Motta: Our goal is to qualify for the Champions League

After Saturday night’s disappointing Derby della Mole draw against city rivals Torino, Juventus quickly turn their attention to their upcoming away game against third-placed title contenders Atalanta.

Ahead of Tuesday night’s game – which, for both teams, falls just three days after their previous games, exemplifying modern football’s ever-demanding schedules – Juve coach Thiago Motta stressed the importance of rest, recovery and shifting their focus quickly from their disappointments and on to the next challenge.

“The squad is recovering from the derby,” said Motta. “It is important to recover both physically and mentally. We are angry because we didn’t win, but we are already focused on the next match, which will be very important, against Atalanta, who are in excellent form. We will face this challenge by giving it our all.”

Motta, throughout the press conference, further reiterated the sentiment that despite their disappointments, the club should refrain from dwelling on their shortcomings and focus on the game while learning from their mistakes. However, Motta also lamented that they are not happy with their position in the league and claimed that their aim this season, if anything, should be to secure a Champions League position.

“We’ve made mistakes and in some games we could have won,” Motta said. “We are the first to get angry because we always want to give everything. Now we have to make up for the points we lost and focus match after match. The team is united and ready to face the next challenges, although we must not think too far ahead. We are not satisfied with where we are now. Our goal is to reach the Champions League places. But it is useless to look too far ahead, we only have to think about tomorrow’s game. ”

Regarding the squad, Motta had a lot to say about tomorrow’s starting line-up and some of his key players throughout the season.

Specifically, Motta spoke highly of players such as Teun Koopmeiners – who, after arriving from Atalanta this summer, has asserted his position as a central component of the squad, earning him the captain’s armband against Torino last weekend. Tuesday will be Koopmeiners first game against his former club since his summer move to Juventus.

“Koopmeiners is exactly the player and the person I expected,” said Motta. “He transfers so much to his teammates and sacrifices for them. Tomorrow will be a special game for him as he returns to a place where he has done well and won.”

Motta also spoke about another midfielder, Douglas Luiz, who made his first start since mid-October in last weekend’s Derby della Mole.

“Douglas Luiz is still recovering but he can play,” Motta said. “He played the whole game against Torino and at a fantastic level, even though he hadn’t started for a long time. We chose to leave him lower to free up Khephren Thuram and manage his energy for the 90 minutes.”

Other players Motta talked about were youngsters Kenan Yildiz and Samuel Mbangula. Both players have burst onto the scene to varying degrees this season and signaled the squad’s promising future.

“Kenan Yildiz is doing well, both right and left,” said Motta. “He is growing fast and has good qualities, but he needs to improve defensively to be more decisive on the counter-attack. Samuel Mbangula has grown very fast and has adapted due to the difficulties he has encountered. He’s an altruistic guy and he’s got to keep pushing to get better.”

Finally, regarding his squad, Motta gave an update on Andrea Cambiaso who, after establishing himself as one of Juventus’ best players and team leaders at the beginning of the season, has been choked by an ankle injury he sustained itself in December last year.

“Andrea Cambiaso is improving a lot and against Torino he went into the game with precision and focus,” said Motta. “He is fundamental for us and we are happy to have Cambiaso from the beginning of the season back.”