Juventus focused on Como and not transfer window, says Motta
Juventus begin their Serie A season with a limited number of players available and much work still to do in the transfer market, but they do have a good enough squad to be competitive, manager Thiago Motta said on Sunday.
Four seasons without a league title after winning nine in a row forced Juventus into major changes, with Motta replacing Massimiliano Allegri as coach, but they have yet to bring in the players required to challenge for the Scudetto.
Motta goes into Monday's opening home game against promoted Como with his squad still a work in progress, while American midfielder Weston McKennie, who looked to be on his way out of the club, could now return to the fold.
"First of all, McKennie is a useful and functional player for our needs," Motta told a press conference.
"Tomorrow we have 19 players to face the game, only 11 can play. I have the possibility to make five substitutions, no more.
"We are in good shape, had good preparation, good training this week, with intensity, everything we want to see, and ready to face tomorrow's game."
Juventus, heavily linked with the likes of Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners and Fiorentina winger Nicolas Gonzalez among others, have failed to bring in players targeted at the end of last season.
Defender Riccardo Calafiori went to Arsenal and Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee, who played under Motta at Bologna, signed for Manchester United. They also need to offload forward Federico Chiesa who does not fit into Motta's plans.
"We are working hard to build a competitive squad together and today we are focused on playing a great game against Como. We will see the rest later," Motta said.
"The most important thing is that, even if you don't like to talk too much about the game, even though