Former Juventus striker Alessandro Matri, a three-time Serie A champion who came close to winning the Champions League with the club, shared his thoughts on the upcoming Turin derby and the current state of Juventus. Having experienced derbies in Milan, Rome, Genoa, and Turin, Matri considers the Turin derby unique, as he explained to Gazzetta dello Sport:
What do you think about your Turin derbies?
“The most beautiful one was the first, the victory at the Stadium thanks to the goals of Giovinco and Marchisio. For many of us, it was our debut in the Turin derby, while Sebastian and Claudio were used to challenges with the Granata since they were children. Both from Turin and raised in Juventus’ youth academy: they cared about it in a special way and in that 3-0 in Conte’s second year, they proved it with their goals as well.”
Even Conte, former Juventus captain and adopted Turinese, has always cared about the derby in a special way.
“Is there a match he doesn’t care about? Conte is relentless, always!”
Who decides the derby on Saturday?
“Since my friend Locatelli is suspended, I’m betting on Yildiz. I have a soft spot for the Turk, I like his way of experiencing matches. He’s young, but he combines technical qualities with a great personality. And then he seems like a boy with always the right attitudes, for Juve and for a top club. Yildiz doesn’t complain or make a fuss if he doesn’t play, but when he enters the field, he’s decisive. I’m thinking of the two goals coming off the bench in the Derby d’Italia or the goal in the Supercoppa against Milan, when he was a starter only because of Francisco Conceiçao’s injury during warm-up.”
Who do you fear from Torino?
“Adams, a striker with important skills. Zapata’s bad injury has increased the Scot’s responsibilities. Zapata, however, remains unique in his characteristics: it’s impossible not to feel his absence.”
Halfway through the season, did you imagine Motta’s Juventus further ahead in the standings?
“In the summer, the club made significant investments in the transfer market, and I would have expected more from Motta’s team. Injuries, however, have weighed heavily: the loss of Bremer is significant.”
Did you expect more from the new signings?
“Douglas Luiz is difficult to judge. Koopmeiners is performing below expectations, but I remain convinced that he’s Juve material. Sometimes it simply takes time to metabolize the change and get used to playing with the obligation to win as at Juventus. It seems like a detail, but it isn’t: in the Supercoppa, the Bianconeri played well against Milan for an hour, but then games need to be closed out. Conceiçao, on the other hand, arrived with fewer expectations and has had a great impact: we were missing an unpredictable player skilled in one-on-one situations. Thuram is growing significantly. Locatelli isn’t ‘new’, but he’s back to his levels.”
Vlahovic is doubtful for the derby: are you of the party that believes only numbers count for strikers or also how they play?
“Numbers for center-forwards are fundamental, I grew up with this mentality. And certainly, Vlahovic’s are excellent. That Dusan is strong is not in doubt, but greater growth was expected from him in recent years.”
Juventus aim to sign Kolo Muani (PSG) or Zirkzee (Manchester United): do you imagine them as a pair or in competition with Vlahovic?
“I don’t see Vlahovic either paired with Kolo Muani or with Zirkzee: it would mean giving up a midfielder. And Locatelli, Thuram, and Koopmeiners seem almost untouchable for Thiago Motta. I imagine more of an alternation between the Serb and the potential new striker.”
Can the Bianconeri still get back into the title race with Napoli, Atalanta, and Inter?
“By now it seems almost impossible. Let’s see how this crucial month goes, decisive especially for the Champions League race. In the end, barring surprises, I believe Juventus and Milan will compete for fourth place. But let’s hope we still have the fifth Champions League slot thanks to the ranking.”
You were coached by Allegri at Cagliari, Juventus, and Milan: do you still keep in touch?
“Of course, and he seems very serene to me. We didn’t talk about Juve. Max has entered the club’s history, but in the summer, the Bianconeri inaugurated a new chapter. Comparisons between present and past, besides being ugly and wrong, don’t help growth.”
Have you decided what you’ll do when you grow up?
“I have many ideas, the only certainty is that I won’t coach: it’s not for me. The experience as a television commentator was nice, we’ll see if I’ll stay in football in another role.”
Has your partner, Federica Nargi, gotten used to having you always at home after so many years around Italy?
“In the last four months, she was away for Dancing with the Stars. Now we’re enjoying family time.”
