Luciano Spalletti spoke to DAZN (as quoted by IlBianconero) after Juventus’ hard-fought victory away to Bologna, sharing his thoughts on the team’s progress and the standout contributions from key players. The Bianconeri coach praised his side for their determination and for executing the game plan against a well-drilled opponent.
“The Bologna side is well-defined, full of enthusiasm, with a very clear mentality,” Spalletti explained. “Winning here is important for my players.”
On Cabal’s Impact
Spalletti then discussed his decision to bring on Juan Cabal, who proved decisive after coming off the bench. “I’ve said it several times — it becomes difficult if you don’t get results and don’t improve, but I had already seen good things from him in training,” he noted. “I told the club as well: I’ve found everyone energetic and reactive. We needed a performance that could bring calm, and I hope this puts us in the right conditions to go further and repeat ourselves, beyond the goal and chances.”
Analysing the team’s rhythm and mindset, Spalletti added: “You always draw confidence from moments in a match, but today Juventus stayed right in the heart of the game for 90 minutes, they fought, won duels — that can be a good sign moving forward.”
He also offered a vivid description of Cabal’s abilities and personality: “Cabal must learn to control his emotions. He’s a horse because he’s got pace, power, a hundred metres in his legs. He’s got the gift of repetition; he’s strong physically and in the air. But in the matches he’s played so far, he’s been a bit ‘rough’, so I’ve been on his case a bit.”
On Openda’s Performance
Spalletti also analysed Lois Openda’s role compared to that of Jonathan David, explaining why the Belgian forward seemed more comfortable in this particular match. “He’s different from David. David is a player who connects, sometimes almost like a second striker,” the coach said. “Openda, on the other hand, is more powerful, stronger physically, probably more at ease against teams like Bologna because he can exploit those 60 metres of pure speed and strength. He was a bit favoured by the nature of this match and the way Bologna play.”
Juventus’ manager concluded the interview by underlining the importance of collective focus and physical presence, both qualities that defined the team’s success at the Dall’Ara. With Spalletti’s influence becoming increasingly evident, Juventus appear to be building both confidence and identity under their new coach.
