Deschamps: “We want all three points”
“There’s an element of fear attached to any game. Despite a couple of negative results in their last two games Genoa are a quality side. They are very good technically and they create a lot of chances, and let’s not forget they will also have their passionate supporters spurring them on”. Didier Deschamps is well aware of the threat Genoa will pose in tomorrow’s championship clash at the Marassi, but that won’t stop the Bianconeri from gunning for all three points. “As always, we’re looking for the best possible result. A few months ago our current position was unthinkable but although our fortunes have changed, out attitude certainly hasn’t. We want to take home all three points. Genoa need a result more than we do but that doesn’t mean we’re going to play defensively, I want the team to cause them problems throughout”. The Frenchman holds the Ligurians in high regard. “They haven’t had the results they would have hoped for of late but they are a strong team never the less. Their stadium is worthy of Serie A - a ground where titles have been won in the past - as are their fans. That makes life more difficult for us but I won’t have any problems firing up my players, they will take care of that themselves”.
There has been much talk of Juventus’ exciting crop of youngsters of late. “It’s a great satisfaction to see them out there performing with such character. But I can’t claim responsibility for their success, it’s all thanks to the youth team coaches we have here. Due to injuries they’ve been given more room to play, and they need to make the most of this chance. How they play now will go a long way to determining what part they will play in our project for the future”. Deschamps knows it will take time for them to develop fully. “It takes longer than a week for a player to mature. The real tests are against the teams at the top of the table, where it’s a case of keeping up with the physical, technical and competitive demands of the game. They need to play with character and personality tomorrow as they’ll be facing real quality in every respect”.
Just how important are these young players to the future of Juventus? “We’ll see. The demands of Serie A are a lot greater than those of Serie B. In past years they might not have had a look-in but I’m not going to deny them space. I’m convinced that in a group of 22 or 23, it’s important to have 5 or 6 young players. There’s no point in going out and buying players of similar quality when these guys can only get better. If we strengthen the team it needs to be with players who will provide a step-up in quality, players who will allow the younger ones to improve even more”.
The coach then highlighted a point he has made throughout the season. “As coaches go I’m young myself, and I certainly don’t look at dates of birth when I pick my team. If a player is good enough at 19 then he will play. There is a major difference in quality between Primavera and professional football in Italy, in other countries players grow up quicker. But this is not the same Juve as that of three years ago, from both a sporting and economic point of view, and with the investment the club has made in its youth set up, it’s essential the young players are given their chance if they are good enough”.
Gigi Buffon is another player who’s been making headlines recently and as the press conference drew to a close, Deschamps underlined once again just how much the goalkeeper means to this team. “For what he’s accomplished in the past and is accomplishing right now, for the unique position he plays, for the fact that there is simply no one else out there as good as him and from a human perspective as well, I have to say that Gigi is indispensable to both me and the group as a whole. I will do everything in my power to keep him here long into the future”.