Luciano Spalletti addressed the media after Juventus’ victory over Benfica, a result that confirmed the Bianconeri’s strong progress in the Champions League. The Juventus coach used the press conference to clarify his exchange with a fan, discuss the team’s attitude, and reflect on his players’ performances.
The coach began by clearing up the tension spotted during the match. “Let’s make it clear,” Spalletti said. “I only replied once. From the very first minute, at every mistake, he kept shouting, ‘Spalletti, take him off!’ I told him: we have five substitutions — I can’t change them all. It went on from the start, really… if you keep doing that, it becomes difficult. Then I didn’t say anything more. It was something continuous. I turned around and told him I couldn’t substitute everyone. It was very natural, without crossing any lines.”
On highs and lows
When asked about Juve’s inconsistency, the coach disagreed with that interpretation. “Highs and lows? I don’t agree. The first half wasn’t difficult. In any case, we always come out fighting. Tonight’s game was balanced. It’s true that after 15–17 minutes we started to drop a bit, and we had Miretti’s header, David’s header too… In the second half we were more blurred when trying to win the ball back. But it wasn’t a difficult or stolen match — we deserved the result. The team’s attitude was proper throughout. I’ve been around a while, and they told me it had been four or five matches since Juventus last beat Benfica. I think we can praise the players’ approach, even if there’s still room to do better.”
On the atmosphere and the fans’ whistles
Spalletti also commented on the environment surrounding the team and the fans’ expectations. “We can play beautiful football — that’s part of our philosophy. We want a way of playing that’s engaging, that connects with the people. We want to play attractive football and also win matches because, of course, we know we must win. We aim to keep a high line; obviously, that exposes us at times, but the players have to treat it as part of the game and learn how to handle it.
“There’s a rich history here. Juve fans have seen top players over the years. Cambiaso, for example, is someone who really knows how to play — he can do everything on the pitch. He was even rumoured to be heading to a big club. His persistence in playing the ball out is a strength that should be recognised. We want to be a team that improves. So go ahead, whistle us — we want to turn those whistles around,” Spalletti said with conviction.
On Jonathan David
Finally, Spalletti praised his striker while calling for more collective improvement. “McKennie’s goal came from a high-quality move — a real triangle of play. David knows how to survive in tight spaces where you can hardly breathe, and he can also link up play. With Openda, they can play together. But, of course, other elements need to be added, because that alone is not enough,” he concluded.
