Juventus venture to southern Italy Saturday evening to take on league leaders Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Before the game and after Tuesday’s lackluster performance in the scoreless draw against Club Brugge in the Champions League, Juve manager Thiago Motta sat down to discuss team dynamics, the club’s new signings, and the challenge ahead.
One of the main talking points was Juventus’ busy January transfer window, as they’ve made steps to bolster their squad after their injury crisis earlier this season. Motta spoke about the integration of new signings striker Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain and fullback Alberto Costa from Portuguese side Vitória Guimarães and whether they’ll feature against Napoli on Saturday.
“The integration of the two new signings is going very well,” Motta said. “The group is working in the right way, and we have everyone available, with the exception of (Arkadiusz) Milik, (Gleison) Bremer, and (Juan) Cabal. We are ready to face this important challenge.”
In steep contrast to earlier this season where Juventus once registered just 16 outfield players for a game, Motta spoke about the competition for places that the new signings might engender, ultimately arguing that such competition is central to the team’s success.
“The hardest thing is to leave a player out, because so many deserve to play, but I can only send eleven out onto the pitch,” Motta said. “Internal competition is fundamental to raise the level of the team: at a big club like ours, it is normal that there is competition between players. With the number of games we’ve played and those we have coming up, this competition for places will provide added motivation for everyone to improve and always give their best.”
Regarding the game against Napoli, Motta asserted that the team Juventus will face in Naples represents a different team from the one they played and drew with back in September.
“I expect a different game compared to the first league fixture,” Motta said. “Napoli have regrouped, play in a lower block, and it is no coincidence that they only conceded 14 goals. However, playing at home, they will try to win the game. We want to implement our style of play and attack them with balance in order to cause them problems.”
Both Juventus and Napoli have diverged in path since their first meeting September. Motta asserted that, while both clubs remain bastions of Italian football, the two teams’ situations are not the same. As Napoli try to consolidate their lead at the top of the table, Juventus are scrambling for Champions League spots, let down by an early-season injury crisis and a relatively newer squad.
“I don’t think our situation is similar to Napoli’s, there are many differences,” Motta said. “I am satisfied with many things, while we can improve in other areas, like all the draws that have held us back. We have a young squad, with a lot of talent, which has had to face several unforeseen circumstances such as injuries, but we have always tried to overcome them with the right attitude. There have been very positive performances; sometimes we have managed to get the result we wanted, other times not. But we know that to win we must always try to be superior to our opponent, and tomorrow we want to prove that we are.”
Finally, Motta was asked about some of his players — namely, Manuel Locatelli, who, after struggling under Allegri last season, has asserted himself as a team leader and standout player.
“His character is very important; in fact, he became captain naturally,” Motta said of Locatelli. “On the pitch, he always does crucial things for the team, and for me, leadership is earned through daily attitude. He has proved to be a role model. He is a player capable of playing in different roles and, even when he plays in a position that limits him individually, he does it for the good of the team and his teammates. He never complains and always gives 200%.”
