Thiago MottaJuventus coach, spoke to the microphones of Sky Sports before the Champions League match against Lille: “Intensity will be needed because Lille makes very strong initial pressure, they are a team that knows how to regroup to defend themselves with a low block and then counterattack, they are a prepared and very organized team. We have to make a great match, to have what we want to have at the end.”
What do you take away from the performance in Udine?
“We must continue like this, improve individually but as a collective. We did well in Udine, today is another match and we must continue on that path.”
How important was Koopmeiners’ absence?
“Individuals are important, I’m very sorry for Bremer who had such a long injury but it’s part of the game. The important thing is to raise the level individually but above all collectively. In Udine we collectively did well in the defensive phase, but also in the offensive phase : we scored with a right back, that’s the way to go. We have to improve in every aspect of the game. Today we face a team that is doing well, we have to compete hard.”
Will we see a Juve that attacks more on the outside?
“We have to do everything, if the opposing team opens up we have to exploit it. If they close down we will go to the flanks to exploit two players who are very good one-on-one.”
The official lineups of Lille-Juventus
Lille (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Mandi, Diakité, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; André, Bouaddi; Zhegrova, Gomes, Sahraoui; David. Available: Mannone, Caillard, Mukau, Fernandez-Pardo, Bakker, Bayo, Costarelli, Baret, Lachaab. Trainer: Bruno Genesio.
Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Cabal, Gatti, Kalulu, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Vlahovic. Available: Perin, Pinsoglio, McKennie, Adzic, Fagioli, Weah, Douglas Luiz, Savona, Rouhi, Mbangula. Trainer: Thiago Motta