Lois Openda was officially presented as a new Juventus player and spoke at length to the media, sharing his thoughts on his role, the team and what lies ahead in Serie A.
On his readiness for the upcoming clash, Openda was clear. “I am ready, just like the whole team.”
When asked about his preferred role, the forward said: “My position is as a number 9, I have always played as a number nine and I like being on the wing, moving to the right or left, moving around a lot.”
Explaining why he chose Juventus, Openda said: “It was a normal choice. When I spoke with Comolli, everything was very simple. There have been many top players here, like Zlatan for example, and I will be able to take inspiration from them.”
Addressing his recent incident with defender Bremer, he revealed: “I know what happened, I spoke to him and sent him messages saying it was not my intention. Now I have been here for two days and we will have time to talk about it. He is a great person and a great footballer.”
On adapting his style to Italy’s defences, Openda commented: “I know this league is not easy because everything is compact and the defences are strong. I can bring my speed and finishing ability. We will see what happens on Saturday, but I am ready to give my best.”
His conversations with head coach Igor Tudor were also an important factor. “I spoke with the coach, he knows my preferred position is number nine but I am flexible. We will see what happens in the next matches. I can play wherever he wants.”
Reflecting on his career so far, he added: “Yes, of course, I have played in France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. I played in many teams, and I have learned from each league. Now I am in Italy and this was the best club where I could give my contribution. I am very happy to be in Italy and I cannot wait to start.”
Looking at his development, Openda admitted: “I need to work on some aspects to become a more complete striker, but I am sure I will learn in order to be more complete.”
On facing Serie A’s defenders, he said: “I know it will be very tough. I am ready for every match and of course we will prepare for them. Everyone will be ready.”
He also acknowledged the competition for places in attack. “I am aware of it, there are many great strikers. Clearly, I will not play every match, but I knew this. I am ready to go onto the pitch when needed.”
Finally, Openda underlined his mentality. “At this level, it is important to recover quickly from mistakes. You have to move forward and guarantee strong performances in the next matches to help the team. I have a family who supports me, I am healthy, and even if I do not score the most important thing is to help the team.”
