Juventus defender has given his take on the upcoming game against
Shakhtar during the pre-match press conference. -
What are you feeling before the Champions League fixture at the new stadium?
- Of course, it was very hard to watch the Champions League as an outsider. Now we are overwhelmed with emotions, for playing at a new stadium in a match against a very strong team means a lot to us.
- After a draw in the first round match in London, can you tomorrow open the season of victories in the European competitions?
- This match will be very decisive. We respect Shakhtar. This is a strong team. It has been playing in the Champions League for many years. They have a lot of experience, which many of our players don’t have. So we do not consider ourselves as clear favourites.
- Last season, Juventus became the champion of Italy. Can the team repeat the success on the European stage and win the Champions League?
- We do not take the long view; we try to win every match. We will have a very tough game. Probably, many people here do not know Shakhtar well; the footballers who play there. But this is a strong team; almost every Shakhtar’s player could play in the leading European clubs.
- Do you know about Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and how to deal with him? No one has managed it yet in either Ukraine or Europe?
- He is a very strong player. He is talented, so he can play in the best European clubs. We did not expect from him such growth, because he had not played so well. But at Shakhtar there are many other players who could play in leading teams in the world.
- Will tomorrow’s win mean that you have what it takes to win the Champions League? - Tomorrow will be a very important test. But this match-up is far from being a final game in the group or competition. We must try to win and then look further.
- Can Juventus play with the same concentrate as of late?
- The only time we play bad is when an opponent makes us play this way; when it shows good football. For instance, 60 minutes we played in the match against the Milan. We hope that tomorrow we will show our best game.
- There are a lot of Juventus fans around the world. Can they hope for the team winning the Champions League?
- Fans can and should dream about it. Now, in contrast to recent years, it is quite possible. We, as a team, need to do everything to win in every game of the European tournament.
