Juventus suffered a shock defeat at the Allianz Stadium at the hands of Cesc Fàbregas’ Como, leaving questions hanging over the team’s form and mentality. Speaking to DAZN after the match, head coach Luciano Spalletti provided an honest assessment of the performance and the difficulties his side is facing.
What’s Happening to Juventus
“The performance was affected by the first goal, and it’s always about these episodes,” Spalletti began. “When you try to recover, you end up stretching the team depending on where they want to take you. You do your individual pressing, but they move you around with their passing and possession, and everything becomes more difficult. Then, it’s happened 13 times that we concede from the first shot on target — it’s clear that if this keeps happening, there are problems.”
Errors and Mental Pressure
The Italian manager also addressed the psychological side of Juventus’ current struggles. “When you lose enthusiasm, it shows. There was a period when we were full of energy and played beautiful matches. But when that sense of personality and self-belief drops, those mistakes you make instantly cost you — you go behind, and it becomes hard to react mentally. That’s how it works in the players’ heads: there’s too much pressure from results, and these episodes make all the difference.”
Lack of Reaction and Confidence
Asked about the lack of response from his players, Spalletti pointed to confidence issues. “Self-esteem and self-belief — until recently, we had that in sight, and we managed to achieve it. Now we’re missing a bit of authority and conviction. Today, we misplaced a huge number of passes in midfield that my players usually don’t miss, because I know them well.”
On Di Gregorio
Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio was also mentioned after his crucial error in the match. Spalletti defended his player while calling for collective responsibility. “Di Gregorio is on the same level as his teammates. He’s no more responsible than the others. He made a mistake, as everyone does in other situations, and we conceded. Yes, he could probably have done better, but so could we — in defending or in not losing the ball. These situations should always be shared equally.”
The Race for the Champions League
Looking ahead, Spalletti stressed the importance of Juventus rediscovering their mental strength. “It will all depend on our own belief. Our opponent in the race for the Champions League is ourselves. If we fix certain things, technically and mentally, we’ll compete. But if our level stays like this, we’ll lose matches and can’t aim for any achievement.”
