Former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi has heaped praise on Luciano Spalletti, describing him as “the perfection of the Juve world” following the team’s impressive 5-0 win over Cremonese. Speaking on Tiki Tacco, the YouTube show hosted by Il Bianconero, Tacchinardi reflected on the transformation of the Bianconeri under Spalletti and shared his insights on their current form, upcoming challenges, and prospects in the Scudetto race.
Spalletti’s Impact on the Team
“The team is growing and the boys are doing very well. Credit must go to Luciano Spalletti. Juve are moving forward strongly,” Tacchinardi said. “Right now, I think it’s the team in the best physical and mental condition. I still regret the two points dropped against Lecce — with those, we’d be even higher in the table. But how important it is to have a coach who changes things and knows how to manage so many situations.
“As of today, Luciano Spalletti is the perfection of the Juve world — he’s perfectly inside the Juve world. This team would jump into fire for him, and that’s the most beautiful thing for a coach.”
“At Cremona, You Couldn’t Yet See His Hand”
Reflecting on Spalletti’s arrival earlier in the season, Tacchinardi noted that the coach’s influence is now fully visible:
“At Cremona, obviously, you couldn’t yet see Spalletti’s hand. Now you can. I think he didn’t expect to find such a group of ‘good guys’, so he had to use both carrot and stick — praise and punishment. He’s done an important job, the work of a man who’s seen everything in football.”
A Tough Test Awaits in Cagliari
Looking ahead to the Bianconeri’s next fixture, Tacchinardi identified Saturday’s trip to Sardinia as a potential banana skin.
“Of all the recent matches, the away game in Cagliari is the trickiest. It’ll be a ‘dirty’ game, one where you have to put on your helmet. But Juve will go there with great enthusiasm. It’ll be the kind of battle where you need to roll up your sleeves and get to work — and I think they’re ready to do it.
“Mina? With all respect to a former colleague, he goes beyond. The team will need to keep cool heads and not get drawn into his provocations. He uses his hands a lot and tries to irritate opponents. It’ll be a tough, gritty match with important points at stake, especially since big games are coming up right after.”
“The Obsession to Win”
When asked about Juventus’s title ambitions, Tacchinardi remained cautious — but optimistic.
“Are Juve ready to fight for the Scudetto? Not yet, but in my career I’ve seen everything happen. If you hit a winning streak and the teams above you slip up, anything’s possible,” he said.
“Right now, Spalletti is instilling the obsession to win — he’s hammering that message home. I love listening to his interviews; he repeats it constantly. There must be that obsession: always thinking about the next game and how to win it. The feeling around the group is positive. I’m not focused on the Scudetto; I’m focused on growth. The players have developed confidence and personality.
“He’s even pushed Yildiz, and now when the kid’s on the pitch he’s got a different sort of bite — he attacks defenders as if to say, ‘I’m going to beat you all now.’”
Thoughts on Rivals
Tacchinardi also offered his thoughts on Juventus’s main competitors:
“Inter and Napoli have something extra, but the others aren’t stronger than Juve. Napoli really impressed me in Milan. The Champions League will also affect a lot — anything can happen. It’s a great championship this year. Milan, Como, and Roma play good football, but they’re not superior to Juventus.”
On Douglas Luiz and Future Choices
Finally, he commented on the possibility of Douglas Luiz returning to Serie A and reuniting with Spalletti:
“Would I like to see him back at Juve under Spalletti? I watch Nottingham and rarely see him play. If I saw him on the pitch regularly, dynamic and involved, I’d say why not? I prefer to judge players when I see them in action. Last season he looked tired and unmotivated.
“Maybe he just needs to go out on loan and play somewhere else. But if he suddenly puts together three strong performances, then sure — why not? He’s got quality. If I had to choose between him and Koopmeiners, I’d actually keep the Brazilian.”
