Juventus head coach Thiago Motta has stressed the importance of his team being at their best to challenge Manchester City in their upcoming Champions League match on Wednesday. Currently, Juventus sits 19th in the group, tied on eight points with City, who are in 17th place after five matches.
After a strong start that saw them win the first two games, Juventus faced a surprising 1-0 loss to VfB Stuttgart, followed by draws against Lille and Aston Villa. During a press conference on Tuesday, Motta shared, “This is a Champions League match between two major clubs. We need to focus on our game; everything else doesn’t matter.”
In Serie A, Juventus currently ranks sixth and remains unbeaten this season, a sign Motta believes indicates the team’s development. “We are a young team with room for improvement in every area. Our character and teamwork have been strong on the pitch,” he added. Motta emphasized the need for compactness, intensity, and quality to pose a challenge to City.
Both teams are grappling with injury issues. Juventus has confirmed that midfielders Weston McKennie and Douglas Luiz are back in training and likely to play. However, defender Andrea Cambiaso, who was hurt in the recent 2-2 draw against Bologna, will join other injured players, including Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal, and Arkadiusz Milik.
Motta remains confident in his squad, stating, “The players who deserve to play will get their chance. I’m glad we have some returning, but our challenges aren’t just about injuries.”
On the other hand, Manchester City is going through a tough phase, with only one win in their last nine games across competitions. Despite this, Motta holds great respect for City manager Pep Guardiola due to his impressive track record.
“Manchester City has achieved so much in recent years, and they deserve congratulations. Guardiola is an exceptional coach, and his success speaks volumes,” Motta remarked.
As both teams aim to revive their Champions League campaigns, the match is expected to be highly competitive. Juventus will look to leverage their Serie A form against City’s current struggles.
Motta concluded with a strong message: “We need to focus on our game and give our all. Only by doing this can we generate the intensity and quality necessary to challenge a team like Manchester City.”
