MILAN: Juventus coach Thiago Motta highlighted the importance of the diversity of his team’s forward players after the Turin side snapped a three-game run without a win to remain unbeaten in Serie A with a 2-0 victory at Udinese on Saturday.

Juventus are fourth in the Serie A table with 21 points, one ahead of Fiore­ntina. The record 36-time champions trail third-placed Inter Milan on goal difference.

Motta praised midfielder Khephren Thur­am’s performance as he caused Udinese goalkeeper Mad­uka Okeye’s own goal to give Juve the lead in the first half and the Italian was pleased to have Teun Koopmeiners back in his starting lineup after injury.

Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz was also instrumental in the win, his shot hitting the post before Nicola Savona made it 2-0.

“I really liked Khep­hren’s performance. He’s a very complete player. He’s attentive in defence and has great quality in attack,” Motta told DAZN.

“He has these important characteristics, so I find him a very interesting pla­yer. Today, he scored a nice goal but his overall performance was excellent.

“We have different players, it’s always important to have diversity in in-game situations and we have Kenan, who is fast, and with Koop he bothers defenders.”

Juve have been hampered by injuries to key players such as defender Gleison Bremer, who last month suffered a cruciate ligament tear and will be out for the majority of the campaign.

Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli said before the game that the club’s priority in the January transfer window will be to find a defensive replacement rather than a striker, but Motta said he was not thinking about signings now.

“When the time comes we will do the best thing together for the team,” he said as they next prepare for a Champions League match at Lille. “Today we have to enjoy this important victory for us and recover ahead of Tuesday.”

Later on Saturday, AC Milan leapfrogged Udin­ese into seventh place with a sluggish 1-0 success at Monza with Netherlands midf­­ielder Tijjani Reijn­ders claiming the only goal.

Milan’s next fixture is a midweek trip to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Earlier, Italy winger Riccardo Orsolini scored for a second time in five days as Bologna edged lowly Lecce 1-0 to move up to eighth place.

Their third domestic victory of the season came before they play Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“There are still things to improve,” Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano said. “This team has quality and is on the right track.”

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024