With the Juventus Women’s First Team in Italian Cup action this midweek, taking on Hellas Verona away from home on Wednesday (6 November at 17:30 CET), goalkeeper Alessia Capelletti shared her pre-match thoughts.
The summer signing from Parma also reflected on her time with the Bianconere so far, and how things have been going since making the move to Turin.
“As soon as I walked through the gates at Vinovo I felt that I was in the right place for me,” Alessia said. “I’m in the right place for what I want to be as a player and for what I want to become. I feel good here, I’m comfortable and I’m ready for this high-level experience.
“We all felt that this summer was a starting point, and all together we’ve built a relationship that has far exceeded my expectations. I came here with the hope of bringing my on and off-field characteristics, to try to be myself. The great thing about Juventus and this group is that everybody has done that very same thing, and the unity we have has helped us to get results.
“We’ve started the season well and that is the result of the cohesion we have. We work at a high level every day, which gives us a certain awareness. It’s obviously still early, but I can say with certainty that these few months have increased my level considerably.”
The goalkeepers’ union is something that is often spoken about, and Alessia opened up on the bond between herself, Pauline Peyraud-Magnin and Lysianne Proulx - the latter being another summer signing.
“I have so much respect for the two of them, their past and their ability. We’re all goalkeepers with different characteristics and, in my opinion, that’s a real advantage because it allows us all the opportunity to learn continuously just by watching each other in training.
“We’re all there for each other and we want to create a competitive working environment, in the most positive sense. If I train well, then surely my teammates will too. We’re fortunate to be in a highly stimulating work environment and we are driven to always improve.”
ATTENTION ON THE ITALIAN CUP
“We know that the club, and us as a squad, have the desire to compete at the highest level in every competition we play in. In Verona we’ll start our Italian Cup journey, and like all journeys it will be taken step by step.
“It will be a tough match, and we’ll have to approach it with the right mindset, being clear about our goals from the off. We’ll look to impose ourselves on the game from the first minute. The match is a new beginning, and I’m sure we’ll be at our best.”
With so many matches across different competitions this season, Alessia knows the importance of squad depth.
“In order to achieve big things in sports, it’s key that every player in the squad is available, especially in training. It’s not just in matches that you step towards victory, but in every minute spent on the training pitches as well.
“We all know that everybody will be needed at some point this year, and it’s on us to be ready when our turn comes.”