Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam feels “Juventus are favourites” for the match tomorrow.
The Dutchman spent several seasons at Old Trafford before spells at Lazio and Milan, so he has a special interest in tomorrow’s match.
“I expect a match in which both teams will want to get three points,” Stam predicted in an interview with Il Bianconero.
Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam feels “Juventus are favourites” for the match tomorrow.
The Dutchman spent several seasons at Old Trafford before spells at Lazio and Milan, so he has a special interest in tomorrow’s match.
“I expect a match in which both teams will want to get three points,” Stam predicted in an interview with Il Bianconero.
“Certainly the approach will be different though, Juventus are a team that prefers to attack from the first minute of the game, while Manchester United are more cautious, they prefer to wait for the opponent and then hit them.
“They’ll try to win though, because if United lose tomorrow night the pressure will be on [Jose] Mourinho again.
“Juventus are favourites, they haven’t dropped any points in the Champions League and they have great players.
“Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci? They’re good players who have played at a high level for many years now. I heard the Manchester United manager say that 'they could teach Harvard,' but I don’t agree with that.
“But I think Juventus really can win the Champions League. Of course, they’re not at the level of Barcelona in terms of playing with the ball but that doesn’t mean they can’t aspire to win it.
“Games are not always decided by individual play, in this competition there are important aspects such as mentality and mental strength. It also takes a little bit of luck in individual matches.”
United and Juventus met repeatedly in the 1990s, with perhaps the most famous match coming as the English side came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in Turin and reach the final.
“In 1999 at the Delle Alpi in Turin, we were two teams of the highest quality. The first leg, at Old Trafford, was very balanced.
“Many people doubted we could get through because, in their opinion, we couldn’t eliminate Juventus.
“[Pippo] Inzaghi’s double made it an uphill task and for a moment it really did seem like it was over, but right then we really started to believe in ourselves.
“At our first goal we felt a huge strength flow through us, while Juventus started to back off. We pushed hard on the accelerator, because our objective was to reach the final.
“Juventus actually tried to buy me when I was still a Lazio player. I was very honoured by their interest, and in the same year Inter and Milan also wanted me.
“I chose to go to the Rossoneri because of the Dutch tradition, and also for the great team they were at the time.”
Stam was also asked for his opinion on Paul Pogba, who will be back at Juventus Stadium for the first time since re-joining Manchester United.
“It’ll be fantastic for him to return to Italy, he’ll face the team where he developed in front of the fans who cheered for him.
“He’ll certainly want to make a good impression and do his best.
“A possible return to Juventus? I have no idea if he’s happy at Manchester United but I’m sure he would be good at Juventus. Italian football suits him.”