell us who is on the right track and perhaps still has work to do. I think it’s still too early to make a judgment. Let’s wait. In my opinion it will be a match that will live on explosions and whoever is good at exploiting them will win this match. On paper I see a lot of balance”.
The Juventus market?
“I think Giuntoli has worked perfectly to give quality and the right players to Thiago Motta. Juve has shown great growth in the Champions League. We are starting to see Motta’s game. I think there are really the conditions to have a top season”.
What purchase impressed you the most, apart from Koopmeiners?
“The whole: Nico Gonzalez, Conceiçao… Players who are fast and who bring that change of pace to this game. The wingers, in my opinion, complement Thiago Motta’s game.”
Did you expect Motta to do so well in recent years?
“As players grow, coaches also grow. They work on mistakes made previously. What surprises me is his great personality. In these first games he has played young players instead of veterans. He also motivates the more experienced players, makes them understand that, if they don’t give what they need to give, he relies on the younger players. And this is a strong signal he sends to the group.”
Conte to Napoli?
“I think all the fans would like a coach like him. Because he brings so much attachment to the shirt, enthusiasm, that desire to fight for every ball and brings quality. Well done De Laurentiis for convincing him to go to Naples. The purchases were targeted, done well. He has a team that still needs to be amalgamated but Antonio is also on the right path”.
Can Lukaku be the centre forward who shifts the balance with Conte?
“Lukaku is the ideal striker for Antonio. In fact, the first name he mentioned was Lukaku. With Conte he will fly even more because he knows him perfectly, he knows what his physical qualities are and he is giving signs of Lukaku”.
Napoli is the only big team that doesn’t have any cups: is that an advantage?
“If you want to win the championship, it’s a huge advantage. Then a strong club must also play in the cups. If we put it in terms of winning the championship, not playing these excruciating Champions League groups is an advantage.”
The disappearance of Totò Schillaci.
“An honor to have known a great man, a great boy. And above all a great champion. Unfortunately he leaves us along with many other friends, he leaves us too soon. A hug to the family and thanks for everything Totò”.