Locatelli: PSV showed more desire than Juventus

Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli acknowledged that PSV Eindhoven displayed greater determination in their Champions League clash, resulting in the Italian side’s elimination from the competition. Following Juventus’ 3-1 defeat to PSV on Wednesday, Locatelli expressed his disappointment and called for the team to take collective responsibility.

“This loss is extremely painful because we had qualification within our grasp but let it slip away. We all share the blame,” Locatelli told Prime Video Italia. “We need to come together as a group and find a way out of this difficult situation.”

The midfielder struggled to explain the poor performance, stating: “At the moment, I don’t have a clear explanation. PSV simply played better than us and showed more desire to win. The pitch always reveals the truth, and today it showed they deserved the victory.”

Locatelli emphasized the need for introspection, saying: “We need to look each other in the eye and understand what went wrong. Those of us who have been at the club longer must take on greater responsibility.”

When asked about potential changes to Juventus’ plans after failing to reach their minimum target of qualifying for the Round of 16, Locatelli deferred to club management: “That’s a question for the club to address. Our job as players is to train at our best and be ready when called upon.”

Looking ahead, Locatelli stressed the importance of securing Champions League qualification for next season: “This defeat hurts, but we must focus on getting back into the Champions League next year.”

Juventus will aim to bounce back in their next Serie A match against Cagliari. The Bianconeri currently sit fourth in the league standings, level on points with Lazio.