This Friday was the day before Juventus-Napoli, the long-awaited big match in which Antonio Conte will return to challenge his past at the Allianz Stadium for the fifth round of this new Serie A. In the press conference, as usual, the new Juventus coach spoke about this and many other topics Thiago Motta. Below are his main statements collected by TMW at Continassa.
What kind of match do you expect?
“Great match with many strong players. Great match with strong players on the pitch, competing on the pitch and seeing what we can do tomorrow, with our fans. Approaching the match seriously, responsibly, respecting the opponent, playing our football and moving forward like this.”
How is Gatti?
“Fede is available. Only Conceicao and Milik will not be available. All the others can play. Fede has trained well and will be available.”
A memory of Conte as a coach? Did you take something from him?
“It was a great pleasure to work with Conte. We came out against a strong team. We were also a great team that failed to achieve the objective. The relationship with Conte was fantastic.”
Is not playing cups an advantage?
“Who knows if there is an advantage. It is how it is. The calendar is this one. We have to go and face game after game, the next one is against Napoli. They are a good team. I have already said it, they are a team built to aim for the Scudetto. Not long ago they won the Scudetto, they played extraordinary football, it was talked about in the world. We go our way, the ambition to always improve. For us and for our fans. Spend a great evening together”.
How do you work on Vlahovic?
“This is part of the healthy ambition to always improve. The game is not just motivation. Many things done well to be able to play well and to be able to make the team play well: Dusan is very well, I see him every day, smiling, positive. The last game he did a great defensive and offensive job, also creating situations for his teammates. I am very happy with his work and he must continue like this”.
Would he sign to win three Scudetti or does he have the ambition to win in Europe?
“First of all, I don’t have that piece of paper. I don’t think about that. I think about today. We had a great training session. We put in a little more. I’ll spend my day at the sports center preparing something for tomorrow and for the future. My family will be arriving tonight and I haven’t seen them in a while. I’ll spend the evening with them. I’ll rest more to concentrate. Then I’ll do my best. I’m happy, I’m giving it my all and that’s my greatest satisfaction.”
What do you think about the systematic fouls on Kvara?
“I can talk about my guys. My guys don’t go to commit fouls, I can assure you of that, and they always want to play football. My guys never throw themselves in and try to respect the game. In a general context, I have always defended the game. Dangerous fouls are not good. Remember a while ago: there were a lot of dangerous tackles where it was more difficult to whistle. Today there is also VAR. We have solved that, we are discussing how to improve the time wasters. And then the simulations: we have gone to the other extreme. Fouls that cannot exist and then the contact, they roll around, it becomes cinematic, and it becomes too theatrical. It doesn’t do the game any good. Between all of us we are working to respect the game and so that the show is seen well by everyone. For the public who wants to watch football, but also the people at home, on TV. They want to see players who go. Without simulations, without wasting time. Without this you will see a beautiful show”.
After two disappointing draws against Empoli and Roma. Now against Napoli would you be happy with a draw?
“These are assumptions that won’t happen, because we have drawn two games against different teams. But they were very different games. And tomorrow will be different. We respect the opponent, but we want to put in a great performance and get the game on our side.”
Do you feel similar to Conte as a coach?
We are all different. But I see that right now you are focused on me and Conte, tomorrow Juve-Napoli is played, in the end the protagonists will be the players, hoping that ours will demonstrate the values, respecting the game and giving their all, taking the game where we want”
Have you ever had the chance to coach Napoli?
“No”.
Read all of Thiago Motta’s words in the press conference here!