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Juventus midfielder Teun Koopmeiners has given a brief interview to Repubblica on the eve of today’s match against Wyad Ac Casablanca.

Read the full interview with Koopmeiners here

Koopmeiners’ words

Are you ready to come back, Teun?
“Yes, yes, yes, finally things are getting better. I’ve been out for another three months and clearly I’m not at 100%. In this tournament, I need to improve game by game.”

Do you still not feel ready to play a full match?
“I talked to Tudor, I told him that I still need time to improve my condition but also because it’s important that my Achilles tendon doesn’t bother me anymore. I don’t know how much more time I need, but that’s how it is.”

The further you go in the World Cup, the better it is for you, right?
“Of course, it’s a great opportunity to come back and help my teammates but above all to win a trophy with Juve, which was my goal when I came here.”

You talked about how you are physically, but how is your mood and morale, after such a difficult season?
“Now I’m calmer, but it hasn’t been a very good season, eh, both because we haven’t won anything and because of how I played. I’m not happy, but I also had, what do you call it?”

Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani in thoughtful conversation (PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI)

Bad luck?
“Exactly, bad luck. But I haven’t lost confidence and there’s still a chance to finish on a high note.”

Were you only held back by injuries or also by the weight of expectations?
“I had to do better regardless, that’s true, but it wasn’t an easy season for anyone because we made a lot of changes at all levels: we started with many new players, then the coach and management changed, and that didn’t help our growth. It takes many games to learn what the coach asks of us, so I believe next year will be better and already here in the United States we work every day for that. I lacked continuity but it depended on many small factors, to have it you need a strong team where everyone helps each other.”

Among those factors, is the pressure of being worth what you’re worth also a factor?
“I know, I know, when you’re paid a lot of money, for example 50 or 60 million, and the team isn’t performing, you’re the first to be criticized. I feel this responsibility, I know I have to do better and I can do it: I have the abilities to play for Juventus and I want to prove it.”

Do you feel indebted to Juve?
“Yes, in every training session and every game I want to show what I’m worth. As I said, I just need a little time, since I still don’t feel my tendon at 100%. The important thing is to be at the top for the start of the season.”

How are things going with Tudor?
“I also played with this system at Atalanta. Now I’m a bit further forward, while in Bergamo I was a bit deeper in midfield.”

What do you prefer Tudor to ask you to do in the 3-4-2-1 formation: one of the two central midfielders or one of the two players close to the striker?
“I play where the coach needs me, but certainly in general, I’m a midfielder and not a forward, so even when I’m further forward, and maybe Tudor wants me to stay there, I interpret the role as a midfielder and not as a right or left winger or as a number nine.”