In a recent interview with Tuttosport, former Juventus defender and current Marseille advisor Medhi Benatia shared his insights on the upcoming Champions League clash between Juventus and Lille, as well as the current state of the Bianconeri. He emphasized the need for Juventus to rediscover their trademark mentality and aggression, stating, “Juventus must regain that mentality and aggression that has always distinguished them and which, in my time, was their trademark for being invincible.”
Discussing Lille, Benatia warned that they are a formidable opponent. “They’re a good team. They had some difficulties at the start of the season, but they’ve turned it around now. They have a great team spirit and players of excellent quality,” he said. He specifically mentioned key players such as Jonathan David, Zhegrova, and Angel Gomes, adding, “They’ve lost Thiago Santos, their strong right-back, to injury, and they will feel his absence. But from what they have shown so far, they are capable of putting any team in difficulty.”
When addressing how Juventus should defend against David, Benatia advised a collective approach: “I would mark him as a unit, not just man-to-man. He’s physically strong: not very tall but big and powerful. He loves to go deep but is also effective in tight spaces. His hunger for goals is impressive; he has consistently scored 26 goals in the last two seasons.”
Benatia also highlighted other Lille players to keep an eye on: “There’s Sahraoui, a very technical winger who excels in one-on-one situations; Zhegrova, who has a lot of quality and always looks to shoot with his left foot; and Angel Gomes in midfield—he’s 24 years old and came from Manchester United. He organizes play and is crucial for Lille’s game.”
Reflecting on the new Juventus under Thiago Motta, Benatia noted the challenges of integrating so many new players: “There have been many changes in the summer, similar to what we experienced at Marseille. Motta hasn’t found the right balance yet, which is normal when you revolutionize a team. It takes time to adapt to a different game and culture. However, Juve has the squad to achieve great goals.” He expressed concern over Bremer’s injury, saying, “It’s unfortunate about Bremer; we didn’t need that injury because he is a player capable of holding the defense together.”
On Adrien Rabiot’s development this season, Benatia remarked, “He’s gradually regaining his condition and consistency. I’m counting on him a lot; he’s enjoying himself with De Zerbi.”
Finally, regarding Paul Pogba’s situation at Juventus, Benatia stated respectfully: “Pogba is a Juventus player; I don’t allow myself to comment on that. On a human level, I’m happy that his ban has been reduced and that he can return to playing soon.”
