Ciro Ferrara and Hernanes, both former Juventus players and now DAZN pundits, analysed the Bianconeri’s 2–0 away win over Pisa, praising Luciano Spalletti’s tactical decisions and the decisive impact of Edon Zhegrova.
Ferrara Praises Spalletti’s Tactical Adjustments
“Paradoxically, Juventus won the game by taking off Locatelli and moving Koopmeiners deeper,” said Ferrara. “The real difference, though, was Zhegrova. He completely changed the match, and it would have happened even if Locatelli had stayed on. He came on with the right attitude — something that still doesn’t happen with David, who’s struggling to make an impact when called upon.
“Zhegrova played a great game, full of quality but also quantity. You even saw him tracking back to defend. Juventus won a very delicate match after taking some risks, and they did it in a way that gives great satisfaction and, above all, belief.”
Hernanes Compares Openda and David
Offering his assessment of the attacking duo, Hernanes commented: “I see Openda as more active lately — he’s growing in confidence. David, on the other hand, still looks a bit stiff to me.”
Ferrara on David and Yildiz
Ferrara added: “If there’s a coach who can get David back to his best, it’s Spalletti. But the player himself needs to seize the moment when given a chance. Right now, he seems hesitant, as if lacking confidence in his play. All it takes is one goal — like the one Yildiz scored — to regain belief, but he’s struggling at the moment.
“For now, Openda is more important for Spalletti because he stretches defences and offers depth.”
The Value of the Pisa Victory
Ferrara also emphasised how vital the result was for Juventus’ standings: “The win puts Juventus right back in the race for Europe. They’re a point off the top, even if Napoli, Inter and Milan have games in hand, and they move ahead of Roma into a strong position. This victory came from Spalletti’s tactical choices and substitutions.”
He also praised the build-up to Yildiz’s goal: “Miretti made a brilliant play — a player with that kind of quality gets in front of goal and produces something wonderful.”
“I Used to Do the Hoe Kick!” — Ferrara on Zhegrova’s Skill
Commenting on Zhegrova’s clever flick that lifted the ball just over the defender, Ferrara laughed: “I used to do the ‘hoe kick’ myself! He pulled it off tonight perfectly — that little touch to lift the ball just enough so the defender can’t intercept it.
“I have the feeling he could earn a starting place in the next match because he made such a strong impression and completely changed the game. In that role, when you have a player with his ability to beat opponents one-on-one, that’s his daily bread. He could challenge Conceição, who’s currently injured. The upcoming matches against Cremonese, Sassuolo, Lecce and Cagliari form a crucial stretch, and Juventus will need someone like him.”
