Juventus has not lived up to expectations this season. The reigning Italian champions are currently in third place in Serie A, ten points behind Inter, and most recently lost in the league to bottom side Benevento. Earlier in March, there was also a travel pass in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Portuguese Porto.
Dejan Kulusevski has gained a lot of confidence from coach Andrea Pirlo and has had to shoulder a lot of responsibility during the debut season. He admits that the season did not go as expected.
– It’s a disappointment, absolutely. We are Juventus and we want to win the league every year and we have had a hard time. Above all, we have to start playing better and I also think we have to show a much better game than what we have shown then we can look at the results.
When asked how the mood has been at the club as the results have not gone Juventus lately, Kulusevski answers:
– It is clear that this is not the atmosphere we want it to be. Some days are tougher than others but that’s when the real masters show up. That’s when you have to train harder and not settle for less. You can not feel sorry for yourself. Everyone needs to look at themselves in the mirror and do better, he says.
Kulusevski on the disappointment at Juventus
The Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that Juventus president Andrea Agnelli confronted Andrea Pirlo in the locker room after the team lost at home to Benevento in Serie A. According to reports from the newspaper, screams and insults were heard from inside the team’s locker room. However, Kulusevski is unaware of the incident.
– I did not see any of that, he says at the press conference.
How do you see your own season at Juventus?
– It has gone well, it is not the easiest thing in the world to join Juventus as a 20-year-old and play as many matches as I have played. I struggle, it has not been the easiest, but I think both I and the team do our best.
What have you learned the most?
– It has been a completely new thing. In the team I played in before, I have had a lot more ball and now you have to adapt much more to the players you play with. It has been a completely new thing for me and it will probably take its time, but it is very useful, to get it at the young age I am in. I have some left.
Kulusevski continues:
– Above all, there have been a lot of changes of place and I’m not used to that. I have played in a new position in every match and it has been very educational, but I feel that I am very close to where I want to be. Only the last thing is missing.
