Juventus’ Champions League baptism passes through PSV, “a good team that plays attacking football”, and the emotions of a competition that many Bianconeri have not yet experienced or have not done so as protagonists and that Motta has won twice without ever sitting on the bench. The Allianz Stadium will be almost sold out for the opening challenge, the first of eight chapters that will tell how much the year of absence from the cups has affected Juventus’ DNA, as well as the tactical revolution underway. The first obstacle, the Psv at Bossz fresh from 20 goals in 5 Eredivisie games, it is a tough test: “The important thing is to have respect for the opponent as we have done up to now – is Motta’s thought -. We must, however, think about ourselves, be focused on what we have to do on the pitch so as not to make the task easier for a team that is comfortable when they have the ball, they are used to playing and having great possession, to occupying the opponent’s half with many players who have quality, especially to play between the lines”.
PSV to bounce back after two draws
Undefeated in the league, still with zero goals conceded. And yet after the draw in Empoli the bitter taste in the mouth is the aftertaste that animates the environment, given that a victory would have meant solitary summit. However Motta assures that the draw is now behind us and Juventus’ minds are all oriented towards the debut in the Champions League, a first experience for many: “In football everything counts, experience counts, enthusiasm counts, desire, attitude, technical and physical quality counts. How are we? We feel very good, we have been working for a while to get to experience these emotions. With great happiness and pride to have arrived at this point, to experience this opportunity to start a beautiful competition against a good team and experience a great match”.
Tactical advice ahead of the debut
Even though PSV has a completely different attitude and style of play from the opponents it has faced so far (“but I don’t agree with those who called it naive”, he specifies), Motta will not overturn Juventus’ attitude. Because, as he is keen to point out, bringing the minds of those present back to the Allegri era, “football is simple” and the Juve seen up to now reflects this philosophy: “We must be a team when we defend, we must go together when we apply pressure, when it is not the right time to compact and not leave too many spaces between the lines. Little changes, the opponent certainly changes, the quality. For everything else we will be the team we want to be, to give continuity to the things we have done very well up to now, to certainly improve”.
Let’s abolish post-match interviews with coaches
by Massimo Mauro
Vlahovic and the goal swing
Among the aspects to improve is also the prolificacy in attack, which has in Vlahovic the manifesto of the difficulties he is experiencing but which cannot be attributed, according to Motta, only to the Serbian striker. After the two goals scored against Verona, he has not found the net again: “The important thing is to accept the criticism. He has scored goals, he will continue to score and I am sure of it, the important thing is that he continues with the spirit he has now, to help the team. If we have not conceded goals it is also his merit, if he does not score it is everyone’s responsibility. A ball that comes to him clean puts him in the best conditions to score, football as I see it is everyone’s responsibility. He must accept the criticism and continue forward as he is doing at the moment”.
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– 2024-09-24 23:23:03
