Manuel Locatelli, Juventus midfielder and captain, has opened up about his time at the club in an interview with La Stampa (as quoted by IlBianconero) , reflecting on his journey, the influence of legendary teammates, and the direction under coach Igor Tudor. Locatelli, who scored the decisive penalty against Venezia to secure Juventus’ Champions League qualification, shared insights into the club’s present and future.
The Decisive Penalty in Venice
“How much did that ball weigh? A lot, but as captain, it was my responsibility. Fourth place was the minimum objective, we couldn’t miss it.”
Entering a Dressing Room of Legends
“I walked into a dressing room of sacred monsters: Chiellini, Danilo, Cuadrado, Alex Sandro, Dybala, Morata, and Ronaldo, who left shortly after. Just seeing him was impressive. They were all champions, but above all, good people from whom I had the chance to learn.”
What Juve Means
“Giorgio and Leo, incredible captains, same DNA and mentality, taught me what Juve means: here the goal is always to win and we work for that. As Allegri used to say, ‘we have to create the conditions’ to succeed.”
Allegri at Milan
“I spoke to him and wished him good luck, but I hope Milan finishes behind us.”
Tudor’s Impact
“In my opinion, he’s excellent. He introduced himself intelligently, seeking dialogue. He’s a good person, like the rest of his staff, and he knows Juve well. His ability, beyond tactics, is in communication and transmitting what he feels. When he arrived, he told us straight away that we would reach the Champions League. He never had any doubts.”
Looking Ahead to the Club World Cup
“It’s a wonderful experience: the best clubs from around the world in an American setting guarantee a spectacle. We’ll try to go as far as possible.”
On His Injury
“I’ll recover in time, but unfortunately I’ll have to miss Italy’s matches. I really cared about it and would have done anything to stay with the national team.”
Chiellini’s Role
“He will be fundamental: only those inside really know the environment and can convey its meaning.”
The Juve DNA
“There are many nuances, but I’d say the continuity of work and the desire to always improve: those are the first things I learned. Everything starts there.”
On Napoli’s Scudetto
“A solid team, a great season: Inter fought until the end, but details make the difference—whoever makes fewer mistakes wins.”
Inter’s Champions League Exit
“I reached out to those I’m closest to, to support them in a tough moment. These are incredible matches that are part of sport.”
Donnarumma’s Growth
“He’s shown he’s the best in the world, no ifs or buts. He’s still the good-natured guy I knew in Milan’s youth teams. Sometimes I tell him he doesn’t realize how strong he is.”
On Yildiz
“He has qualities others don’t and the potential to be a top player. He’s grown a lot and still has room to improve. We need to shield him from too much pressure.”
