“As Always We Are Focused On The Next Game"

Written By Onyeka Daniel

It has been a turn around in results for Italian giants, Juventus as their latest win in the Serie A has gotten them back in the title race, but they will face a Stern test this week as they welcome fellow title contender, Atalanta to the Allianz Stadium.

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Ahead of this important clash, coach Thiago Motta has confirmed that seven players will be unavailable, and has explained how they have approached the top-four clash after a run of five consecutive victories in the league. They’re currently fourth in Serie A, will host third-placed Atalanta on Sunday.

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It will be an opportunity for the Old Lady to draw level on points with La Dea and after a 2-1 loss to Napoli at the end of January, the Bianconeri have been on a five-game winning streak in Serie A, inflicting defeats upon Empoli, Como, Inter, Cagliari and Hellas Verona.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Saturday, the former Bologna manager told reporters that he feels his side are doing very, very well. He also confirmed which players will be unavailable against the La Dea. It’s a case of one in, one out for them.

This is because Renato Veiga is available again, but youngster Jonas Rouhi joins the injury list. “We had a great week. I’ve seen the guys looking very, very well,” Motta told the press. “Those who will be with us tomorrow will be ready to have a good game.”

“Tomorrow, there will be no Rouhi, Bremer, Milik, Cabal, Douglas Luiz, Conceicao or Savona.” He also confirmed that the squad has been working on their psychological strength as well as their technical and tactical attributes.

“As always, we are focussed on the next game because we know the level of our opponent. We can’t waste energy on anything else. We have to put everything we’ve worked on into practice in order to get a victory. We’ve worked on a physical, technical and psychological level.”

“We have to think about giving our absolute best for this match. We don’t want to waste time on other things. My philosophy is to take things game by game.” Assessing their opponent, Motta added: “They are a very special team in terms of the characteristics of their players and the instructions of their coach.”

“They also have the ability to change their marking during the game. They are a team that plays very good football.” It will be a particularly memorable occasion for Teun Koopmeiners, who will be going up against his former employers on Saturday.

The Dutchman has come under criticism for some underwhelming performances after his €60m move in the summer, but he has the full support of his coach. “I always think he’s doing well. He’s given us a big hand this season. Criticism will always be a part of this job.”

“He came on and did very well in the last game and also scored. I’m very happy for him, because we live to score goals. He always helps the team and is a very important guy on and off the pitch,” Motta said. “It’s a privilege to coach a player of this level.”

“He’s a serious, focussed guy who can play in multiple positions. I hope tomorrow can be a help to him.” Then on Yildiz, he added: “Kenan is fine and has to continue improving in all aspects. He’s still very young and there is a lot of room for improvement, but he knows that.”

Asked if he has a favourite performance from Juventus’s recent run of five, Motta replied: “There is no preference, because we always like to win. If you play well, you have more chances to win. Sometimes it can be the case that you don’t play well and still win.”

“You have to do a lot of things right to get a victory. Tomorrow, we’ll have to play against a unique team and will have to be focussed. My preference is to win the game.” There was also a word of praise for Gian Piero Gasperini.

Motta said that he has endless respect for his Atalanta counterpart: “Because he’s a great coach, not just on a national level. Gasperini doesn’t have to prove anything anymore because he’s already shown a lot. He’s a complete tactician and has done a great job.” He concluded.

First, they will look to sell Dušan Vlahović to avoid losing the Serbian striker on a free transfer when his contract expires in June 2026. According to the report, the Bianconeri have placed Osimhen at the top of their wishlist to replace the former Fiorentina target man.

They are actively strategising to sign the Nigerian forward and strengthen an attacking department that they also hope to include Kolo Muani in. They’re also aware that negotiations for the 26-year-old will be challenging, given Napoli’s reluctance to sell him to a Serie A rival.

However, Giuntoli believes he can convince Osimhen to push for a move to the Allianz Stadium, leveraging his strong relationship with the striker’s agents. Giuntoli previously secured Osimhen’s transfer to Napoli in 2020 when he served as the Partenopei’s sporting director.

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Simultaneously, Giuntoli is reportedly exploring the possibility of extending Kolo Muani’s loan from PSG for another season, allowing Juventus to avoid an immediate heavy investment to sign him permanently.

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