Motta: I’m Certain We Can Attack Even When Down a Man, So Why Retreat and Defend?

On the early morning of October 3rd, in the Champions League match, Juventus managed to come back from a 3-2 deficit against Leipzig even after having one player sent off.

After the game, Juventus head coach Motta said, “Overall, we performed well, especially considering that we made some minor mistakes in the first half. However, in the second half, despite being down a man, the team’s performance was even better, showcasing an excellent match and determination to win. The players showed great courage, believing they could launch attacks and threaten the opponent. Even with the numerical disadvantage, we felt it was necessary to push forward rather than retreat. We maintained a good performance until the very last moment of the game.”

He also mentioned, “Regarding how far we can go in the Champions League, it’s too early to draw conclusions. We need to focus on preparing for the upcoming match against Cagliari and strive to secure a victory.”

In response to the team’s injury situation, Motta stated, “We need to conduct detailed examinations of the injured players to understand the specifics of their injuries. Hopefully, the injuries are not serious and the players can recover quickly without missing too much playing time.”

Finally, he summarized, “My current focus is on today’s match. Although we lacked confidence in the first half and were unable to completely dominate the opponent, in the second half we displayed more confidence and control. There are bound to be negative things that happen during a match, and today’s negative situations were particularly severe, but what matters is your reaction. We maintained a high fighting spirit, demonstrated the right attitude, which are all essential foundations for top teams. With this attitude, we proved that even when facing extremely complex situations, we can achieve a comeback. In the face of so many adverse factors, the best response is to maintain a positive attitude, counterattack, and continue moving forward.”