Perin: ‘I did not stay at Juventus to be comfortable’ | OneFootball

Mattia Perin could not hide his bitterness after receiving the Champions League Man of the Match award in defeat to VfB Stuttgart. ‘Staying at Juventus was the opposite of comfortable.’

The goalkeeper performed heroics this evening at the Allianz Juventus Stadium with a series of saves, above all parrying the Enzo Millot penalty after Danilo had been sent off.

However, the Bianconeri still capitulated in stoppages to a goal from former Atalanta striker El Bilal Toure.

“I am really disappointed, as this evening Stuttgart made problems for us,” Perin told Sky Sport Italia.

“They are a very good team, but I am convinced that this defeat will help us to grow. I’ve never seen anyone win without having some failures first and we’ll learn this lesson.”

It was only the second penalty that he had saved in the Juventus jersey after a 1-1 Serie A draw with Fiorentina in September 2022.

Perin admits Juventus below par

epa11638788 Goalkeeper Mattia Perin of Juventus reacts during the UEFA Champions League match between RB Leipzig and Juventus in Leipzig, Germany, 02 October 2024. EPA-EFE/FILIP SINGER

Coach Thiago Motta said that VfB Stuttgart were better than Juve from the first minute, so what happened?

“We were a little below par, we didn’t have the energy that we needed to get out of those situations and resolve those problems,” noted Perin.

The goalkeeper was only playing tonight because Michele Di Gregorio was sent off against RB Leipzig and therefore suspended.

“I know that there are many people who think I chose to stay at Juve because it was comfortable, but the opposite is true.

“It’s tough to keep balanced when not playing often and it requires a lot of extra work to keep physically and psychologically in shape.

“Unfortunately, I cannot enjoy this award because it came along with a defeat.”

The goalkeeper turns 32 next month and has made only four competitive appearances for Juventus this season between Serie A and the Champions League.