Llorente: "Juve are like Real and Barca And they've won 31 titles"

The Spaniard: “The objective is a third consecutive title: the Champions League is a dream. I get on very well with Tevez. I like Conte more than Bielsa.”

Fernando Llorente was the absolute star of the day at Chatillon. First of all he scored a hat-trick in the training game watched by 3,500 delirious fans. Then he hit a double in the press-conference by declaring that, “Juventus are on the same level as Barcelona and Real Madrid. And they’ve won thirty-one league titles”. Two strong statements that sent a clear message of allegiance to the Juventus establishment and supporters. The ‘Lion King’ won everybody over and especially the fans, (more than 100 of them) who besieged him outside the press-conference room with demands for photographs and autographs.

CONTE — "I couldn’t wait to start training. The warmth of the fans is something I’ve never experienced before. Antonio Conte employs great training methods and I’m pleased to be working with him. He’s a different type of coach to Bielsa and I prefer to train with Conte. We’re working hard, but it has to be like that. The boss has asked me to learn the movements of the other strikers, and eventually I will. For now, I’ll have to keep on working tirelessly. Conte has also told me to have more shots and to be more selfish in front of goal: I can still improve in many areas of my game. I don’t want to predict the number of goals I’ll score as I don’t want to put myself under any extra pressure.”

JUVE LIKE BARCA AND REAL — “Our first objective is to win a third consecutive league title. The Champions League is a dream and it will be difficult, but I have faith in this team. Juve’s total number of league titles? Thirty-one. I’ve noticed a big difference between Juventus and Athletic Bilbao. Juve can stand alongside the best in Europe like Real Madrid and Barcelona, and this is a good step up in quality for me. I chose to come to Italy because I wanted to play for Juventus. I’m happy, and there’s a great group of players here. Juve are very strong and I like the way that Conte gets the team to play. I’ve just had a very tough year at Athletic and now I want to seize this opportunity. I’m thinking only of working hard and giving my all. It is too early to say who our main challengers will be because plenty of Serie A clubs have strengthened their squads.”

EASY WITH TEVEZ — “I get on really well with Tevez and all the other strikers. I’m training with great players and I’m happy to play alongside him and the rest. It’s easier to play and to score when you play with great players like these.”

VILANOVA — "I’m very saddened. It is a difficult situation and a tough time for him. I hope he gets well again and my best wishes are with him for his recovery."