Juventus’ match against reigning Dutch champions PSV Eidhoven on Tuesday night will be their first Champions League match since 2022. In the meantime, Juventus has seen massive changes in administration, management and squad. Now, under new management and a busy summer transfer window, Juventus will hope to establish themselves as a dangerous and consistent force in this new Champions League format.
Everyone at Juventus, from the board to the fans, has been waiting for this moment and hopes that the club can return to its historic heights and demonstrate the all too often overlooked quality of Italian football.
During his press conference – which he held with Manuel Locatelli, one of the few players who was part of Juve’s last Champions League appearance in 2022 – Juve coach Thiago Motta acknowledged the importance of Tuesday’s match. Among the other members of the competition, Juventus are at the forefront of history with this new Champions League format and they are proud and ready to be part of it. Motta was particularly excited about the opportunity to start their European campaign at home in front of Juve’s fans, stating: “We are proud to start this beautiful competition. Also, we are playing at home. I can’t wait to start the match in front of our fans – we will wear a historic shirt and we are excited and focused for tomorrow’s match. It will be a good challenge, both for us and for our fans.”
But aside from the emotions and anxieties surrounding Juve’s return to the Champions League, tension will also be high following Juve’s disappointing 0-0 draw with Empoli last weekend. All eyes will be on Motta as he looks to get the best out of his team, and in particular his new, expensive signings who failed to impress at the weekend.
Nevertheless, Motta is ready for the challenge and optimistic about his team.
“We played well in Empoli, even if we didn’t get the result we wanted,” he said. “However, the chapter is closed, the game is behind us. The whole staff will be dealing with strong emotions – we have been working towards this for years. We want a great game, the stadium will be full. We are happy to take on this responsibility – it is beautiful and generates a lot of energy.”
Motta also touched on the team’s future prospects, particularly given the continued matches in the competition’s new format. Motta said: “The format of the Champions League is fascinating – we will be playing against so many different teams. It is a factor that is both beautiful and challenging and also changes the way we work.” Nevertheless, Motta stressed: “The most important thing is to start well tomorrow and then think about the next game.”
One of the sore points in Juve’s last two ties has been Dusan Vlahovic’s inability to break the deadlock. Having been entrusted with the only position at the top and unable to bring about any significant change, Vlahovic has been heavily criticised by the media and Juventus fans, who are gradually losing faith in his ability to change the outcome of a match. Motta defended and supported Vlahovic, stating: “He is fine. He has to accept the criticism and look forward. Attack and defence are the responsibility of the whole team. That means that if we have not conceded a single goal, it is also thanks to him and his spirit.”
Motta certainly has high hopes for his team and will have to address and deal with some of those concerns in the future. Vlahovic’s inability to score goals in the last few games has also been a symptom of the players around him. In terms of what needs to be improved and how Juventus can deal with PSV tactically, Motta said the following: “We have to treat all our opponents with great respect and that obviously applies to PSV too. But we have to focus on our tasks on the pitch. They are confident with the ball and have good players, so we have to win the ball back as often as possible and try to make them play a game that takes them out of their habits. We have to be compact in defense without leaving spaces between the lines. We have to be aggressive, impose our game and keep pushing the things we do best while trying to improve the others. I want to see a complete team. How far do we want to go? As far as possible. We have to be able to keep up with everyone and that starts tomorrow.”
Finally, Locatelli chimed in with some pre-match comments on Juventus’ prospects. As one of the most senior players at the club, Locatelli has undoubtedly taken on a leadership role in the dressing room and his performance at the press conference is a testament to that. Locatelli spoke about his role, how the team is coming together and what it’s like to be back in the Champions League.
“Last year we missed the Champions League,” he said. “It’s special to hear the music. It’s the most important competition in football and we can’t wait to be on the pitch in front of our fans. We’ve changed. I’m one of the most experienced players now and I have to lead by example. There are a lot of guys who want to make a difference and that makes it easier. We’ve got on really well because there’s a big desire to come back and play here all together at a high level.”
