Juventus vice-president Pavel Nedved believes league standings mean nothing when it comes to facing Nantes and the break will allow both teams to prepare for the match. Juve were eliminated from the Champions League and will face the French side in the last 16 of the Europa League in February. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia after the game, Nedved touched on the draw and Juve’s recent turnaround in form:
On the draw against Nantes:
“They are 16th in the league but it doesn’t mean anything because we will play in the new year and that time will serve both them and us to fix things.”
Are Juve growing?
“Yes, let’s say we faced the last few league games well where we didn’t concede goals. We’ve done well but we’re still not in a good position as far as injuries are concerned because there are still too many players who are out but those who have taken to the pitch lately have done very very well.”
On the young players who are coming through the ranks:
“They forced their way through, they played important minutes, the young players are already ready and can and will definitely be part of this Juve and obviously the more established players are the ones we miss the most like Pogba, Chiesa, Di Maria. We will do much better and it could be a blessed World Cup break.”
It is no coincidence that there are so many young players are doing well:
“This goes to everyone involved in the youth sector, starting with Cherubini. They are not only Italians but also foreigners, we are expecting many important players from the 2000s and something important is being born. Thanks to our Juve Next Gen the jump to the first team is not so big, and it is very important for us. You see those who made it to the first team are ready, so bravo to those in our Juve Next Gen.”
On Kostic:
“We knew we were getting a solid player at the right age. At the beginning he found it difficult not only because of the setup but also because of the different type of league, because the Italian one is much more difficult from a tactical point of view. Now also we are playing with an ideal formation for him.”
