18 April 2026
At 20:45 CEST tomorrow, Sunday 19 April, the Juventus Men's First Team will play at home against Bologna on Serie A Matchday 33.
Manuel Locatelli previewed the match at a press conference, where he also spoke to the journalists present about his contract renewal, which was made official on Friday 17 April.
Before the press conference began, however, the Bianconeri captain paid tribute to Alexander Manninger, who tragically passed away on Thursday 16 April.
“I wanted to pay tribute to Alex Manninger. As a child, I used to watch Juventus and I have wonderful memories of him. On behalf of the whole squad, I send my condolences to his family. We will always carry him in our hearts, with great affection, and we will also remember him tomorrow at the Allianz Stadium.”
THE EMOTIONS OF THE RENEWAL
“It’s hard for me to describe how I feel right now. If you ask a young Juventus fan what his dream is, he’ll surely say it’s to play in this shirt and be its captain. For me, it’s yet another dream come true. I feel a great sense of responsibility and hope to repay that on the pitch. One of my dreams is certainly to lift a trophy in this shirt that I love and have always loved. I’ve received so much affection over the last few days; it’s been wonderful to share this joy with my family. If I had to mention one message I’ve received, I simply must mention the one from Pessotto, a legend of this club. Gianluca told me that the tougher times I’ve had here have shaped me into the person and the footballer I am today. At Juventus, I’ve learnt to bounce back. I’ve gone through difficult times, faced boos and criticism. I always stuck it out, I questioned myself and found a way to react. The ability to react is what allows you to stay at this level. I never thought of leaving this club, I never saw myself away from Juventus. In my mind, I had to prove the player I was and the person I was. I’ve always felt the club’s trust, and this contract renewal has confirmed that.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO BOLOGNA
“Tomorrow’s match against Bologna will certainly be very important. Como? It’s true they haven’t picked up any points, but we must focus solely on ourselves. Will tomorrow’s match be the most important of the season? The most important match of the season is always the next one. At this time of year, every game is crucial. We must focus solely on ourselves and on how to win tomorrow’s match. Qualifying for the Champions League is vital for Juventus.”
A REVIEW OF THE SEASON AND A LOOK AHEAD
“Unfortunately, we haven’t managed to win any trophies this year. As I said, our goal is to qualify for the Champions League, but the most important thing is that we have a solid plan in place. We need to get back to winning ways as soon as possible because that’s what everyone expects: the fans, the management, and us too.”
