Thiago Motta on Juventus’ recovered players and ‘complete’ Douglas Luiz | OneFootball

Thiago Motta named four players in doubt who will be available for Sunday’s clash against Fiorentina, including Douglas Luiz and Nico Gonzalez, adding that he’s ‘200% focused’ on having a ‘great game’ rather than thinking about the winter transfer market.

The Italo Brazilian manager conceded the Bianconeri will ‘improve the squad’ if they get a chance to do so in the upcoming weeks but also expressed his satisfaction with his current players such as the former Aston Villa midfielder, who ‘can do everything’ in his opinion.

MONZA, ITALY – DECEMBER 22: Nicolas Gonzalez of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Monza and Juventus at U-Power Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Thiago Motta: Juventus ‘recovered some players’ and ‘focused’ on having great Fiorentina game

Juventus returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at Monza after four consecutive Serie A draws and will now host ‘a strong team’ which saw a lengthy positive streak recently ended by two defeats in a row against Bologna and Udinese.

“It is going to be a very important match against a team that has had two negative results,” Motta told reporters at a pre-match press conference, as quoted by TMW.

“Our players are doing well, and we’ve recovered some players. We are focused on playing against a strong team.

“We’ve recovered Douglas Luiz, Nico will be available, and we’ve also recovered Danilo and Koopmeiners. We still have to wait for Rouhi, Weah, and Milik.

“They have an excellent coach, very prepared, who has always shown that he’s done a great job. They have players of excellent quality and, above all, good preparation.

“They know how to play very good football and are very dangerous on the counter-attack. We need to play the right, balanced game.”

TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 17: Thiago Motta, Head Coach of Juventus looks on during the Coppa Italia match between Juventus FC and Cagliari Calcio at Allianz Stadium on December 17, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

On Juventus’ difficulties in capitalising on their high volume of possession, the coach said: “I don’t think possession alone can make you win. Many other things count.”

“Having more possession gives you more chances. There have also been victories in different ways, like against City. We need to do well what we are good at doing. They are very dangerous playing in transition, so we need to be very careful.

“We always need balance and intensity. All the players must be in the same rhythm to interpret the match well.”

Douglas Luiz missed the game against Monza after recently returning from injury, but he’ll be available for the Allianz Stadium fixture, and Motta insisted that he believes ‘a lot’ in the Brazilian and considers him ‘a complete midfielder’, despite stressing his need to catch up with the ‘physical level’ of other teammates.

“I hope and believe a lot in him. He has been out for a long time,” Motta continued.

“He certainly doesn’t have the physical level of some of his teammates. He can do everything and has shown he’s a complete midfielder at a high level.

“I want to have a great match tomorrow. We are always on the same page with the club. If we can improve the squad, we will, and if we can’t, we won’t. I am 200% focused on having a great game tomorrow.”