Juventus head coach Thiago Motta has backed midfielder Douglas Luiz to play a starring role in his side upon his return to action against Fiorentina on Sunday. (More Football News)
Lui🔯z has endured a difficult start to life in Turin, making just 11 appearances across all competitions after suffering a muscle issue following his move from Aston Villa.
The Brazilian, along with Teun Koopmeiners, were Juventus' marquee signings ahead of the Serie A season, both arriving for fe♑es reportedly worth over ;€50 million.
Motta has strꦉuggled with injuries this term, with Juventus sixth in Serie A, nine points behind leaders Atalanta despite not losing a league game all season (W7 D10).
But the Juventus boss was able to provide a positive update on his🌳 squad ahead of welcoming Fiorentina to the Allianz Stadium.
"We have recover🙈ed Douglas Luiz, Nico (Gonzalez) will b🌸e available and we have also recovered Danilo and (Teun) Koopmeiners," Motta said.
"We have to൩ still wait for (Jonas) Rouh✤i, (Timothy) Weah and (Arkadiusz) Milik."
"I have great hopes and beliefs in him," ཧMotta added on Luiz. "He h🐭as been out for a long time.
"He certainly doesn't have the physical level of some of his teammates. As a midfielder he 🧜can do everything.
In a previous team, they played with two in front of the defence.He has shown that he is a complete midfielꦓder, of a high level. Continuity also applies to him.
"He must maintain this🌸 line to be at an excellent level and be together with the team from now on."
Juventus retur🦋ned to winning ways in their last Serie A match, beat𒀰ing bottom club Monza 2-1 after a run of four consecutive draws, which has been the story of their season.
They have drawn 20 league games in 2024. In the history o🐎f Serie A, only Perugia in 1979 have ha𝄹d more matches end level in a single calendar year (22).
But they will be confident of ending their year on a high, given their recent record against Sunday's opponents.&nb🌄sp;
Juventus have won each of their last three league games against Fiorentina, while also winn🅠ing 12 of their last 13 Serie A home 💞games against them.
Since the start of the last decade, only Roma (14 against Udinese) and Fiorentina themselves (13 against Udinese) have managed to obtain more home wins again🌺st a single opponent in the competition.
With the sides level on points heading 🅰into the contest, Motta acknowledged the task that💫 awaited his players.
"(Fiore🦋ntina) have an excellent coach who is very well-prepared an🍸d has always shown that he has done a great job," Motta said.
"They have players of excellent quality and, above all, good prepara🌠tion. They know how to play football well and are very dangerous on the counterattack.
"We have to play 🌞the right and balanced gamღe."
