Pierre Kalulu has quietly become one of Juventus’ most reliable players this season. The French defender hasn’t missed a single minute so far, establishing himself as a cornerstone of Luciano Spalletti’s side — a transformation that, according to him, began in the mind. “Spalletti has changed us from a mental point of view,” Kalulu revealed in an interview with Tuttosport*.
As Juventus prepare for a crucial clash against Napoli, Kalulu reflected on his journey — from his early days in Lyon’s youth academy, through his time at Milan, to becoming one of the central figures in Spalletti’s new-look Juve.
Learning to Play Without Fear
Kalulu has always carried himself with confidence, something he credits to his French footballing culture. “Pressure? I used to tell my friends — and I said it even when I played for Milan — I’ve never felt it. When you play football, you have to be the best, and those words sounded like ‘propaganda’ in my head. That’s how you start believing in yourself. We French have this ego: sometimes it seems like a bad thing, but in football it can help you to show your self-belief on the pitch. To tell your opponent: I’ll be stronger than you. It doesn’t matter how big or physical he is — if we’re playing against each other, I’ll be stronger. And if not today, then tomorrow,” he said.
What Spalletti Demands
Kalulu described the kind of mentality Spalletti expects from his players and how it’s reshaping the team’s identity. “He tells us that we have to be the protagonists of the match, as well as of our own destiny. The more actions we make to influence the result, the more likely we are to win. Whether it’s a defender attacking or a striker defending, you can always make the difference.”
This mindset, Kalulu noted, has been fundamental to Juventus’ evolution this season. “How has he changed us? Mentally. He’s put us in front of our responsibilities and allowed us to interpret every match in a more proactive way. You can see that on the pitch — and you can see it in my teammates too, especially those who’ve been scoring recently.”
The Napoli Test
Looking ahead to the big match against Napoli, the Frenchman expects an intense and tactical battle. “I expect a tough game — maybe a bit closed at the start. Their absences don’t matter much to us: they have a team that knows each other well, with specific automatisms. When someone is missing, another steps in. What matters is how well we play, not who we face. It’ll be an important and decisive match, but there will still be 17 left afterwards.”
As for the Scudetto race, Kalulu insists it’s far from decided. “A win would give us three points and them zero. It would help us feel better, but the season would still be long. I’ve always said the same — February and March will be the most important and decisive months for the title.”
A Word on Tonali
Before concluding, Kalulu also shared a few words about Sandro Tonali, his former teammate at Milan. “Sandro is a friend. We won the Scudetto together and I’m very close to him. He’s a strong player, but now we’re in two different teams. I wish him the best and I’m happy with the players I have around me now. Then… we’ll see,” he smiled.
