Manuel Locatelli believes Juventus demonstrated significant progress in their Club World Cup campaign, despite being eliminated by Real Madrid in a narrow 1-0 defeat. The Italian midfielder emphasized that the team`s only subpar performance came against Manchester City in the group stage.
Juventus faced a challenging draw after finishing second in their group behind Manchester City. Their Round of 16 match against Real Madrid in Miami proved to be a closely contested affair, with Gonzalo Garcia`s header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross proving decisive. Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio kept the scoreline respectable with several crucial saves.
Locatelli highlights team`s progress
“I believe we gave our all today, even against a formidable opponent, and displayed great team spirit,” Locatelli told reporters. “They managed to score, and we didn`t, which is unfortunate. However, the only game in this tournament where we truly underperformed was against Manchester City.”
The midfielder acknowledged the disappointment of exiting the competition but praised the team`s attitude: “As Juventus, we`re never satisfied with elimination, but we gave our best effort and maintained the right mindset. Against Manchester City, we were too passive and allowed them to dominate the game.”
Juventus` exit from the Club World Cup at the Round of 16 stage mirrors that of Inter Milan, who were defeated 2-0 by Brazilian side Fluminense the previous day.
Reflecting on the grueling season, Locatelli added, “It`s been a long and intense campaign. We`re tired now and need to recharge our batteries to start again with renewed energy.”
With the Club World Cup concluding Juventus` season, attention now turns to the future. Igor Tudor recently signed a new contract as head coach, but Locatelli emphasized the immediate need for rest: “Now is not the time to think about next season. We need to spend time with our families and recuperate.”