RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA) (ITALPRESS) – “Tomorrow is a different competition, we are facing a game where either you continue and go to the final or the competition is over. This gives an extra incentive to do things to the maximum as a team. Milan is a great team with good players and a coach who did a great job at Porto. We have respect but also awareness that we can face everyone, we will give our best. These are good matches to play, we do this work to compete at this level.” Thiago Motta introduced the Italian Super Cup semifinal against Sergio Conceicao’s new Milan in a press conference this way. “We must have great desire and ambition and have the emotional control to make the right choices during the match,” he stressed, “We will be ready to face the best AC Milan but because we are well, we know the things we have to do and what we must not miss against a team used to playing important competitions. We will be focused and determined to be the best version of ourselves. What would it mean to win my first trophy as a coach? I want to win, that’s why I chose this profession, but it’s not an obsession. I do everything I can and must to improve the team and help my players get on the field in the best way possible. I am calm and convinced of the strength we have and tomorrow will be a beautiful game to play.” Dribbling questions about Tomori (“I don’t talk about other people’s players”), Motta emphasized that “against Fiorentina we did many things very well, we lacked to close the game and we are not happy, we are not satisfied, the ranking says we have to improve. But now we are focused on this competition, short, important and tomorrow we have the first opponent. A message to the fans? I don’t make promises, I believe in facts, hard work, maximum commitment. We want to take this prestigious jersey as high as possible, a club that has so many people who follow it. “Alongside Motta at the press conference was Manuel Locatelli. “Milan have a new coach, who will give them new energy, but we have to focus on us. It cannot end with another draw like in the league, we have to try to win, the goal is to bring home the trophy.” “They will have a different way of playing, we will have to play a game of great intensity,” he continued, “Against Fiorentina we had a great attitude and we have to build on that. We can and must do better but we want to win the Super Cup. Playing in defense? I did well there, I am available to the coach and the team in every position – Locatelli adds – The captain’s armband? It is a great responsibility for me, a great honor and a privilege. For me, being a lifelong Juventus fan, it is difficult to describe it in words.” The 2024 “was an important year, we must never lack the attitude, the desire to play and go on every ball.”- photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
