Motta backs Douglas Luiz to shine on Juve return
Juventus head coach Thiago Motta has backed midfielder Douglas Luiz to play a starring role in his side upon his return to action against Fiorentina.
Luiz has endured a difficult start to life in Turin, making 11 appearances across all competitions after suffering a muscle injury since his move from Aston Villa.
The Brazilian, along with Teun Koopmeiners, was Juventus's marquee signings ahead of the Serie A season.
Motta has struggled with injuries this term, with Juventus sitting sixth in Serie A, nine points behind leader Atalanta despite not losing a league game all season, but drawing 10 of the 17 it has played.
But the Juventus boss was able to provide a positive update on his squad ahead of welcoming Fiorentina to Allianz Stadium.
"We have recovered Douglas Luiz, Nico [Gonzalez] will be available and we have also recovered Danilo and [Teun] Koopmeiners," Motta said.
"We have to still wait for [Jonas] Rouhi, [Timothy] Weah and [Arkadiusz] Milik."
"I have great hopes and beliefs in him," Motta added on Luiz. "He has been out for a long time.
"He certainly doesn't have the physical level of some of his teammates. As a midfielder he can do everything.
"In a previous team, they played with two in front of the defence.He has shown that he is a complete midfielder, of a high level. Continuity also applies to him.
"He must maintain this line to be at an excellent level and be together with the team from now on."
Juventus returned to winning ways in its most recent Serie A match, beating bottom club Monza 2-1 after a run of four consecutive draws, which has been the story of its season.
It has drawn 20 league games in 2024. In the history of Serie A, only Perugia in 1979 have had more matches end level in a single calendar year (22).
But it will be confident of ending the year on a high, given its recent record against La Viola.
Juventus has won each of its past three league games against Fiorentina, while also winning 12 of its past 13 Serie A home games against it.
Since the start of the last decade, only Roma (14 against Udinese) and Fiorentina (13 against Udinese) have managed to obtain more home wins against a single opponent in the competition.
With the sides level on points heading into the contest, Motta acknowledged the task that awaited his players.
"[Fiorentina] has an excellent coach [Raffaele Palladino], who is very well-prepared and has always shown that he has done a great job," Motta said.
"It has players of excellent quality and, above all, good preparation. It knows how to play football well and is very dangerous on the counter-attack.
"We have to play the right and balanced game."