Juventus manager Thiago Motta held a press conference ahead of the team’s match against Parma, set for tomorrow evening at the Allianz Stadium. His remarks covered various topics, including team dynamics, player availability, and expectations for the upcoming game.
Motta began by discussing what he anticipates from the match against Parma. He stated, “It will be a different match. We want to compete and deliver a great performance to get the result. We must earn it. We need to do well in all phases to increase the probability of a positive outcome.”
Addressing rumors regarding defender Federico Gatti, Motta emphasized, “There is no misunderstanding, no drop in training commitment. These are choices I make before the match, and we need everyone. Federico is part of this group. When he has played, he has done well. Choices are made for the good of the team. But there is nothing to it at all.”
When asked if striker Dusan Vlahovic might rest during the match, Motta replied thoughtfully, “We’ll see when the moment comes and which match we’re facing. We’ll consider what we need up front. Many players can play with different characteristics. We’ll see when the time comes, if it comes.”
Motta acknowledged that there are aspects of their game that require improvement, particularly in avoiding penalties against them. He remarked, “It’s definitely something we need to improve. We have to finish every match with 11 players and not cause penalties.” He also discussed managing difficult moments during games: “We need to handle those first 10-15 minutes of the second half better. We must stay in the game and unite more; everyone faces tough moments during a match.”
In terms of player availability, Motta confirmed that Gleison, Douglas, Arek, and Nico would not be participating in the match. However, he noted a positive update regarding Koopmeiners: “We are recovering Koop; we will see if he starts or comes on during the game.”
Motta had high praise for Parma, describing them as “a very good team with interesting players who prepare very well for matches.” He stressed that Juventus must perform at their best in both offensive and defensive phases: “As always, we need to play our game at maximum capacity and do our best to turn it in our favor.”
Reflecting on Juventus’ recent performance against Inter Milan, he said, “There were moments when we did very well; however, those 10-12 minutes at the beginning of the second half need better management.” He added that while they finished strongly, they must maintain focus on future matches: “The positive aspects should continue, but our minds are 200% focused on Parma.”
Motta concluded by reiterating his focus on the upcoming match rather than external distractions or opinions about other teams: “I’m focused on our nice calendar; everything else matters relatively little. Especially tomorrow. Because the next one is the most important.”
