Luciano Spalletti addressed the media ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League showdown between Juventus and Sporting Lisbon, reflecting on team progress, tactical evolution, and the mindset required to face Europe’s elite. Calm yet engaged, the Bianconeri coach illustrated how collective commitment and clear thinking remain at the heart of his approach.
Looking back at the win over Cremonese, Spalletti said he gained valuable insights. “I was happy with certain choices that gave me information to move forward in our work,” he explained. “Tomorrow, I’m expecting an extremely difficult match. With Borges, Sporting know how to play football — they’re structured, have a clear idea even if it’s difficult to decode. It’s a typical feature of Portuguese football; they’re excellent at rotating roles and combining in tight spaces.”
On Kenan Yildiz’s versatility, Spalletti praised the youngster’s adaptability. “A good starting point is to ask the player where he feels most comfortable,” he said. “He tells me he likes the inside-left or wide-left area. Both fit him well — he can play as a second striker or out wide. What might trouble him slightly is the 100-metre recoveries, but in modern football, you must adapt. He has the technique and strength to impose himself.”
Discussing ambitions, Spalletti clarified his earlier comments. “I said we must fight for the Scudetto, not that we must win it. That changes the meaning slightly,” he explained. “There’s a difference between playing to fight and playing to win. We have a history to measure ourselves against — am I really the coach of Juventus? Asking that helps, because it motivates you, as Di Gregorio said, to always improve. As long as mathematics doesn’t stop us, we’ll fight for everything. There’s a saying: not only until the end, but beyond the end — and so we go straight ahead, fighting for everything.”
Praise for his players remained central. “The victory was entirely down to the players, because I barely intervened,” he admitted. “Thank you for the kind words, but the credit goes to them. They were attentive to my demands, and their responses on the pitch were exactly what I expected. What pleases me most is the look in their eyes — ‘Tell us what to do, and we’ll start.’ That’s fundamental to me. They’re a great group, both sportingly and personally.”
Preparing for the Champions League, Spalletti underlined the importance of mindset. “It’s a privilege to play in the Champions League — the elite of football,” he said. “To be here, we need our own idea of what it means to be a team and protect it with personality. Courage is key — usually you have three choices: the right one, the wrong one, or uncertainty. The worst is uncertainty, even more than a wrong choice. Playing every three days is not an alibi. This is football — we play every three days, there are no shortcuts.”
Addressing discipline, Spalletti smiled about his early days with the team. “The squad is well organised, made up of hardworking players,” he said. “At first, when I introduced rules, they spotted any trick immediately — and teased me about it. The best rule is always common sense. Juventus have always had rules. We’re getting to know each other, sharing ideas, and finding pleasure when they’re embraced. The key is to want to work correctly and use time well. If we waste time, things become difficult — but if we build constructively, we progress.”
On Yildiz’s fitness and flair, he reassured reporters. “He’s available,” Spalletti confirmed. “Does he remind me of anyone? Kvara had similar traits, but another who didn’t get enough visibility was Totò Di Natale — a phenomenal player who could have played for any top club. Yildiz, meanwhile, fills everyone’s Instagram with his beautiful plays.”
Spalletti also discussed the team’s renewed confidence after recent wins. “Sometimes, when you’re not lifted by enthusiasm or positive results, everything feels heavier,” he said. “You work, but the head gets tired. Maybe the structure to cope isn’t yet there. The level we live at is super top — and just ‘top’ isn’t enough. But now, after two wins achieved by the players themselves, we’re in a position to compete on equal terms with a great team like Sporting.”
Finally, he singled out Andrea Cambiaso and Dusan Vlahovic for special praise. “They’re both fundamental,” he said. “Cambiaso is a very modern player. There are no fixed roles anymore; tasks are interchangeable, and he interprets that perfectly. He gives you options and balance. The one thing he can still improve is aerially. Dusan, on the other hand, knows exactly what it means to be at Juventus. He handles pressure and challenges well. We spoke during the training camp — he’s extremely happy here. Not having a contract doesn’t unsettle him; he just wants to play football. Yesterday, he gave a wonderful performance.”
As for his own expectations from the next match, Spalletti smiled: “They made me shout at the end of the last game, and I lost my voice. I’d love to see something tomorrow that reflects what we worked on in training today. If I see that, I’ll already be happy.”
