Koopmeiners backed to shine in Champions League opener by Motta

By Sports Desk September 16, 2024

Thiago Motta is confident that new signing Teun Koopmeiners will excel is included in their Champions League opener against PSV.

The 26-year-old has featured in two games for Juventus since joining from Europa League winners Atalanta for €54million in August.

Koopmeiners, who missed out on a place at Euro 2024 with the Netherlands due to a muscle injury, has played just 135 minutes so far, but has created the third-most chances out of the Juve players (four).

And Motta said the Dutchman has already gelled well with his team-mates in training and expects him to make an impact if he is involved.

"It doesn't look like he hasn't trained for a month. He's integrating very well," Motta told reporters. 

"He's trying to put all his qualities at the disposal of the team. Everyone who is called up tomorrow is doing very well.

"We expect everything we expect from the rest of the team. If he plays tomorrow, he will perform great. Together with his teammates, he can do great things."

Motta joined as head coach in June and will become the 10th different manager to take charge of Juventus in the Champions League.

The Italian is looking forward to leading the team in the competition after they were banned last year for breaching licencing and Financial Fair Play rules.

"Great pride to start this competition. Then we play at home against a good team," Motta added. 

"I can't wait to start the match. We want to put in a great performance to bring the result on our side."

Juve had a busy transfer window with Koopmeiners the most high-profile of several arrivals, including fellow midfielders Douglas Luiz and Khephren Thuram plus left-back Juan Cabal.

However, the 42-year-old Motta remained tight-lipped on whether he would give chances to several debutants after a goalless draw with Empoli in Serie A on Saturday.

"Everything counts in football - experience, enthusiasm and desire. At Empoli, we played well without getting the result we wanted. Now it's a closed chapter," he added.

Juve midfielder Manuel Locatelli also said the draw at Empoli made them "angry, but it's a closed chapter", and they are looking forward to their game in Europe's top competition.

"Last year we missed it a lot. We are excited, and we can't wait to get on the pitch. Hearing the music is special, and the fans will give us a hand," the Italy international said.

"We have signed strong midfielders with a lot of quality and experience who raise the level of the team. It is a pleasure to play with them".

Related items

  • Emery focused on 'new mentality' in Aston Villa's Champions League debut Emery focused on 'new mentality' in Aston Villa's Champions League debut

    Unai Emery is focusing on a new mentality for his Aston Villa side as they embark on their Champions League journey against Young Boys.

    Villa are making their first appearance in Europe's top competition since 1982 on Tuesday, having previously won the competition 42 years ago. 

    Emery's side will become the 11th different English club to compete in the Champions League, and the first English newcomer since Leicester in 2016-17. 

    But the Spaniard has made a name for himself on the European stage, having won the Europa League on four occasions with Sevilla and Villarreal. 

    However, Emery's last game in the competition came back in 2022, with his Villarreal side eliminated by Liverpool in the semi-finals of the competition. 

    That particular run was the Villa head coach's best run in the tournament, and he is dreaming of going one step further with the Villains. 

    "I had dreams when I arrived here to play in the Champions League and be competitive in this competition," Emery told TNT Sports, in an exclusive interview.

    "But we are going to set our new mentality, our new objective. Because we are now not comfortable playing in the Premier League and being in the middle.

    "We want to be competitive, get in Europe, and be consistent.

    "But of course, being consistent and getting into Europe is very difficult in England because it is the hardest league in the world."

    While reaching the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League last season, Tuesday's match against the Swiss champions will be many of the Villa squad's first taste of Champions League football. 

    However, Emery has strengthened his squad with European experience in recent years. 

    Pau Torres was part of Emery's side that reached the semi-finals in 2022, while Ian Maatsen played the duration of Borussia Dortmund's defeat to Real Madrid in last year's final. 

    And the Spaniard is looking to those two players in particular to help his side navigate the encounter. 

    "We have players with experience; Ian Maatsen played last year and he is with us now," Emery continued. 

    "Other players played, Pau Torres played in a semi-final three years ago. And I am playing [coaching] in Europe for 16 years in a row.

    "My experiences are very important, but the better experience we are trying to use and get is with Aston Villa, with Aston Villa players, with Aston Villa supporters.

    "We are always remembering how amazing it was when they won the Champions League [European Cup] in 1982, and for us, it is very important."

    One of the talking points ahead of the clash is the artificial surface at the Wankdorf Stadium.

    But Emery is resolute that his players will not be using that as an excuse and will adapt to what they encounter.

    "We have to accept and we have to adapt to the pitches we are playing," Emery concluded.  

    "Of course, usually we are playing on normal pitches, here it is synthetic. But we are going to try to adapt quickly and know what the difference is with the pitch."

  • KC, JC, St. George's all hit double figures in goal-filled Saturday in ISSA Manning Cup KC, JC, St. George's all hit double figures in goal-filled Saturday in ISSA Manning Cup

    Saturday’s action across six games in the ISSA Manning Cup was truly spectacular, producing 52 goals including a brutal 18-0 victory for Kingston College over Cumberland High at Stadium East to make up for their opening 2-2 draw with Penwood High on matchday one.

    DeShawn Byfield and Kajay Fletcher split eight goals between them for the North Street school.

    Demario Daley and Kamaul Patterson also had prolific days in front of goal, each securing hat-tricks as KC moved to the top of Zone C with four points and a goal difference of 18.

    Jamaica College were also in a dominant mood on Saturday, blanking Ascot High 11-0 to move to w=two wins in as many games in Zone F.

    Papine High were also victim of a ruthless beating on Saturday, 10-0 at the hand of St. George’s College at Papine.

    STGC takes sole leadership of Zone G ahead of St. Catherine High opened their season with a 4-0 victory against Holy Trinity after being awarded the points for their first fixture versus Norman Manley.

    Excelsior High defeated Bridgeport High 7-1 as they prepared for their encounter against Jamaica College in Zone F.

    St. Andrew Technical High School held firm and showed resilience as they defeated Calabar High 1-0 at The Boys Town football field in Zone D.

     

  • Birmingham 3-1 Wrexham: Stansfield brace earns hosts Hollywood derby win Birmingham 3-1 Wrexham: Stansfield brace earns hosts Hollywood derby win

    Jay Stansfield struck either side of half-time to give 10-man Birimingham a huge 3-1 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Wrexham on Monday. 

    A game dubbed the 'Hollywood derby' was given a blockbuster start when Jack Marriot smashed home the opening goal for the visitors with just two minutes on the clock. 

    But Birmingham's £10million recruit Stansfield soon levelled the scores, being the first to react to Alfie May's effort that was parried into his path by Arthur Okonkwo. 

    The hosts then took hold of the encounter as May and Taylor Gardner-Hickman went close, but the game entered the break finely poised at St. Andrew's.

    However, Blues' dominance prevailed seven minutes after the restart with Stansfield's header picking out the far corner following Alex Cochrane's pinpoint cross. 

    And the points were sealed just before the hour-mark in stunning fashion as Tomoki Iwata's strike from distance smashed in off the post, much to the delight of minority owner Tom Brady in the stands.

    A fiesty conclusion to proceedings saw Chris Davies' side end the game with a man less after Krystian Bielik was shown a second yellow card for a late tackle on Andrew Cannon, but Birmingham were able to hold on for the win. 

    Data Debrief: The American dream

    Much was made of Birmingham's approach to the transfer window after spending £25m in their attempts to return the Championship at the first time of asking, but their biggest investment proved his worth on Monday.

    Stansfield notched his first two goals for the club since his permanent switch from Fulham, but the Blues striker also played a starring role in the encounter. 

    He registered an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.12 to Birmingham's 1.3 total, while he also produced more shots on target (three) and touches in the opposition box (six) than any other player. 

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.