Thiago Motta explains Cambiaso absence in Juventus training | OneFootball

Thiago Motta explains that Andrea Cambiaso is dealing with an ankle injury, so he won’t be available against Benfica while Dusan Vlahovic is eligible, but it’s not guaranteed that he’ll start.

Cambiaso was not involved in a Juventus training session on Tuesday morning, and Motta explained the Italian defender’s absence at a pre-match press conference today.

Thiago Motta explains Cambiaso absence in Juventus training

Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between Lecce and Juventus at Stadio Via del Mare on December 01, 2024 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

“He won’t be available tomorrow. You know he’s had this situation with his ankle, but he was trying to help the team,” Motta said via Ilbianconero.com.

“However, he doesn’t feel 100% fit, so he opted to take his time recovering from this ankle problem.”

Cambiaso had been playing under painkiller injections between December and January, and an injury setback will force him to the sidelines tomorrow.

Juventus have already qualified for the Champions League play-off knockout phase, but a win against Benfica tomorrow would keep their top-eight hopes alive.

“The target for tomorrow is to perform well. We don’t like losing, but we are a big team with high expectations, so we must recover and perform well to win,” said Motta.

Dusan Vlahovic started the last three games on the bench and Motta could not guarantee that the Serbian would return to the Juventus XI tomorrow.

“He feels well, and he’ll be part of the group tomorrow,” said the Bianconeri boss.

“Let’s see if he’ll start or if he’ll be introduced from the bench. We have our own style. It’s not difficult to understand; we want to go ahead and play good football. We want to play with quality and cause trouble for the opponents. The team comes before the single player, and it’s valid for all the players.

“The club has always remained close to the team. We talk every day about many things we can improve and how to do it,” continued Motta.

“We are serene, but we can’t be satisfied. We must continue working with commitment.”

Lastly, the ex-Italy international suggested that Douglas Luiz could get the nod tomorrow.

“He’ll have a chance to play because he deserves it. We have many players available who are training well. He’s a great player, like others, let’s see how long he can help the team.”