Thiago Motta:
"We have recovered Savona, Rouhi and Conceicao for tomorrow's match. As always in Florence it will be a complicated encounter, as they are fresh from their Conference League victory."
"I am thinking only of tomorrow's match, nothing else. I have been pleased with the closeness of the ownership in recent days, the Club has shown me total confidence."
"Several times we played well, but other times we did not succeed and did not win: tomorrow it will be the same story, if you are at Juventus all competitions are important. It will be crucial to be focused and concentrated on the ultimate goal, which is to earn the win."
"My future is not the priority - the only thing we are thinking about is playing a good game tomorrow to get the best possible result."
"Atalanta was good at capitalising on our mistakes: we made a lot of them and they took advantage. After a performance like that you are angry, we hoped we could do better, however, you have to get back up right away and start again. In training I saw great desire, the players worked hard to prepare as best they could."
"We always have an obligation to give our best: my players have always done that, and sometimes the games have gone well, sometimes less so. Now we are concentrated and focused on Fiorentina: it would be wrong to think about anything else."
"We will come up against a great team, as I have already said: quality players who know how to face great challenges. The first leg match is one of the best we have played this season and we failed to win: tomorrow we have to field the best version of ourselves."
"At a time like this you have to keep calm, to be able to make a careful analysis. I am the first to question myself, I know very well that the job of a coach involves this when things are not going right. But I remain focused on tomorrow's game."
"I look little at what is said outside, respecting as always all opinions and analysis: I calmly focus on analysing what did not work and what to work on to improve for the next match."
"Locatelli is a young man who cares a lot about the national team: he always respects the coach's decision, he is a great professional, but now he will take advantage of the extra time to recover as best he can and work with us over the next few days, training at his best both physically and mentally."
"All the preparation done over the past few days has been done with the aim of achieving victory: it will not be easy, but we must show that we are ready to compete in every aspect against a team that is doing well."
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Dario Canovi, father of Thiago Motta’s agent, spoke live on Telelombardia about the Juventus coach's situation and the club’s recent struggles. Here are his key statements.
JUVENTUS - “So far, his experience at Juventus has been turbulent. Last year, people only had good things to say, and now, it’s all criticism. He is facing the consequences of his mistakes, but no one has objectively analyzed what has happened at Juventus over the last eight months.”
A FUTURE EUROPEAN TOP COACH - “Thiago Motta will become one of the best coaches in Europe—I’ve been in football for 50 years, and I’m certain of it. The expectations surrounding him and Juventus’ transfer market were excessive. Andrea Berta told me that Juve’s squad was built for a fourth or fifth-place finish.”
DOUGLAS LUIZ - “He hasn’t played much, not by choice, but due to a series of injuries. Gonzalez and Koopmeiners missed preseason. Motta may have made mistakes, but he never had his full-strength defense and is managing the second-youngest squad in the league.”
RUMORS ABOUT NEW COACHES - “Speculation about other managers taking over at Juventus? Thiago Motta is only focused on working hard and expects his players to do the same. Changing lineups often? That’s due to the many injuries. He plays those who deserve it at any given time.”
JUVENTUS AS TITLE CONTENDERS? - “It was a mistake to think Juventus could fight for the Scudetto from the start of the season—anyone who said that doesn’t understand football well. Milan’s squad is stronger than Juve’s. Under Motta, Weah is becoming one of the best full-backs in the game.”
POST-PSV PRESS CONFERENCE - “I remember in that press conference, he took full responsibility for the defeat, as he always does. He would make the same choices again. Nine out of ten coaches would have said the same thing. He has always owned up to his decisions and taken criticism head-on.”
WILL HE STAY AT JUVENTUS? - “You shouldn’t ask me. That’s a question for Juventus’ management. He has a contract, but they will have to make the decision. You should ask Cristiano Giuntoli.”
[ilbianconerocom]