Juventus coach Thiago Motta has confirmed that none of his team’s major injury doubts will be back to face Inter Milan tomorrow.
The Bianconeri coach spoke in a press conference ahead of the Derby d’Italia, as reported by FCInterNews. He also named Inter and Napoli as the favourites for the Serie A title.
The Derby d’Italia is always a showpiece occasion for Italian football. And as is so often the case, the fixture has the feel of a potential title-decider.
But both the Nerazzurri and the Bianconeri are going to have to prepare for this match without a number of key players.
For Juventus, there are three players above all who are currently on the treatment table.
These are Teun Koopmeiners, Douglas Luiz, and Nico Gonzalez.
The three summer signings are out with injuries and will not be able to return.
Thiago Motta Confirms Big Names Won’t Be Back For Juventus Vs Inter
For both Inter and Juventus, injured players will have pushed to return tomorrow.
That’s how important the Derby d’Italia is.
But at the same time, of course, players have still had to be patient. And neither Motta nor his Inter counterpart Simone Inzaghi will be keen to rush important players back and risk worsening injuries.
But when Motta was asked if any of the injured players could return tomorrow, he was straight forward in his answer.
“No,” the Juventus coach replied. “We won’t get anyone back tomorrow.”
And of his approach to tomorrow’s match, Motta said that “Juventus must play our game, as we always have.”
“This is a match with its own history,” he said of the Derby d’Italia.
“We have to put our game on display,” Motta said.
Bianconeri coach Motta then went on to argue that “Inter and Napoli are the favourites for the title.”