After Juventus secured a 2-1 win against PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off, coach Thiago Motta, Weston McKennie, and Samuel Mbangula shared their thoughts on the match.
Thiago Motta
Juventus head coach Thiago Motta acknowledged the competitiveness of the match and emphasized that victory was just the beginning of their journey towards the Round of 16.
“It was an even game against a team that wants to play good football and does it well. This victory is only the first step; in the second leg, we have to put in a great performance to progress,” Motta said.
He stressed the importance of dynamism and maintaining high intensity throughout the game. “Dynamism is an important aspect of our game.
We have to maintain a high level of intensity and improve on that. In football, everything counts: we are a young team that has to inject a lot of pace into the game to cause problems for opponents.”
Motta also praised the impact of his substitutes, stating, “Once again today, the players who came off the bench raised the level of the team both in possession and out of possession.
” He highlighted individual performances, singling out Weston McKennie, Douglas Luiz, and Samuel Mbangula for their contributions. “McKennie is a great player, an important figure in the group.
He’s a top player, and that’s why he plays everywhere and often. Douglas Luiz is doing very well; I love seeing him on the pitch with this energy. And Mbangula he presses, he dribbles, he scores. He always has a fantastic attitude and gives everything.”
Weston McKennie
Midfielder Weston McKennie, who scored a stunning goal to put Juventus ahead, remained humble about his contribution.
“I scored a nice goal, although I’ve scored better ones before,” McKennie said. “But for me, it’s not about scoring or making assists; it’s about the team winning and making sure we win the next game.”
McKennie also emphasized the team’s work ethic and commitment. “Juventus is a great club, and as a great team, we must sacrifice everything.
Against a team that plays well, you have to run hard and leave everything on the pitch. Today, we did that, pressing high and winning a lot of second balls.”
Samuel Mbangula
Young forward Samuel Mbangula, who scored the winning goal, expressed both joy and a desire for improvement.
“Today, the win was important for the team, to help our consistency. I scored a goal that allowed us to win this game, but I’m not entirely happy with my performance; I can do much better,” Mbangula admitted.
He reiterated the importance of resilience and composure after conceding a goal. “We know that when we concede, we have to keep playing the way we were before. With the quality we have in this team, if we keep playing, we can score lots of goals and win games.”
Juventus will now prepare for the second leg against PSV Eindhoven, where they will aim to build on their advantage and secure their place in the Champions League Round of 16.
With Motta’s tactical approach, McKennie’s leadership, and the hunger of young talents like Mbangula, the Bianconeri will be looking to make a deep run in the competition.
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