Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has delivered a frank assessment of the club’s current situation under Luciano Spalletti, ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Pafos. Speaking on La Tripletta podcast (as quoted by IlBianconero), Marchisio admitted his growing concern over the team’s direction and mentality.
“It’s been two or three years that mistakes have been made in the team’s construction,” he began. “How many times in Juventus’ history has the coach been sacked within the first few months? And how often has the management changed after just one year?”
The 38-year-old, affectionately known to fans as *Il Principino*, didn’t hold back when discussing recent transfer choices and structural issues within the club.
On the Market Failures
“In my opinion, you can’t keep spending so much money every year while changing so many players,” Marchisio stated. “You need to recognise your true level and make only a few adjustments instead of reshuffling everything. A project needs stability, and that’s something we haven’t seen for several years now.”
A Question of Attitude
Beyond the transfer market, Marchisio believes the real issue lies in the attitude of certain players wearing the Juventus shirt. “No, it’s not only about leadership — everyone needs to give more,” he stressed. “It seems to me that some players haven’t understood what it means to wear the Juventus jersey. Jonathan David comes onto the pitch and just jogs around. You’re at Juventus, in a difficult situation — your attitude has to be completely different. That’s what fans are seeing today: too many players aren’t giving everything they’ve got.”
On Chiellini and the Juventus Spirit
When asked which player he believes should have been part of this Juventus project, Marchisio was clear: “Which player should be at Juventus today? I’ll name one — Donnarumma. You couldn’t let him slip away, just like Frattesi, to keep that Italian core. Now, in the dressing room, who can tell the others what Juventus truly is? Chiellini? I hope so, but I understand his responsibilities and the moment he’s in. I care about him deeply — he looks so thin! I always tell him he needs to eat a few more steaks, but I know he’s giving his all. Still, you can’t do everything alone. As a fan, I’m honestly scared that we might not qualify for the Champions League.”
Spalletti the Right Man
Despite his concerns, Marchisio continues to back Luciano Spalletti to guide the team through this difficult period. “Is he the right person? For me, yes. Because of his depth and experience. He just needs a lot of trust. I think he was the only one truly ready to take on such a challenging job.”
