Gleison Bremer warns Juventus need patience after a 0-0 draw with Napoli, while Weston McKennie says they must try to reassure substituted Dusan Vlahovic. “We have to keep our heads up.”
The Bianconeri have played out three consecutive goalless draws in Serie A for the first time since May 1992, when Giovanni Trapattoni was the coach, but back then a draw was worth one point and a win two, so it wasn’t as damaging.
Tonight they were held on Antonio Conte’s home turf in Naples and all their possessions counted for very little.
“It’s a real shame that we didn’t win this game because we dominated it, but if you don’t score goals it becomes difficult. We are on the right track and we have to continue like this,” Bremer told DAZN after receiving his Lega Serie A Man of the Match award.
“We know we are starting a new journey, so it is not easy to put it into practice straight away. We have a lot of possession, but we are missing the final ball and we have to keep working.”
Bremer and McKennie frustrated by draw against Juventus
McKennie was on the verge of leaving Juventus in the summer but managed to return to the team under coach Thiago Motta and has now started two consecutive games between Serie A and the Champions League.
What was it about his style that convinced the tactician?
“As an 8, the way we want to play is to make sure the 8 is in the box, whether it’s me, Koopmeiners or someone else, giving options, winning second balls, making runs to the near post and scoring goals. Without goals, you can’t win games,” McKennie noted.
There was a big surprise at half-time when striker Vlahovic was replaced by Tim Weah, while pitchside reporters confirmed there was no injury, it was purely a tactical decision by Juventus.
Vlahovic only touched the ball six times in the first half, so he must have been very frustrated in the Juventus dressing room.
“Of course Dusan is a striker, he was born to score goals, he wants to score goals, it’s not like he comes to the game and says he’s not going to score today,” McKennie continued.
“He tries to give his best, sometimes it’s the right time, sometimes it’s not. As a team we have to remind him that he’s an important player for us and that the goals will come one day.”
