Fabio Capello has shared his thoughts on Juventus following their 2–1 defeat against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with the former Bianconeri coach offering a mixture of criticism and understanding for Luciano Spalletti’s current situation.
“The team plays slowly, and Spalletti hasn’t yet managed to get his players moving the ball at speed — that’s the reality,” Capello told Gazzetta dello Sport, analysing Juventus’ current struggles under their new manager.
“Spalletti is trying to give ideas and personality”
Capello defended Spalletti’s intentions but also highlighted the tactical missteps seen in Naples. “Spalletti has just arrived; he’s trying to do things, to give the team ideas and imprint more personality,” he explained. “Against Napoli, perhaps he was a little cautious facing Conte’s side. Knowing their strength in midfield, he decided to play without a central striker. He tried to trouble them by blocking the flanks and letting their centre-back have the ball. It didn’t work well because Napoli’s pressing and pace caused problems.”
He continued: “He was up against a team full of quality, one that defends with many men, compactly, and without leaving much space. Still, Spalletti is searching for solutions. After three straight wins, maybe he wanted to grab at least a point — I see it that way. But the difference between the two teams was clear.”
“Yildiz must be free to invent”
Discussing Kenan Yildiz’s role in the match, Capello offered insight into the youngster’s positional freedom. “I never played with a false nine; I always had two strikers,” he said. “Yildiz is one of those players who should be given freedom, like all players with flair and creativity. Of course, he needs to reposition himself when possession is lost, but he must have the licence to invent. Sunday wasn’t the right game for him — Napoli were strong and determined, and I was impressed.”
He then compared Juve’s display to Inter’s performance, adding: “Watching Inter against Como, it looked like a senior team facing a youth side.”
“Criticism of Yildiz and Locatelli should have stayed internal”
Capello also reflected on Spalletti’s post-match comments about Yildiz and Manuel Locatelli. “I agree with what Spalletti said about using a back four — Gatti and Bremer are two essential centre-backs,” Capello noted. “But criticising Yildiz and Locatelli publicly? In my opinion, that should’ve been said yesterday while reviewing the game with the players — not in front of the media.”
He continued: “We all expect more from our players, but right now it’s hard to ask that of Yildiz. Maybe Spalletti wanted to motivate them, but that sense of guilt he placed on Locatelli sounded a bit harsh.”
“The ball moves too slowly — and that’s not new”
According to Capello, Juventus’ core issues are structural rather than tactical. “The ball moves slowly and rarely travels vertically. That’s not an easy problem to fix because it goes back to last season,” he explained. “It means the issue lies in the players’ characteristics. The ball moves quickly when you have players with technique and vision — and who don’t fear making a mistake by playing forward.”
“Thuram is a player who carries the ball; Locatelli sees the game and is capable of playing vertically, but perhaps he lacks the right movements around him, because his teammates prefer receiving to feet. The only one who demanded the ball in behind was Vlahovic — and he’s injured.”
“Some players feel the weight of the shirt”
Capello warned that certain Juventus players appear burdened by pressure. “Some Juventus players really do feel the weight of the shirt,” he said. As for the team’s ambitions, he advised patience: “Will Spalletti’s Juventus risk missing out on the next Champions League? It’s too early to tell. The matches against Bologna and Roma will be a good test for all three teams.”
