Juventus beat Atalanta 2-0, went into the international break with ten points from five matches, and their manager addressed every major topic of a night that carried far more significance than the scoreline alone. The post-match contributions from Luciano Spalletti — across DAZN, Sky Sport, and the full press conference — constitute his most wide-ranging and personally revealing evening of the season so far.
“We Want to Dedicate This Victory to All the Injured — and Especially to Grabara. What Happened to Him Is Unbearable”
The opening statement on DAZN was the most emotionally charged of the evening. “You can only do this with the great availability of a very professional group. Remember that we played on Thursday and also cancelled training to avoid injuries. Those who had played on Thursday only did recovery work and then played again. My work is made easier by these people. We want to dedicate this victory to all the injured — and especially, last of all, to Grabara. What happened to him is something unbearable.”
“With One Defeat Everything Collapses on You — Three Managers Have Already Changed Elsewhere”
On the ferocity of the criticism that followed the Sassuolo defeat, Spalletti was measured and slightly wry. “That’s how it is now — with one defeat everything collapses on you. Three managers have already changed at other clubs.” The observation requires no elaboration. Juventus, after losing one Serie A match, heard calls for his replacement from a significant section of the fanbase and the media. He names no names. The numbers speak for themselves.
“Mazzola? Respect Is Required. He Was a Legend of Dignity and Values”
The most personally felt passage of the entire evening concerned the incident that preceded the match — a section of Juventus supporters turning their backs and singing during the minute of silence for Sandro Mazzola, who passed away this week. The reaction from Spalletti in the press conference was immediate and unconditional. “Things like that simply must not be done. Respect and sportsmanship are required for legends of sport, of football — Scirea, Baresi, Mazzola. People of dignity and human and sporting values, from whom we all took something. I met Mazzola when I arrived at Inter — one of the first days, he came to embrace me and show his availability for my role in that moment. He gave me a great deal of help. I will always remember him.” To DAZN, earlier: “You must not make choices that can go against sportsmanship. I am sorry — I don’t even fully know the reasons. The sporting side must always be held dear, without being conditioned by anything else.”
“González and McKennie Are Always the Ones Who Make the Difference”
On the two players who have emerged as the season’s most versatile and reliable contributors: “It’s always them who make the difference. I put them in the conditions to exploit the way Atalanta play — a team immediately recognisable for their passing game. Several times we made internal runs with Çelik and Nico, but sometimes they took us around the pitch and we had to adapt. We played a match of sacrifice in certain phases of the first half.”
“Kolo Muani Played a Truly Great Match — He Asked Me What ‘Zeppetta’ Means”
The exchange that will be quoted most widely — and most warmly — from an evening full of memorable moments concerned the French striker and a piece of Italian football vocabulary. “I want to pay compliments to Kolo for the great match he played. I am convinced he will be able to show what a bomber he is. He didn’t score — I was sorry when he arrived in front of the goalkeeper. He has created it in the correct manner. He asked me what ‘zeppetta’ means.” The pause, and then the laugh. “But we are very happy — we hope to recover some players now.”
The term — which roughly translates as a sneaky little prod or toe-poke, the kind of delicate finish Atalanta’s goalkeeper denied him — required translation from Italian to French. The image of Spalletti and Kolo Muani discussing football vocabulary in the dressing room is, in its small way, one of the most humanising portraits of the entire season.
“Totti Made the Difference in My Career — He Was My First Great Player”
On the 1000th and 1001st goals of his managerial career — scored by Conceição and Bremer respectively — and which among all his career goals carries the most personal weight: “Totti is certainly the one who made the most difference in my career. He was my first period with truly strong players. He helped me enormously in my personal growth.”
“We Will Look Among Free Agents for a Grabara Replacement — Without Waiting Until January”
The goalkeeper emergency received its first public acknowledgement from the manager in the press conference. “We will go and look whether there is something that appeals to us among the free agents — something that can suit us without waiting until January.” It is the clearest possible institutional signal that a decision on a Grabara replacement is imminent and that the club has no intention of waiting three months with only Vicario and Pinsoglio available.
“Kolo Muani Was Magnificent — Seeing Him Smile in the Dressing Room Tells You Everything”
The final word on Kolo Muani, from the press conference, carried the season’s most complete and most generous assessment yet. “Kolo Muani tonight played a truly great match. He helped the team. He saved us in an episode that could have cost us dearly — he made the step towards the goal and stayed there as he is asked to do. It is a pity he didn’t score — he created it correctly. But seeing him smiling in the dressing room gives you the measure of how much he is inside this squad.” The wagon continues. The smiles are real. The international break begins with ten points, two consecutive clean sheets, and a manager whose faith in his players has been, in the most important match of the season so far, entirely vindicated.
