Interviewed at the DAZN microphones in the post-match of the Serie A match against Cagliari, Juventus coach Thiago Motta spoke. Below are his answers to questions posed by the studio.
Do you agree with the words of Turkey’s CT Vincenzo Montella about Yildiz’s characteristics and potential?
“Yes, I agree very much. I have heard Montella talk about Kenan many times. He is a player who has great potential physically, technically and mentally. He is a great worker, very generous in the defensive phase. Playing as an outside or centrally changes little, because he has the qualities to do so. From the outside, in the one-on-one, he is a guy who can create very important situations for our team, and playing on the left, as well as on the right, he definitely has to improve in the conclusions. He often gets situations like tonight and he often gets situations where he doesn’t go after them. I’ve seen him on a restart not go towards the area when he is physically ready to do so. Because he comes clear and with physical strength. Then to finish better will come, however, the most important thing I saw today and I liked a lot is how he gets to the area, whether it is as an outside or as a trequartista.
The striker has to get into the area because that’s where you score goals. That’s something we are insisting on so much. With him, but also with the others. For Francisco it’s kind of the same thing. In the first half we created a lot, but we didn’t close the game. We did everything a little bit. Then you return to the locker room on 0-1, in an environment like Cagliari that we know as well as we know the opposing team and the difficulty. Not having closed the game earlier, in the second half we knew how to suffer and brought the three points home.”
Today Yildiz attacked the goal well and also the spaces as on the occasion of the goal:
“I also agree very much because we show him videos of offensive situations where we have our striker, Koop and Weston in the box and the outfielders are not in the box when the ball is in there. These are things that he definitely needs to improve because he has tremendous potential. Plus he has this physique that allows him to make repeated efforts in both attack and defense. He recovers and sprints, he comes with physical strength and with technique, he can score goals, he shoots hard, because when he gets the ball he has a very dry shot that is difficult even for the goalkeeper to guess where the ball is coming in. These are things we have to insist on because we have a guy who is a phenomenon. He is at a great level that he can definitely improve.”
Had you prepared the Cagliari match by going so much vertically with one or two touches?
“Yes, because we were already thinking before the game that having the two centerbacks and Manu in the build-up created superiority. We imagined, maybe already in our half of the field, that they could do one-on-one and we took advantage of this ball of Michele, very good at reading the action and finding Kenan ahead. Then after that, when we went into their half of the field, they almost always had an extra man behind and we managed possession very well, going side to side, playing the ball fast. The field helped. Our players are strong technically where they can put their teammate ahead, sending the ball fast from one side to the other. Then, if they open up internally, as we did a few times, we create a lot.
I also want to think that in the first half we lacked a bit of lucidity coming from so many games. We played three days ago and I want to think that it is also that thing there, because normally, with the first half that we did, you have to go into the locker room with another result and you play the second half differently. It’s also good that not having scored these goals, we were able to suffer in the second half.”
If you find yourself six points off the top on Monday night, do you think about Champions qualification or do your goals change?
“We think game by game. I think especially at this moment we had a great game. We are coming to an important moment of the season in a very balanced and difficult league. All teams often struggle to win a game. We have seen so many times the teams that are there in the other, except today a little bit Atalanta that has this strength to put the opponent in difficulty. Other teams I have seen that, like us, have a bit of difficulty in closing games. We, going game by game, will see. Today are three important points, then we have the Coppa Italia and on Monday Hellas Verona. We have to look at the next battle we have, always giving our best and then adding up game by game. Always better the three points, which is what we are always looking for.”
The article Cagliari-Juve, Motta: “Created a lot. Lacked a bit of lucidity” comes from JuveNews.eu.
