18 July 2024
On Thursday 18th July 2024, the press conference introducing Head Coach Thiago Motta was held at the Allianz Stadium.
The Juventus management team were present for the occasion, with Juventus CEO Maurizio Scanavino and the club’s Sporting Director Cristiano Giuntoli addressing the media before making way for the introduction of the new Head Coach.
MAURIZIO SCANAVINO
“Today is the day on which we officially welcome Head Coach Thiago Motta. A young, ambitious and very determined coach who joins us after a brilliant season in charge of Bologna. Next season will be an exciting one, during which we will play in five different competitions. We will try to be competitive, without setting ourselves any limits, and our minimum goal in the league will be to achieve Champions League qualification.
"I would also like to present the new organisation of the Juventus technical staff, with the men’s side reporting to Cristiano Giuntoli, Juventus’ Sporting Director. Alongside him, there will be: Gialnluca Pessotto, as Staff Coordination Manager, Women’s Sporting Director Stefano Braghin, Deputy Women’s Sporting Director Massimiliano Mazzetta, Carola Coppo as Head of Juventus Women’s Academy, the Head of Next Gen Area Claudio Chiellini, Massimiliano Scaglia as Head of the U20s, Youth Football Director Michele Sbravat, Scouting Director Stefano Stefanelli and Giussepe Pomplilio as Chief of Staff.”
CRISTIANO GIUNTOLI
“First of all, I think we should thank Thiago Motta for accepting our proposal. I would also like to take this opportunity to give a brief overview of the transfer market: we’ve said goodbye to four players, whilst we are about to add Cabral to the squad, having already signed Douglas Luiz, Di Gregorio and Thuram. I would also like to thank Adrien Rabiot, whose contract with us expired on 30th June, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him well for the future.”
THIAGO MOTTA
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
“I would like to thank Maurizio Scanavino and Cristiano Giuntoli for their kind words. I am happy and content to be the Head coach of a historic club like Juventus. This club is ambitious and I have a feeling we’re about to start a very interesting chapter. The first few days have been very pleasing, I have met with many very skilled people. Of course, I would also like to thank the fans for welcoming me, which made me very happy. Now it is time for us to give everything. We have fantastic facilities at our disposal so that we can give our best every day. I knew that I was coming to a big club, but the facilities really wowed me. John Elkann’s visit? It was a very pleasant and welcome visit. I have no pressure, but rather a great responsibility: that of coaching a great team like Juventus to the best of my ability.
THIAGO MOTTA'S JUVENTUS
“I want the team to be proud and satisfied at the end of every game, because that would mean that they have given everything on the pitch. As I said, I chose to join Juventus because they are an ambitious and historic club. Our objectives? We are only focussing on preparing well and getting ready for the first games of the season. As with all great teams, you must feel the desire to win. For me, it’s a wonderful challenge and I will give my all to transmit all of my enthusiasm and desire to win to the squad.
A SQUAD FULL OF QUALITY
“We only have strong players here. Vlahovic is a great player, but talent requires the support of the team. As the team works, all the talented players we have at our disposal will come to the fore. At Juventus we have a great captain in Danilo. He is not with us today as he is on a well-earned holiday after his commitments with Brazil. I am happy that he is our captain, a guy with strong qualities. Yildiz? I met Kenan two days ago and he seems like a great guy. From what I have seen on the pitch he is capable of playing in any kind of role because of his quality, and as he is so young, he will only continue to develop. Miretti? Fabio is also young and has the capacity to develop in all areas. I’m very happy about his contract renewal. Yesterday (Wednesday, 17th July) he not only renewed his contract, but also increased his responsibility at the club. Douglas Luiz is a strong player. He is a Brazilian national team player and I am very happy that he has joined our club. Of course, I haven’t had the chance to see him in training yet, but I know his characteristics, I have analysed him and I think he could also play as a defender over the course of the season. It will depend on the opposition we are facing. Adzic? Vasilije is training very well. He is a technical, physical player, and above all he is very well prepared mentally.
AN INTENSE SEASON AHEAD
“We will have a lot of games to play this year, but regardless of the competition, the determination we show against each opponent will be crucial. The central midfielders will play a very important role. For me the central midfielders must defend, attack, compete and score. They are crucial for us and the players we have in the squad will need to be good at everything by the end of the season. We must learn from the past, but we must not dwell on it. We have to be focussed on the season ahead. We are ready to face every situation with a positive outlook. It will be a new season for everybody, but as of today our preparation will not change. We are not thinking about what will happen in a year with the Club World Cup. Our focus is on the first league game.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE NEXT GEN
“The Next Gen players will be important for supporting the group. We will have 23 or 24 First Team Players in the squad, but the contribution of the Younger Next Gen players will be crucial, of that I’m sure.”
