22 April 2016
Juventus may be nine points ahead of second-placed Napoli with just four games remaining, but Hernanes is keeping his feet planted firmly on the ground, at least until the Bianconeri receive mathematical confirmation of what would represent an historic fifth successive Scudetto title.
“We’ve not won anything yet,” he warned during this afternoon’s interview with the media. “There’s still a little way to go before retaining our crown and we need to stay fully focused on the task at hand.”
With the decisive final points still to claim, it has been a campaign to cherish for the Bianconeri, especially considering the way in which they fought back from the table’s lower reaches in the autumn to pole position by mid-February before extending their advantage over main title-rivals Napoli during the Spring.
Hernanes, who admitted he had experienced a similar rollercoaster season while at San Paolo, stressed that every squad member had played their part in this most impressive of comebacks and the cultured Brazilian could not help himself from likening their upturn in fortunes to a musical crescendo that he hoped would continue to rise into next term.
“After getting to know one another, each of us has managed to contribute to this extraordinary season. If I had to describe our revival in a musical sense, I would suggest of one of those songs that starts slowly, then grows and grows before erupting at the very end.
“We’ve shown that we’re a real force not only in Italy but also in Europe, by going toe to toe with Bayern Munich. I think that we’re ready now to go all the way in the Champions League.”
This burning desire to keep improving and setting ever higher goals is exactly what Hernanes, who is working towards what would be a special, maiden Scudetto title in his career, admitted had won him over from the very beginning.
“Whenever I take to the field, I’m looking to win. Now I’m at Juventus, a club that fully reflects this feeling I have inside, this unrelenting determination to bring home the victory.”
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old also expressed his satisfaction for the way that he had grown into the role of deep-lying playmaker with the opportunity to maximise his creative attributes, even if that meant not finding the net as regularly as he did at previous clubs when featuring more often in attacking midfield.
“I feel very comfortable in this position just in front of the defence and I’ve learnt a lot over the course of these months. A bit like wine, I’ve matured into this role and now I’m ready to give my best at all times.”
He concluded: “Of course I miss that special feeling of scoring goals, but I’m sure that will come too. The position I’m playing in now is the one I feel suits me best.”
