- Title: Dinamo Zagreb and Juventus look to get their Champions League campaigns rolling
- Date: 26th September 2016
- Summary: ZAGREB, CROATIA (SEPTEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) JUVENTUS PLAYERS, INCLUDING GONZALO HIGUAIN AND JUAN CUADRADO WALKING AROUND PITCH JUVENTUS PLAYERS STANDING ON PITCH JUVENTUS PLAYERS TALKING TO EACH OTHER JUVENTUS PLAYERS MARIO MANDZUKIC AND GIANLUIGI BUFFON TALKING TO EACH OTHER VARIOUS OF JUVENTUS PLAYERS STANDING ON PITCH JUVENTUS MANAGER, MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI, AND JUVENTUS DEFENDER, GIORGIO CHIELLINI, IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) JUVENTUS MANAGER, MASSIMILIANO ALLEGRI, SAYING: "At this moment we don't know how many points we will need to win the group, tomorrow's game will be very complicated, we will have to approach the game well if we want to win three points." ALLEGRI AND CHIELLINI IN NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) JUVENTUS DEFENDER, GIORGIO CHIELLINI, SAYING: "It is true that we played a lot of games recently, but we also had some time to recover because of the international break which allowed us to return to top form, so we should be able to compete in upcoming matches." DINAMO ZAGREB CARETAKER MANAGER, ZELJKO SOPIC, WALKING AROUND PITCH (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) DINAMO ZAGREB CARETAKER MANAGER, ZELJKO SOPIC, SAYING: "All I can say is that our players are at maximum motivation and prepared for the game. Of course, we are well aware who we are up against, we know we are playing against a team that aims to win the Champions League this season, but they will be playing on our turf and in a packed stadium we fear no one, although we have maximum respect for them. I am aware of the huge difference in team strength, and as a coach and a person I'm a realist - however, I believe that if we put in maximum effort that anything is possible." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Croatian) DINAMO ZAGREB GOALKEEPER, ADRIAN SEMPER, SAYING: "I think we should primarily enjoy our football when we play against top sides like this. We will give our best at every moment of the game and it is up to us to perform and do everything the coach asks us to do, and to show what we are capable of." SOPIC AND SEMPER IN NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 11th October 2016 20:38
- Keywords: Champions League Dinamo Zagreb Juventus
- Location: ZAGREB, CROATIA
- City: ZAGREB, CROATIA
- Country: Croatia
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001517CS3J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Dinamo Zagreb and Juventus prepared on Monday (September 26) for their UEFA Champions League group match with both sides hoping to win maximum points and get their European campaigns on course.
Although the Bianconeri's star-studded team top the Serie A with 15 points in 6 league games, their European campaign had a shaky start earlier this month, with a 0-0 draw at home to Sevilla.
Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri said that picking up three points on Tuesday (September 27) was important, but added that it was too early to predict how many points the Italian giants might need to top the group.
"At this moment we don't know how many points we will need to win the group, tomorrow's game will be very complicated, we will have to approach the game well if we want to win three points," Allegri told reporters.
Juventus are clear favourites in Zagreb, but some concern has been raised about their defensive line, but the 32-year-old stalwart defender and vice-captain Giorgio Chiellini told reporters the team had enough time to recover during the recent international break.
"It is true that we played a lot of games recently, but we also had some time to recover because of the internationals break which allowed us to return to top form, so we should be able to compete in upcoming matches," Chiellini said.
Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb have kicked off their campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Lyon in France, and have failed exit the group stage in all of their five previous attempts.
Recent weeks added misery to injury as they suffered a 5-2 defeat in the league to rivals Rijeka, which led to manager Zlatko Kranjcar resigning and replaced by caretaker Zeljko Sopic.
Sopic said that he hoped the team would put on a better performance than against Lyon, and added that "anything is possible" on the night, in spite of the huge difference in team quality.
"All I can say is that our players are at maximum motivation and prepared for the game. Of course, we are well aware who we are up against, we know we are playing against a team that aims to win the Champions League this season, but they will be playing on our turf and in a packed stadium we fear no one, although we have maximum respect for them. I am aware of the huge difference in team strength, and as a coach and a person I'm a realist - however, I believe that if we put in maximum effort that anything is possible," said Sopic.
Dinamo's young goalkeeper, Adrian Semper said that Dinamo's primary objective on Tuesday will be to enjoy their football and the chance to play against some of top European sides.
"I think we should primarily enjoy our football when we play against top sides like this. We will give our best at every moment of the game and it is up to us to perform and do everything the coach asked us to do, and to show what we are capable of," said 18-year-old Semper. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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