Juve have touched down in Eindhoven where tomorrow, 19 February, they will take on an important challenge against PSV with the aim of progressing to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
Here is what Teun Koopmeiners and Thiago Motta had to say in today’s pre-match press conference.
“The team spirit is good, we have prepared well for the match, the morale is especially positive after the result against Inter, the team feels good, we know it will be a difficult challenge, but we want to win. We have to be aware that against PSV it’s a new challenge, in a new context, it’s not a foregone conclusion that we will win, we will have to be very aggressive and play with intensity and energy, the match will require this and the team knows it. They will play in a different style, the result is decided over the course of two games, it will be difficult in their stadium and their fans will also make a difference. We start with a 2-1 lead, but we must not sit back, we want to play to win. If we only think about managing the result, we risk not expressing ourselves at our best, we have to bring energy, pressure and urgency in possession, when we play like this we do better.
“I was disappointed that the goal against Lille was disallowed, I always want to help the team with assists and goals. I have always said I am a team player, winning is the most important thing for me. Scoring is an aim of mine, but also providing assists for strikers is key, the important thing is the final result. I want to contribute even more in terms of goals and assists, I arrived with this mentality, I want to give my all to help the team in any way I can.
“As for being on the bench, I’m always very calm, even mentally. I am a player who always thinks about the good of the team, we have many strong players and we can all contribute. Even when I start from the bench, I know what I can do to help win the game, and that’s all I focus on. I’m happy with the win and the good result, tomorrow I want to contribute in the same way.
“After the game against Inter we said that, for morale, it was an important victory. At half-time we talked about how to improve in possession and provide more options for one another in the game, and it showed immediately: in the first ten seconds we created a clear chance. It was a clear change between the two halves and when we manage to do that, it gives us motivation to keep pushing, even defensively, because you feel more involved and part of the game.”
