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Juventus coach Thiago Motta speaks on the eve of the first leg of the Champions League playoff against PSV. Here are his words.

Thiago Motta’s Juventus is ready to take the field. On Tuesday, the Bianconeri will face PSV in the first leg of the Champions League playoff. On the eve of the match, Thiago Motta made statements during a press conference.

“It will be an important challenge, we all know that. It’s a big challenge for us, to be played at our best. The commitment of the players in training is at its maximum, they are ready to play with great intensity. We will have to play our game, trying to be united to achieve the qualification goal,” stated the coach.

“They are a young team that plays good football with great courage, as we saw in the first match against them. We did well but we also suffered, so we must be ready to face any situation on the field.”

Juventus, Thiago Motta’s words at the press conference

Continuing his press conference, Thiago Motta stated: “We have a young team, we can handle these commitments and we only think about the next one. Tomorrow is a very important match because we will face a team that plays very good football. In the last match, we managed to win even without playing well, it’s not an example but it was a positive step on the journey.”

Regarding the differences compared to the first months of management, Motta said: “Our goal is to reach the round of 16, and tomorrow we have a very important match to achieve that. Many things have changed compared to the first months, I like the group because everyone trains well. The big challenge is to always improve.”

“I am very satisfied with Koopmeiners”

During the press conference, the coach also spoke about Koopmeiners. “I have never said anything negative about Koopmeiners. I always see him well and I am happy from the first day he arrived. He trains very well and at his best, he has had great performances and he is growing together with the group. I am convinced that we can always give more, but I am very satisfied with his work so far.”

Finally, Motta talked about Kolo Muani and his impact. “He was very good, but his teammates also put him in a position to score. A single player alone doesn’t go anywhere, and everyone knows that well. Randal with his qualities raises the level of the group, but it’s not just him who does that.”

His words:

Now the first leg with PSV, then the challenge with Inter and then the return to Holland… What risks are there in this series?
“It’s not an excuse, we have a young team and we can handle it without problems. Every match, when you play for Juventus, is important. And tomorrow it will be, against a great team that plays very good football. Our moment is good, we saw it in the last match: with all the difficulties we have faced so far, the team’s resilience has increased. In the last match, we managed to win even without playing better than the opponent.”

How has your Juventus improved compared to the previous match against PSV?
“The important thing is the facts. Our goal is to qualify and reach the round of 16, tomorrow we have a very important match in this regard. Many things have changed, many situations in the team. I like the group, I like to see the players training and see how they are together. Tomorrow will be a different challenge, we are focused on doing our job well, entering the field determined, concentrated, and with intensity.”

Will you be emotional tomorrow?
“No, I live every match intensely. Football is about seeking emotions. I like the work, what I do, seeing the team play well, attacking. A football atmosphere. Tomorrow has all the ingredients. Today I am very calm. We know what to avoid. And tomorrow we will compete at our best against a strong opponent, we can have a great match and get the victory.”

About Koopmeiners?
“I haven’t read anything negative about him. It’s normal to talk about Juventus and our players, but I always see him well. He always trains well and always at his best. He has had great performances with the team and is growing. I am very satisfied with Koop’s work.”

Have you talked to Koopmeiners about PSV?
“PSV is a great team and we have a lot of respect for them and their coach. We will have to be at our highest level to compete with them.”

Has Juventus’ game changed with Kolo Muani?
“He was very good, but his teammates were also good. This is a collective effort, this is a team. Randal with his qualities is raising the level of the team. He is doing very well also because his teammates are doing very well and helping him a lot.”

How exciting is it to play against an offensive team like PSV?
“I like to see it a lot, these are things I believe in. I have said before: it is a positive point of many difficulties, these difficulties have made the team grow. Being able to withstand even when the opponent dominates, which has been seen in many moments, and we won the match in the same way. We know that the path to victory is not there. To win, you have to be superior, and often PSV has been superior. The match against Ajax was a match of quality, intensity, lost 3-2, but they could have also won. Great respect and great esteem for how they interpret the game, always the same, everyone has their own idea, our belief is that by overcoming the opponent – not just possession of the ball, but I have already talked about the meaning – you have a better chance of winning.”

Is Juve the favorite?
“I don’t think so and it doesn’t matter. Even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. We can talk beforehand, but it doesn’t matter. What matters are the minutes to play. Threats? We will face a team that will not sit back and will try to play. We must be focused on this match. We must surpass our opponent in everything.”

Can we expect Koopmeiners on the bench?
“No, today our captain is here with me.”

About Vlahovic?
“I see him very well like all the others. Everyone is motivated. Now we have many players, but I can’t play them all. They are all ready to play a great match. It’s the quality of the minutes they play, not the quantity. We rely a lot on Dusan and he will give a great hand to the team.”

About Cambiaso?
“He will not be available tomorrow like Bremer, Cabal, Kalulu, Milik, and Adzic.”

Where does Juve need to improve?
“We have to do everything better than our opponent. 100% on everything, in terms of determination, concentration, playing as a team, each player must raise his level for the good of the team, I like it a lot. I am happy, I am optimistic, we are going through a great moment, many can play, some may not start and they deserve it because they are training well. Those who don’t start will have the opportunity to raise the team’s level. I said in Como: those who came in raised the team’s level, at a time when there might be fatigue, but we had to maintain or raise the level. That’s what we need. Great team, PSV. We want the victory and we must earn it, it means we have to do everything well.”