17 March 2017
2017 different to 2015
“This is a huge tie and completely different to the final in 2015, which was just 90 minutes long. This time we’re playing them over two legs and we should not even be thinking about revenge, but instead about overcoming this hugely important challenge.
“Perhaps there were ‘easier’ matches on paper, but everyone to have reached the quarter-finals have proved that they’re all quality outfits.
“We’re taking on a Barcelona team that managed to haul themselves from the clutches of elimination against PSG to complete a famous comeback and reach the last eight. They demonstrated they’re a fantastic group that never stops believing.”
An intriguing encounter in store
“We can’t wait to pit our wits against Barcelona. They want to go all the way in the competition just like we do and in order to get to Cardiff we need to be ready to face anyone and everyone.
“We have to make sure we take full advantage of the first match at home before heading to Barcelona where we’ll look to overcome this excellent side.
“I’m aware that I need to work very hard every day in order to return to the level I was at pre-injury. Both I and the whole team are determined to go all the way in the Champions League. We have to try, we’ve great talent in our ranks and we’re capable of going the distance in all three competitions this year.”
First… Sampdoria this Sunday!
“Today almost everyone has been talking about the Champions League draw. Us players have certainly been thinking about it too, but we’ve also been training hard ahead of this weekend’s match against Sampdoria.
“The Champions League is an important objective for us, but we also have to make sure that we take all three points on Sunday to maintain our lead at the top of Serie A going into the international break.”
Record-breaking Buffon
(Against Sampdoria, Gigi Buffon will overtake Giampiero Boniperti and become the player to have featured for the most Serie A minutes in Juventus’ history)
“Gigi’s numbers speak for themselves and they’re not surprising for whoever watches him at work on a daily basis.
“Without exception, he trains with the same burning desire and immense motivation, not so much because he wants to break records, but rather he’s determined to meet significant objectives both personally and for the team as a whole.”
