Canzi: Strong performance required against Sampdoria | OneFootball

On Saturday 11 January, Juventus Women First Team will return to action against Sampdoria in Biella (12.30 pm CET). Coach Massimiliano Canzi discusses not only the upcoming match, but also how the girls are doing ahead of the second half of the season.

HOW THE GROUP ARE SETTLING BACK IN

“It was important to take a break because the first phase of the season was demanding, both because of the large number of matches and their difficulty. They took a break, but they came back with a really great attitude, with a great desire to work hard and exceptional enthusiasm. That's not all: they showed up in perfect physical shape, as if they hadn't stopped, and this means that, while it's true that they've taken a mental break, it's equally true that they've behaved like great professionals, continuing to train and keep fit.”

The results of this positive attitude were clear to see in the friendly on 6 January: “The indications against Marseille were very positive: it was part of our training plan aimed at getting back up to speed, and that's why we wanted all the girls to play. They were strong, as we hoped, playing with the right mentality, running hard, doing what we know how to do, so it was definitely a very good test.”

WARY OF DANGER AGAINST SAMPDORIA

We restart the season against Sampdoria, who are bottom of the Serie A standings: “These are the classic matches that have hidden dangers: apparently we have everything to lose, but if you look at the fixture list that is not the case, because the next day Roma and Inter face each other, so winning would put pressure on both of them. We have to perform well, because that's what great teams have to do, against any opponent.”

NEW ARRIVALS

Both Abi Brighton and Mathilde Harviken joined the Bianconere this week: “Two very strong players, talented, who we have chosen together with the club and who we are sure will contribute greatly to the team: we have already seen it in their first training sessions, in the way they have integrated themselves in the group and how they have gone about starting to work. Their league campaigns ended more than a month ago, so we're making a specific plan for them, because they logically haven’t played for a while. But when they are ready they will be valuable additions, because they are excellent players.

AZZURRA ADDED TO THE GROUP

“[Azzurra] Gallo is a girl who has developed a lot and has been able to settle in straight away, with an attitude that has earned her recognition from the rest of the squad, and that is certainly not something to be taken for granted. She proves herself in every training session, during which she always giver her all: we are happy for her, and also happy about the fact that transitions like this confirm a positive link between the First Team and the youth teams' staff. We work well together with Coach [Marco] Bruzzano and his group, because we are all aware that our common goal is the good of Juve.”