Just prior to kick-off, head coach Ivan Jurić shared his thoughts with Sky Sport on what his side need to do in order to get a victory.
“My decision to turnover the squad? We know we need to manage Dybala carefully,” he stated. “Meanwhile, Dovbyk has had a tough few days with the flu and gave a big effort against Verona.”
“Today, we must win—that’s the mentality we’re focusing on—we need positivity. Our focus is on giving our all and securing the victory.”
He also addressed the situation regarding veteran defender Mats Hummels, who once again found himself on the bench, while midfielder Bryan Cristante starts in defence.
“This isn’t a definitive rejection of Hummels. This is purely a technical decision: I always aim to field the lineup that gives us the best chance to win, and tonight, I feel this is the right choice.”
The Croatian also weighed in on the Giallorossi’s recent string of poor results.
“I believe our last two games were excellent, and the team played good football,” he explained.
“Strange things happened in Verona—both our mistakes and refereeing errors—but the performance was there, just like against Torino. The players are showing their determination to do well.”
He continued, “Tonight is crucial for us. When you’re in a negative spiral, every match becomes important. We want to play well, improve our game, and raise our concentration levels.”
“What I see in training and during the last two games satisfies me. We need to believe, be resilient, stay strong, and aim for a great performance and a win.”
