Marotta: ‘Optimistic for Champions League’
By Football Italia staff
Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta insists the club are ‘optimistic’ for the Champions League.
The Bianconeri were handed arguably the
toughest of the eight groups, facing Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach.
“I’m optimistic,” Marotta insisted, speaking to Mediaset after the draw.
“We’re Juventus. We face every opponent in the right way, then we’ll see how it turns out. We know we have to get through to the next round, but there isn’t a weak team in this group.”
Fernando Llorente
completed a move from Juve to Sevilla this afternoon, and will face his old employers when the groups get underway.
“That’s the beauty of football. We’ll be pleased to see him, even if we want to win.”
Juventus CEO Marotta: The group? I’m optimistic. We’re Juventus. We face every opponent in the right way. "Draxler? It’s not easy to find players worthy of Juventus.
It’s not a question of money.But about finding someone who can give us what we need. At the moment, they are rare.
Ibrahimovic? It’s a fantastical idea.[DOUBLEPOST=1440701528][/DOUBLEPOST]
‘Draxler? Individuals not important…’
Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta hints a move for Julian Draxler is dead - ‘individuals are not decisive’.
The Bianconeri have been pursuing a trequartista this summer, and had agreed personal terms with the Schalke 04 player.
However, a deal with his club has been harder to agree, and speaking after today’s Champions League draw, the general manager appeared to rule out a deal.
“Football is a team sport, and I don't think an individual is absolutely decisive,” Marotta told Mediaset when asked about Draxler.
“Our club prefer to talk about great achievements and history. We’ve done great things in Italy and in Europe.
"We've never stopped anything for money reasons, though of course fairness is a crucial part of any negotiation.
“It’s not easy to find players worthy of Juventus. It’s not a question of money, but about finding someone who can give us what we need.
"Right now, are there players on the market who will do that? Maybe not.
“At the moment, they are rare. Raising offers to bring in players who are not at our level is something we have to consider very carefully.
"The arrival of this 'unexpected treasure' [extra Champions League revenue after Lazio were knocked out] absolutely does not change our goals."
Turin-based sports daily Tuttosport today linked the Bianconeri with a move for Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, something Marotta laughed off.
“It’s a fantastical idea, he's absolutely not someone we're looking at, although we appreciate his great talent and professionalism.
"I deny it in the strongest possible terms.”[DOUBLEPOST=1440701567][/DOUBLEPOST]Today Julian Draxler's agent will meet with Schalke and try to force his sale to Juventus
GDM