Juventus begins the year 2025 with a very big shock in the semi-final of the Italian Super Cup. The Old Lady meets AC Milan this Friday at 9 p.m. in Saudi Arabia. Before this shock, Thiago Motta and Manuel Locatelli spoke to the media.
What type of match can we expect?
“It certainly can't end in a draw… We want to win to get closer to the trophy, they have changed coach and will play differently. We have to play a match of great intensity, with a lot of desire, to try to win. We are excited and motivated It's a great opportunity and we will see tomorrow if we can reach the final. They are certainly very strong up front and we also have to have a good game in the defensive phase. .”
Is it a good idea to play the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia?
“I'm not the best person to give my opinion but we had a wonderful and special reception. It's good that Juve is supported all over the world, we also want to win for our local fans.”
Is the number one goal to win the competition?
“The starting point was the summer when we met again. We are now in a growth phase and this could be an opportunity to bring home a trophy.”
An honor to wear the captain's armband?
“When I wear the armband it's an honor and a great responsibility. I've always been a Juventus fan: wearing the armband is something I can't describe in words, I'm happy about it. I felt good behind and I am at the coach's disposal.”
Thiago Motta’s turn
Can a final victory in the Super Cup be the start of something?
“I have never seen a team come on the pitch to lose. Tomorrow is a different competition. We have to do what we know how to do on the pitch and try to win the match. Milan are a great team with a excellent coach who has done very well at Porto We will give the They are good games to play and we are doing this work to compete at this level I can't imagine a player tomorrow who doesn't want to be on the pitch. beautiful moments that must be managed well. We will be ready to face them. the best Milan, because we are doing well. We know what we have to do to face a great team.”
What could be the key to tomorrow's match?
“At the end of the day, in a football match everything makes the difference, starting with the small details: as I said before, we will have to be focused and determined to be the best version of ourselves, to improve what didn't work and to ensure continuity with what we did well I want to win as a coach, that's why I chose this job. But for me today it's not. not an obsession, I must be calm and convinced of our strength. Tomorrow we will have a great match with respect for the opponent and the desire to impose our game.”
How to explain the team's repeated draws?
“I agree that he never loses, but he never wins, because we won. It's part of the game: sometimes we deserved it, other times less so. There were different moments , for example against Fiorentina we did a lot of things very well and we didn't manage to close the match, in other matches things went differently and that's part of the game. We are not certainly not satisfied and the table says that we must improve, because we don't want to stay in this position.”
Conceiçao, Koopmeiners… Who will start the match?
“We will see if Chico plays. Francisco is motivated to do well. I don't think anything will change for him. We have to face a big team and he knows he has to face it as always. Koopmeiners can play both roles . But he could also start on the bench like everyone else.”
How is Kenan Yildiz evolving?
“At the beginning he is a young player of 19 years old. He manages to do important things, because he has great qualities, he must continue to grow and learn to do what the coach says, also taking advantage of the many positive examples is Locatelli: his way of communicating with his teammates is excellent.
