Juventus manager Thiago Motta addressed the media ahead of their upcoming match against Udinese, touching on various topics including player fitness, team performance, and their position in the league table.
On Juventus’ anniversary, Motta expressed his feelings: “I’m happy and honored to be part of the history of this great club. I wish the best for both today and the future.”
Regarding the team’s preparation, he stated: “The boys are doing well. We’ll have our final training session today in preparation for Udine. We’re focused on the match; we need to put in a great performance there as they play well at home.”
Addressing the goals conceded, Motta emphasized the need for collective improvement: “We need to do better as a team, be compact, help each other more. We need to regroup, be aggressive, leaving as little space and time as possible for counterattacks and finding spaces between the lines.”
When asked about Dusan Vlahovic’s limited ball touches, Motta replied: “No, it’s not normal. Dusan, along with others, must certainly do better in the offensive phase but also in the defensive phase. The issue is not about touching more or fewer balls, but how much he impacts the game, how decisive he can be in both defensive and offensive phases. That’s what counts most. Not the quantity, but the quality of what we do. For him and for others.”
On Juventus’ sixth place in the league, Motta was clear: “We need to do much better to be high in the standings, which is the important thing now. We need to go to Udine convinced, concrete, to put in a great performance.”
Regarding potential player rotation, Motta hinted at the possibility of resting Vlahovic: “Can he rest? It’s possible. It’s a situation to evaluate today as well. I must say that at this point in the season, the players are not tired, they’re doing well. It’s a time when we all need to give something extra, do better to face the next game right away.”
When asked about Juventus’ Scudetto chances, Motta remained focused on the immediate future: “It’s obvious, no club has ever won the championship now. Do I believe in the Scudetto? We’re thinking about Udinese, improving on every aspect, not just defensive, which is not just individual but collective, and offensive. We all need to do something more and better, for ourselves and for the team.”
Finally, Motta addressed the notion of “Motta’s Juventus”: “I don’t even think about these things, but with all the honesty in the world. It’s not Motta’s Juve, but Juve coached by Motta. These are the facts: it’s evident that we need to improve every day, on every aspect. Focus on what we can do to be a more competitive team, stronger, to face the opponent in the best way.”
