Former Italy coach Cesare Prandelli, who also represented Juventus as a player and later managed Fiorentina, has shared his thoughts on the state of the Bianconeri and the upcoming clash between his two former clubs. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport (as quoted by Calciomercato), Prandelli discussed Luciano Spalletti’s early impact in Turin, Juventus’s squad-building philosophy, and the legacy of Giampiero Boniperti.
“Spalletti’s Touch Is Already Visible”
“The hand of Spalletti can already be seen,” Prandelli said. “But Saturday will be difficult and risky for Juventus. In Florence, it’s the match of the year. There’s no better opportunity for Fiorentina to spark their revival from the bottom of the table. They need a spark, while Juventus need goals from their strikers. Fiorentina are last in Serie A. Vanoli has inherited a tough situation from Pioli, who’s an excellent coach. If Stefano couldn’t make it work, there’s definitely a problem. Vanoli is no novice, and I hope he can quickly find the right solutions.”
“Juventus Focused on Players Before Men”
Turning to Juventus’s recent history, Prandelli reflected critically on the club’s recruitment approach.
“Probably in recent years they’ve looked for players before looking for men. And when that happens, you need luck to win,” he said. “As for Comolli’s method, curiosity is fine, but only if you put the person before any numbers or tactics.”
Prandelli went on to praise Spalletti’s mindset and leadership: “Spalletti is an experienced and successful manager, and he’s already proving it. He coaches Juventus now, and ambition is a must. The real anomaly was hearing people talk about finishing fourth in the past. Luciano spoke like a Juventus man – Boniperti would have appreciated him as a coach. I’m convinced that with Spalletti, Juventus can compete again for the Scudetto.”
“ItalJuve? Start with Tonali”
Asked about the club’s Italian core, Prandelli replied: “An ‘ItalJuve’? Yes, but it requires planning through the youth system, and maybe bringing back some Italians from abroad. If I were Juventus, I’d start with Tonali.”
“Yildiz Is a Great Talent, but Not Francesco’s Goalscorer”
Prandelli also shared his view on Kenan Yildiz’s role under Spalletti. “Yildiz is a great talent but doesn’t have Francesco’s sense for goal. The Turk is a number 10 skilled in dribbling; with a different rhythm, I see him more like Kvaratskhelia, starting on the left in a 4-3-3.”
“Spalletti’s teams always play to support their strikers and score plenty of goals. Juventus need that too. If Vlahovic doesn’t recover, David will have a great chance — one he mustn’t waste. I repeat: Spalletti needs goals from his forwards to kick-start Juventus’s progress.”
“I Remain Optimistic About the National Team”
Finally, Prandelli commented on Italy’s performance. “We should all be concerned,” he said. “I agree with Gattuso — in the second half against Norway, fear took over. But I remain optimistic about the World Cup.”
