Matches don’t come much bigger than those between the top two in the league table, and that’s exactly what awaits the Juventus Women’s First team on Sunday, as the Serie A leaders travel to take on second-placed Fiorentina in Tuscany.
Ahead of the game in Viola Park - which is fixed for 15:30 CET - coach Massimiliano Canzi sat down to speak about it.
“Every game is an experience to take with you,” Canzi said, just days after the Women’s Champions League loss away to Bayern Munich, “whether is positive or negative.
“We’ve realised how far we still have to go to get to where we want to be. There’s still a gap between Europe’s biggest sides and the rest, and it’s a distance that of course we want to close. That said, I left Germany with a feeling of real pride in the girls, who gave their all, and ended the game exhausted and disappointed. Against opponents of that status you need to be perfect, and you need a bit of good luck too.”
“We’re at the halfway point of the season now, if we count the Poule Scudetto matches. We’ve played 13 games and have as many to go. Our position at the top of the table is a sign that we’re on the right path and while it’s too early to draw conclusions, it makes us think that we’re doing things right. It’s an important game [against Fiorentina], maybe more decisive for them than for us with the league table in mind. It won’t be a last chance for them, but it will be a game that tells us a lot, so we’ll go there aware of our abilities and knowing that we never underestimate anybody, especially not tomorrow.”
“They’re excellent with dribbling, they always try to dominate games, attack in behind and they have great players with a lot of experience, capable of reading the game and managing moments in the best way possible.”
“As I said, we’re at the midway point and I’m very happy to have found everybody has been fully at the disposal of the team. I’m happy with the club, the environment and the girls. I’ve always had the feeling here that I’ve got the best conditions I need to do well in the job that I love, and there’s nothing better than that.”