On the eve of Juventus’ Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, captain Manuel Locatelli sat alongside Igor Tudor in the pre-match press conference. The midfielder shared his thoughts on the team’s current form, the importance of unity, and his pride in wearing the armband.
Full of confidence after the Derby d’Italia
“We certainly come into this game very motivated,” Locatelli said. “The win against Inter in the Derby d’Italia gave us so much enthusiasm, because winning such a match is something special. We are full of energy, we feel good, and we are confident. Tomorrow the Champions League begins, which is the most beautiful competition there is. We will be playing at home, there will be a great atmosphere, and hearing that anthem will be special, so we are very motivated.”
Learning from the past
“There was regret for how we went out last season,” he admitted. “But the group is healthy, we feel good together, we train well. We approach games giving 100%. Playing at home with our fans will be beautiful, and starting well is fundamental.”
A special penalty and team unity
Speaking about his penalty against Venezia, Locatelli explained: “It was a special moment for me and important for the team. The credit goes to the whole group. We came together well, and that was the beautiful thing. We are very motivated, because this is the most beautiful competition there is.”
Ambition in Europe
“There are teams stronger than us,” he acknowledged. “Our secret is when we are compact, concrete, and willing to work hard. The goal is to go as far as possible. Last year there were surprises, and we want to be ready. Enthusiasm and the desire to be a team must never be missing.”
Locatelli also drew a comparison with last season:
“Making these evaluations is difficult, but I know we are very much a team. We feel good with the coach; we finished strongly with him last year and starting again like this is important. Getting to know each other better at the training camp was valuable also on a human level. Perhaps we are more of a group compared to last year—yes, that’s true.”
Challenges of European football
“It’s a different competition, shorter, with a lot of quality in attack,” he explained. “There are many teams that play differently. Last year PSG won not only for the quality up front but also for Donnarumma’s saves.”
Tudor’s impact and his captaincy
On his role under Tudor, Locatelli said:
“I interpret what the coach asks of me, to be vertical and go forward straight away. These are his requests, and I try to follow them. I believe we have a solid base.”
He added about the coach’s impact: “In football you cannot be afraid. The beautiful thing about the coach is that he has talked with us a lot, and we needed that. His way of communicating has helped us, it has united the group, and that’s what we needed.”
Finally, as Juventus captain, Locatelli expressed his pride: “Now I am the captain, and I am proud to be so. This surpasses all my dreams. A captain must set the example in training and in daily life—this is the responsibility of wearing the armband.”
