Italian-Brazilian Thiago Motta, now coaching Juventus, shifted all the pressure onto Inter Milan by labeling them as the title “favorites” right before the much-anticipated Derby d’Italia this Sunday.

Motta, who’s dealing with up to five potential starters out due to injuries and coming off his first loss of the season in the Champions League against Stuttgart, decided to add a bit of pressure on Simone Inzaghi’s squad. “Alongside Napoli, they’re the top contenders. It’s not just my opinion—the facts back it up,” he said in a press conference.

The coach downplayed the importance of the Italian classic, despite the razor-thin difference between them in the standings—Inter sits second with 17 points, and Juventus is right behind with 16. “It won’t be a decisive game; we need to approach it like any other. Tomorrow, two great teams will face off. As always, we’ll give it our 200%,” he commented.

Juve, although undefeated in Serie A, comes into the match with a dented spirit from injuries and that late-game loss to Stuttgart. Their recent form in the domestic league, with three scoreless draws and only two wins in their last six games, doesn’t inspire much confidence heading into this matchup.

“We’re up against a strong team and need to approach it just like any other game. Stuttgart’s in the past; we believe in our game plan and are only looking ahead to go for it all,” Motta added, sidestepping questions on injuries and recent results.

This will also mark Motta’s return to the Giuseppe Meazza, where he played as an Inter player for three seasons. He’ll reconnect with fans who cheered him on from 2009 to 2012, when he won the historic treble—Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the Champions League—in 2010 under José Mourinho.

Now he returns as a respected coach after leading Bologna to a Champions League spot last season. “I’ve played for Inter, Barcelona, PSG, Genoa, and Atlético Madrid. I’ve always tried to do my best on and off the field, with no hidden agenda—just being myself,” Motta said.