Tuesday, 22nd April, 2014
Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is looking to end the Bianconeri's trophy drought in Europe by winning the Europa League this season.
Juventus will take on Benfica in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final at the Estadio da Luz this Thursday.
Marchisio believes that it is the right time to end the 17-year-old long trophy drought for Juventus in Europe.
"Many players in this team have never won a European competition and Juventus haven't won a trophy in Europe for so many years”, the Italian told UEFA’s official site.
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The 28-year-old admits that at this late stage of the season tiredness will play a part but a trophy at the end of the toil will act as an extra motivation for the players.
"When you reach this stage of the competition motivation can make the difference.
“So even if we're coming to the end of the season and our legs are beginning to feel heavy, the trophy can give you that energy to give that bit extra."
This season’s Europa League final will take place at the Juventus Stadium and Marchisio admits that lifting the trophy in front of the home crowd has acted as an added motivation for the players.
"When we moved into the knockout phase of the Europa League, the fact that the final would be at home clearly gave us an added boost."
Juventus won their last European trophies in 1996 when they won the Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.
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