Juventus are gearing up for their Italian Supercup semi-final clash against Conceicao’s Milan, with one eye on the recently opened transfer window. In a press conference, Thiago Motta addressed various topics, providing insights into his team’s preparation and mindset.
When asked about Conceicao’s potential start, Motta remained noncommittal: “We’ll see if he plays or not. He’s motivated to do well, whether from the start or during the game. I don’t think it changes anything for him; facing a big team is the only thing he needs to do.”
Regarding Koopmeiners’ position, Motta emphasized flexibility: “He can play both roles and has already demonstrated that. However, he could also start from the bench and contribute during the game, like all the others.”
On the importance of the Supercup, Motta stated: “First of all, I’ve never seen a team enter the field to lose. Tomorrow is a different competition because we face a match where you either continue or you’re out. We’ll give our all to move forward.”
Discussing Milan’s playing style, Motta highlighted the balance between individual freedom and team structure: “Francisco has freedom within a context where he must respect certain things for the team to function. It’s a collective game; there’s freedom at certain moments to express all his qualities, but then there are many things to respect. Milan is a great team with good players and a coach who’s just arrived and can do well. We’ll give our maximum on the field.”
Motta also touched on the growth of young player Yildiz: “He’s a young player, 19 years old. He manages to do important things because he has great qualities. He must continue to grow and learn to do what the coach says, also taking advantage of the many positive examples. One is Locatelli: his way of communicating with teammates is excellent.”
When asked about the possibility of winning his first title, Motta expressed ambition tempered with calm: “I want to win as a coach; that’s why I chose this profession. But for me today it’s not an obsession. I must be calm and convinced of our strength. Tomorrow we have a beautiful match with respect for the opponent and the desire to impose our game.”
Motta concluded by acknowledging the warm reception in Saudi Arabia and briefly commenting on the Saudi league: “Thank you for the welcome. We’re in an excellent place to do our job, and we can’t complain. The Saudi championship is certainly growing a lot. I can’t give an in-depth opinion because I haven’t followed many matches. But it will certainly grow quickly.”
