Motta Aims For Juventus Victory Against Serie A Favourites Inter After Stuttgart Setback

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Juventus manager Thiago Motta has dismissed concerns about their recent Champions League loss to Stuttgart, focusing instead on their upcoming clash with Inter Milan. Juventus will face Simone Inzaghi's team in the Derby d'Italia at San Siro on Sunday. A victory would see them leapfrog Inter in the Serie A standings.

Juventus remains unbeaten this season with four wins and four draws from eight matches, a feat last achieved in the 2019-20 season. They have also avoided defeat in six of their last seven encounters with Inter. Despite being close in the standings, Motta acknowledges a gap still exists between Juventus and Inter, who finished 23 points ahead last season.

Motta considers Napoli and Inter as the main contenders for the Serie A title, given their recent successes. "It's clear that the favourites to win the league are Napoli and Inter; they have won the last two Scudetti," he stated. He emphasised that Juventus must approach the match against Inter with focus and courage due to their strong counter-attacking play.

Inter is known for its quick regrouping and solid defence, making them a formidable opponent. Motta highlighted their ability to create problems for many teams on the counter-attack, stressing the need for caution against such a dangerous side.

Juventus enters this match after suffering their first defeat under Motta's leadership, losing to Stuttgart due to El Bilal Toure's late goal. The team managed only one shot on target during that game, matching their lowest in a Champions League match since September 2021 against Chelsea.

Despite this setback, Motta remains unfazed by his team's performance against Stuttgart. He believes there is no need to address mentality issues as his players are in good shape. "There's no need to work on mentality; the guys are in good shape," he said.

Motta stressed that expectations are always high at a club like Juventus. He noted that even after victories, they quickly move forward without dwelling on past results. "It's the first defeat that's happened this season," he remarked, adding that both wins and losses are treated similarly.

As Juventus prepares for their crucial encounter with Inter Milan, Motta insists that past results should not distract them from future challenges. The focus now shifts entirely towards securing a positive outcome against one of Serie A's top teams.