Italian midfielder Claudio Marchisio is looking forward to provide an intriguing finale to a stunning 2016 by winning more silverware for Juventus in the Italian Super Cup final in Qatar tomorrow.
“We want to end the year in style with more silverware. I want to win my third trophy of 2016 on Friday,” said the 30-year old while speaking to journalists at Aspire Academy training pitch before the Bianconeri’s first training session in Doha, yesterday.
In Qatar, Juventus are looking to pick their third title of the year in Friday’s Italian Super Cup final in a rematch of May's Coppa Italia final in Rome.
“Our focus at the moment is on preparing ourselves as best we can by getting used to the playing surface and the climate here; finals always come down to the smallest details,” he added.
The Serie A defending champions, started the year by winning their fifth consecutive Scudetto title and capped it with a record 11th Coppa Italia crown, and a win on Friday at Al Sadd Stadium will make it a hat-trick and provide a perfect silver lining for 2016.
“As a team, we’ve had a remarkable 12 months, posting incredible figures and breaking records all over the place. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved but now it’s all about Friday and returning home with the Super Cup trophy in our arms.”
Although Bianconeri are leading the Serie A standings Marchisio feels his team-mates will encounter a Milan side which is ‘hungry for revenge’.
“Our league defeat to Milan taught us that we must not underestimate anyone. If you are not keeping pace against any side at this level, you always risk losing, not least in a game like this where one mistake can cost you the trophy,” said Marchiso, who was part of the Italian squad which finished runners up in Euro 2012.
“It’s a one-off fixture against a team that has made a very good start to the season so we will need to be at our very best to come out on top.
“Milan will be dangerous for two reasons. First, they will be hungry for revenge after the Italian Supercoppa final which Juventus won 1-0 and secondly, they are coming here on the back of a very positive first half of the season.”
Marchiso said AC Milan, who are in the third place, behind second placed Roma, are in good form in the Serie A.
“They were not in the title race last time out but they have begun in the best way possible so far mixing experience with the desire of their younger players to good effect. We’re expecting a difficult 90 minutes; they will be here to win and seize the trophy from our grasp.”
