Arthur Melo reveals what changed at Juventus against Barcelona and how Andrea Pirlo is helping him improve tactically.
The Bianconeri believe they achieved a turning point in their season with a 3-0 Champions League victory at Camp Nou to take top spot in the group.
“We studied Barcelona carefully and the staff spent so much time analysing the strengths and weaknesses that we already knew what would happen in the game,” Arthur told Spanish newspaper Marca.
Arthur Melo reveals what changed at Juventus against Barcelona and how Andrea Pirlo is helping him improve tactically.
The Bianconeri believe they achieved a turning point in their season with a 3-0 Champions League victory at Camp Nou to take top spot in the group.
“We studied Barcelona carefully and the staff spent so much time analysing the strengths and weaknesses that we already knew what would happen in the game,” Arthur told Spanish newspaper Marca.
“We wanted first place in the group and needed to score at least three goals. We knew it’d be tough, but we really believed and Juve are a squad with so much quality that we can achieve anything we set our minds to.
“Our mentality was very different to the time we met in Turin, as we knew that if we played well with Barcelona, we could do it. We had more intensity, especially in the opening 30 minutes. The change from the game in Turin was above all psychological.”
It was a return to his old hunting ground for Arthur, who joined Juve in exchange for Miralem Pjanic plus cash over the summer.
“There was more of a splash than I wanted in the media. Once I realised that I was leaving, I wanted to do things right,” insists Arthur, who was frozen out of training at Camp Nou.
“It’s difficult to say if Barca treated me badly or not, but I did want things to be different. Now I have come to a big club to move in a new direction.”
Coach Andrea Pirlo confirmed that Arthur struggled at first when getting to grips with Serie A football.
“I did suffer bit too much when I arrived, because it was such a completely different way of playing. I was lucky to arrive at the same time as a coach like Pirlo who played in my position. He has so much experience at this level, so all I can do it keep my head down and listen to him.”