Juventus must be in top form to pose Manchester City problems: Manager Thiago Motta

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Juventus manager Thiago Motta emphasised that his team must be at their absolute best to cause problems for Manchester City in their crucial Champions League clash on Wednesday. Juventus sit 19th in the group standings, level on eight points with 17th-placed City after five games.

Despite a promising start with two consecutive wins, Juventus stumbled to a shocking 1-0 defeat to VfB Stuttgart, followed by draws against Lille and Aston Villa. “It’s a Champions League game, two big clubs facing each other. We have to concentrate on what we have to do; everything else is relative,” Motta said during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.

Juventus are currently sixth in Serie A and remain unbeaten domestically this season, a record Motta believes is indicative of the team’s growth. “We are a young team that can improve in every aspect of the game. We’ve shown great character and solidarity on the pitch,” he said. “To face a team like Manchester City, we must stay compact, play with intensity, and bring a lot of quality to create problems for them.”

Both teams head into the clash dealing with significant injury setbacks. Juventus have confirmed that midfielders Weston McKennie and Douglas Luiz returned to training and are expected to be included in the squad. However, defender Andrea Cambiaso, injured in the 2-2 draw against Bologna last weekend, joins a lengthy list of absentees, including Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Arkadiusz Milik.

Addressing the issue, Motta expressed confidence in his squad: “Those who deserve to play will play. I’m happy to have players returning, but our problems, when they exist, are not solely due to injuries.”

Manchester City, meanwhile, have been enduring a difficult run with just one win in their last nine matches across all competitions. Manager Pep Guardiola, despite the struggles, has Motta’s respect for his track record of success.

“In recent years, Manchester City have won everything, and you just have to congratulate them for it. Guardiola is a very good coach-his achievements speak for themselves,” Motta noted.

With both teams desperate to reignite their Champions League campaigns, the match is expected to be fiercely contested. Juventus, buoyed by their Serie A form, will hope to capitalize on City’s recent struggles.

As Motta summed up, “We have to think about the game and give our best effort. Only by doing so can we create the kind of intensity and quality needed to challenge a team like Manchester City.”

Published By:

Saurabh Kumar

Published On:

Dec 10, 2024



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