Manchester City, the Champions League, Vlahovic and Haaland, the visit of John Elkann and the desire to win again. Thiago MottaJuventus coach, touched on many topics in his press conference before the match against Guardiola, which we present to you in full.
What match should we expect?
“It’s a great opportunity for us to face a great club like City. As always, we prepared the match to give our best, grow as a team, improve as a team, always going onto the pitch with great concentration. On what we have to avoid” .
About John Elkann’s visit?
“I can tell you that it was pleasant for all of us when he came to visit us. Everything else remains between us.”
What do you need to do to control the game?
“Commanding the match doesn’t just mean possession, to command there are many other things you need to do well. Every team has its own characteristics. They have a precise characteristic, having the ball. Coming into the opponent’s half of the field, playing with many men. We we are ready to catch them when they come to attack, press them at the right moments, play the ball with quality. It is important in these matches, to play it with quality.”
A victory would be important for going through to the next round…
“In the end we look at everything but we give priority to the most important things, today it’s about paying attention to what we have control over. Playing the game, knowing what to do against a team like City. We have to stay compact, play with intensity in situations of play, in using the ball, bring great quality because we will face a team that likes to attack. We can create difficulties for them if we play well with quality. Avoid the spaces in which they feel comfortable, in depth or between the lines So many things to think about, to prioritize to the important things at this moment. Having the concentration on what we can do. Everything else, the accounts and more, at the end of the situation that we will see tomorrow we can think of one thing or the other””.
On the injured?
“According to my philosophy, those who deserve play. If he has been out of action for a long time and comes back, there is a period of rhythm for the player. It depends on his physique, how long he has been out of action, what problems he has had. I have to take everything into account. To put the best team on the pitch.”
This Juve team has shown it has character…
“I totally agree and we can still improve, because we are a young team, we can improve on every aspect of the game. On technique, on play, on physique. Everything counts. We have shown that we have great character, in a moment of difficulty we can grow We play with great solidity. I come to the first question: if you ask a striker if he wants to play closer to the goal, everyone will tell you yes. But it’s not just that task. Kenan trains very well every training session and attacks, defends, scores goals, tries to adapt to his teammates to play at a high level for Juventus.”
In your opinion, City is in crisis?
“I can’t judge what happens at other people’s homes. I can only admire what has been done in recent years. They have won everything and I can only congratulate a team that has demonstrated enormous value in recent years, they have done extraordinary things. The Premier League 4 times in a row, they won the Champions League, the World Cup, it’s relative to talk about a moment of crisis.”
Were you inspired by Guardiola?
“He’s very strong. It’s not me saying it, but the facts, since he started his career he has won everything consistently. This is why I can’t come here to give more praise to a very strong coach.”
Is the return of injuries helping the group?
“Every situation we face must be addressed in only one way. We must give something more to help the team. When we had fewer players, we did it. Now that they are back, I am happy and happy for them, because they are the first to want to participate , the first ones who when they don’t play, whether due to technical choice but also due to injury, are not happy to have them back, starting tomorrow, both playing from the start and during the match in progress.”
Is there an area where you are behind?
“I’ve never talked about alibis about injuries, you’ve never heard me talk about how our moment is due to injuries. I don’t believe in these things. Every team goes through its moment. The moments you go through depends on how you deal with them. The situations that faces today you have to face them in the right way, going forward, working, being a team, fighting with the opponent. Sometimes we succeeded, sometimes we didn’t. Beyond this we have a match in the Champions League that we lost, all of them others we had other results. Let’s continue like this. We always want to improve and we can improve in every aspect. We have the potential to do so.”
Are there points in common between Haaland and Vlahovic?
“We’re talking about two great strikers working in two great teams. First strikers in great teams. It’s not like me to make comparisons, and I don’t even feel capable. I know Dusan very well and I know the City player from afar, it’s not same judgment. I will never allow myself to judge him. Happy with Dusan’s work, he must continue, he will have the opportunity to show his value, thinking of the good of the team.”
How is Douglas Luiz?
“He is fine. His case must be seen well, because a lot of time has passed since the last match against Lazio and now he is back in the group and we will understand how the player behaves during training, during moments in the match and his evolution for being able to have the player fully at pace.”
How heavy is this match?
“I don’t know the weight. It’s a Champions League match with two great clubs facing each other. We focus on what we need to do, what we need to do on the pitch. We want to compete against a great team today. All the rest is relative. Weight or no weight. The important thing is the pitch and being ready to play our game, having a common idea.”