Juventus captain Danilo shared his thoughts following the team’s friendly victory against Next Gen in a recent interview with Sky Sport. The Brazilian defender, who scored during the match, expressed his joy at returning to the club’s home ground.
“Surely it was the most beautiful goal of the evening, even more beautiful than Khéphren’s,” Danilo joked. “I’m happy to be back home, with our fans, our people. It was also important for the new players to understand a bit what Juventus is, what this family is, and we’re happy to be back here.”
Addressing the situation of players currently out of the squad, including Federico Chiesa, Danilo showed empathy while maintaining focus on the team’s objectives. “I feel sorry for them, it’s a situation that’s not easy for anyone to manage. We’ve built relationships over the years, but the club and the coach have to make decisions. I’m focused on the team, on those who are available, and on getting back in shape as soon as possible. We’re working really hard. I wish them all the best for the future because they’re all important players with whom we’ve experienced truly significant moments.”
When asked about the whistles directed at Manuel Locatelli during the match, Danilo stood firmly by his teammate. “Locatelli has experienced things here and already has some experience. The important thing is that he has the support of our fans, that the environment is compact like a family. At the beginning of the season, we need to bring enthusiasm and a desire to do things well. Loca is a very important player for us, both on the field and in the locker room. We’re together until the end.”
The captain also discussed the team’s tactical shift to a four-man defense. “We talk about numbers, but even last year we played with three, but slid to four. It depends on the situations in the match, on what happens. Even today, at certain moments, we went to press high with three, with Khéphren acting a bit like a defender. In today’s football, you have to understand movements, spaces; numbers are details.”
Finally, Danilo shared his impressions of new manager Thiago Motta. “The coach arrives with a lot of enthusiasm, with a great desire to do well. He brings interesting ideas about football and is always asking us to play at our best, to go beyond our physical and technical limits. That’s what we need: enthusiasm, sacrifice, and quality. He always asks us to play good football, with good passes, control, and intensity. We’re happy to be working with him at this moment. We’re working a lot, both physically and tactically. We hope things go well.”
