After a heavy defeat in a crucial away match against Lecce, Monza face an uphill battle as they prepare to host Juventus on Sunday evening. Alessandro Nesta’s team is struggling, with only one league win so far this season, and the match against the Bianconeri appears to be an almost impossible challenge. However, Nesta remains determined, calling for a near-perfect performance to turn the tide. In his [**pre-match press conference**](https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/monza-nesta-akpa-akpro-ne-abbiamo-parlato-puo-essere-importante-per-noi-2048317), the Monza coach shared his thoughts on the team’s struggles, their preparation for Juventus, and the challenges ahead.
Asked about Monza’s current form following their loss to Lecce, Nesta admitted disappointment but emphasized the importance of maintaining belief. “Despite the defeat to Udinese, I had praised the team, but after Lecce, it was different. We didn’t perform well, especially in our approach. The message is clear: we must not lose confidence. We’ve lost important players who would have been vital for us, but if we are to lose, we must do so like we did against Udinese—not like we did in Lecce.”
When questioned about Monza’s precarious position in the standings, Nesta acknowledged the pressure but remained optimistic. “We’re five points away from safety, which is still manageable. We need to stay connected even during tough times and work to improve our position—that’s obvious. Juventus is a great team, but Monza must send important signals even against such a strong opponent. What frustrates me is that when we needed to win certain games, we didn’t. Matches like those against Torino, Venezia, and Milan at home should have been victories. That’s my biggest regret.”
Discussing how Monza plans to face Thiago Motta’s Juventus side, Nesta stressed the need for balance and caution. “Against teams like Juventus, you have to find the right approach without taking too many risks. That will be our challenge. It’s an opportunity for Monza because achieving something extraordinary could give us a significant boost for future matches. Unfortunately, we have problems in attack and are short in midfield at the moment. Juventus is a very physical team, so we’ll need to put in a solid performance.”
Nesta also touched on Monza’s activity in the transfer market and their limitations due to injuries. “Our priorities in the market change depending on injuries; that’s why we’re making careful considerations. We can’t just pick players and spend €20 million on a striker—we need to seize the right opportunities. If you ask me how many players I’d like to sign, I’d say many! Akpa Akpro? We’ve discussed him; he’s a feasible option and could be important for us because he already knows this environment. As for departures? Nobody is leaving—absolutely not. We have strong ownership and can’t afford to let anyone go. Of course, we can’t make big moves like before anymore, but we’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
Reflecting on other teams battling for survival in Serie A, Nesta pointed out Monza’s relative lack of experience compared to their rivals. “There are teams more accustomed to fighting for survival than us—Empoli comes to mind. We’ve come to terms with the fact that this year will be tough for us. Matches like Lecce-Monza are big games for us; we can’t afford to mess them up.”
On the injury front, Nesta provided updates on key players who will miss Sunday’s clash against Juventus. “Valoti, Vignato, Djuric, Pessina, and Gagliardini are out. Caldirola is questionable but not fully fit yet, while Ciurria is doing well.”