Motta knows Inter clash is crucial for Juventus
Juventus head coach Thiago Motta has acknowledged Monday's (AEDT) clash with defending Serie A champion Inter Milan at Allianz Stadium is the most important fixture of his side's season.
Leader Napoli and second-placed Inter are separated by just two points at the top of the league standings, while Juve is in fifth.
The Bianconeri are on a three-match winning streak in all competitions, easing the pressure that had started to build on Motta.
Juve's last meeting with its Derby d'Italia rival resulted in a 4-4 draw at San Siro last October, and Motta expects another classic when the Nerazzurri come to Turin.
"We seek victory for everything. This is our job and we want to achieve victory. But we have to deserve it and put all our strengths to compete against a great opponent," Motta said.
"Tomorrow is a very important game, perhaps the most important in our championship. We have to be a team for the whole game.
"This is a very important game where we all feel the pressure. We have to concentrate 200%... We have a good group that always wants to improve."
Juve, which has drawn 13 league games already this season, is determined to maintain its positive momentum after a 2-1 win over PSV in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout-stage play-off tie in midweek.
"I hope there will be continuity for a long time. We have to improve on that. We got three victories in different ways. The objective is to do our best to win the game," Motta added.
While Juve will be without defenders Bremer, Pierre Kalulu and Juan Cabal as well as striker Arkadiusz Milik, it has been boosted by the return of left-back Andrea Cambiaso, who is available after recovering from an ankle problem.
"The team is fine and winning is always good. I saw the lads very well," Motta said.
"Tomorrow there will be no Kalulu, Bremer, Milik, Cabal, instead we will recover Cambiaso. [Lloyd] Kelly is fine."
