Thiago Motta and Manuel Locatelli appeared before the media this Monday early afternoon. They discussed Juventus' big return to the Champions League and the reception of the Dutch team PSV Eidhoven from 6:45 p.m. Here are their statements.
What is your first feeling after this return to the Champions League?
“We missed it a lot last year, it's the most important competition. We are excited and can't wait to get on the pitch. Hearing the music is special and the fans will give us a hand. There should be no fear. It's an important competition that everyone wants to play in. We work well every week and we have to start again with the work and the desire to improve.”
What do you know about PSV?
“They are a strong, organised team that plays good football. We have to think about ourselves, dominate the game. The objective is to try to win. There are many players who are making their debut, hearing the Champions League jingle is their dream as children. Then, after the kick-off, the game will start. It will not be easy, they are a great team, but it is a question of attitude. It is a dynamic that we will look for in the game but we will have to keep control of the game.”
Did Motta give you back your personal confidence?
“Yes, we have changed. I am one of the players who has been here the longest. I have been here for a long time and I have to set an example. We are a young group with a lot of desire to do. I feel good, the occupation of spaces, the way we try to dominate the game. I feel good, the season has just started and we have to continue like this.”
A group that lives well?
“It's always said like that, but we are all very close, we are a very good group of young people who want to wear this jersey. They are players that I already knew and we are all in the same boat to bring great results.”
Thiago Motta's turn
Just like Locatelli, what are your feelings before discovering the Champions League as a coach?
“A great pride to start this competition. Then, we play at home against a good team. I can't wait to start the game. It will be a good game between two teams that want to play football, for us and for the public. We want to put in a great performance to bring the result to our side. We feel very good. We have been working for some time to experience emotions like the ones we will experience tomorrow, with a lot of happiness and pride to have arrived at this moment with this competition against a great team. We want to live a great game and take it where we want and not where they want. We, inside, me but not only, live this moment with a lot of enthusiasm and a positive spirit towards the start of a different competition, other emotions and a great game awaits us.”
What is your opinion on the new format of the Champions League?
“I really liked the previous format, but this one too. We will face many different teams, but it is even more beautiful and stimulating, because we can study and see many different things. I don't think it will have much impact on the championship. We only think about tomorrow's game against a good team, and we will have time to leave them behind. What matters is tomorrow, when we get to the next games, we will think about them. The important thing is to start well tomorrow. We will have to play a good game to get the result tomorrow and then think about the next one. And so we will go until the end.”
What do you expect from your players tomorrow?
“In the end, football is simple: 11 attack and the same number defends. I want to see that tomorrow, regrouping, pressing, helping, showing solidarity and protecting our goal as we have always done. Making the difference when we have the ball and using it in the right way, attacking together and quickly, giving the team time to reach the opponent's half of the pitch and developing their game to finish the move, that's what I would like to see on the pitch tomorrow. Well, the path is good because the attitude is good, they train and behave in the right way and tomorrow we will have the opportunity to put in a good performance.
As we have done until today. We have to be a team when we defend, not leave spaces between the lines. Small changes, the quality of the opponent changes, but we will be the team we have to be and continue to improve. put it into practice tomorrow.”
What is the team's objective in this Champions League?
“The goal is to go as high as possible but it starts from tomorrow, competing, being competitive on every ball, having common ideas. Tomorrow it is important to have control and the ball on our side, we have to be competitive against everyone from tomorrow. I did a study on the number of points we need. We need 23 points to finish first. I don't know how they did this study but only tomorrow's game counts, we have to look at it game by game.”
How do you approach PSV Eindhoven?
“It is important to have respect for all the opponents we have faced. We have to think about ourselves and what we have to do on the pitch. They are a team used to having a lot of possession. We have to recover the ball a lot and exploit the opponent very well to play a different game to the one they are used to. We will face a very offensive team, with quality players. We have great respect for them, great enthusiasm and great energy. Comparing ourselves on the pitch to see the level, we want to impose our game. We are a good team, the attitude of the team is good but we want to impose our game and take the game to our side.”
Is playing the first game at home an advantage?
“It helps a lot and they want to do a little more for the fans. We have the responsibility that we have and we live well with this responsibility, it's wonderful. So many people who come to see us tomorrow. So many people who come out of enthusiasm and who come to see their team and their favorite player and that brings a great energy to do our job to the maximum and we only think about tomorrow to do a great performance. Afterwards, we will have time to think about the next game.”
A match made for Koopmeiners who knows this team well?
“We expect the same from Koop that we expect from others. He is doing well, the team is doing well, if he plays he will do his best. This summer he made a big effort to join this team, he is part of it. We only have strong players with whom we can do great things. He is doing well, he has integrated well into the group. From the beginning he understood what he had to do with his teammates to put his quality to use.”
Is Dusan Vlahovic ready?
“He's living well. The important thing is to accept criticism as it comes and things as they are and move on. He has scored goals, he will continue to score goals and I'm sure of that, the important thing is that he continues with the spirit he has now to help the team, if we haven't conceded a goal it's also thanks to him. A ball that comes to him cleanly puts him in the best position to score, football as I understand it is everyone's responsibility. He must accept criticism and continue as he is doing now.”
