Marotta: Juventus ‘forced’ to win

Juventus director general Beppe Marotta insists that it is in the club’s DNA to fight for the Italian championship.

The Old Lady won the Scudetto last term, but they’ve suffered a dip in form having picked up just four points from their last four games.

“Last year we won the championship with our never-say-die attitude. From there we’ve continued our positive run and we’re still top of the League as it stands,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

“We know that we’ve got experienced competition and we can’t help but acknowledge the value of our opposition.

“The title race is open and it’s our duty to believe we can do it. We’ve got respect for everyone, but Juve must look to win, it’s in our DNA.”

The Bianconeri took an early grip on the championship, but they are now just two points clear of Napoli.

“Napoli are a well equipped team, built with focused signings,” Marotta noted. “They have a Coach who has been there for years and it’s natural they should play a key role this season.

“There’s also the club’s prestige and history, they have every right to be considered as title contenders.”

Marotta also played down reports that tension and anxiety had hit the squad after defeats to Inter and Milan.

“Nothing happened between Claudio Marchisio and Leonardo Bonucci,” he said of an apparent rift between the two.

“Fabio Quagliarella, meanwhile, was fined but only after a calm discussion with him. He was angry at being substituted in a game where the team were losing and he wanted to help his teammates to get an equaliser. It was an anger that immediately passed.”

Marotta was then unsurprisingly asked abut his club’s ‘problems’ in attack after another summer passed without the capture of a top player in attack.

“If we consider last year’s championship and the first part of the current campaign, Juventus have the most prolific attack,” he argued.

“We’ve scored 94 goals and we’ve never had difficulties in putting the ball in the back of the net.

“We’re the team with the highest number of different goalscorers and our tactical ethos is geared towards players breaking forward, so it’s not just the strikers who get on the scoresheet.

“Let’s also remember that last year we had the strongest defence and the best goal difference. We know it’s our duty to improve but there’s no need to plug gaps in January.”