Former Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has shared his thoughts on the club’s current moment, reflecting on the challenges Luciano Spalletti is facing as he tries to steer the Bianconeri through a new phase of transition. Speaking as a guest analyst on Sky Sport after Juventus’ Champions League victory over Pafos, Del Piero offered a balanced but candid assessment.
“There is the weight of history, of the club, of all the victories,” he began. “But there’s also the weight of the recent past. This team is the result of what happened last year, when several leading players left and were replaced by younger ones. And the Juventus environment is not simple. It’s not a place that suits just anyone — Juventus is not for everyone.”
Del Piero highlighted how such a unique environment can become an additional challenge, especially for less experienced players. “It can be heavy on the players’ shoulders,” he explained. “We’ve seen many of them performing with more freedom, mentally and physically, when playing elsewhere. The difficulties here are real and constant — you might win today, but then concede two goals in Bologna next week. Who can say?”
A Message for Spalletti
Turning his attention to the current manager, Del Piero spoke with understanding but also a degree of expectation. “What I ask of Spalletti is whether he has enough time,” he said. “He took over mid-season and is already dealing with a defensive emergency. He’s had to change a lot, and at the moment, there are no tactical certainties, not even in terms of performances — perhaps only from Yildiz. So where can he find something to hold onto and start creating stability?”
The former Juventus icon also acknowledged the psychological side of the challenge, particularly for those struggling for playing time. “It’s true there are no certainties,” Del Piero concluded, “but you must create some. Otherwise, it becomes mentally exhausting — especially for those players who are not regular starters.”
