Luciano Spalletti spoke at the pre-match press conference ahead of Juventus’ Champions League encounter with Bodo/Glimt, addressing the challenges of the game and his team’s current situation.
Dressing Room Atmosphere
“First, let’s respond to the idea that we’ve made a half disaster. The players haven’t performed as badly as some may say. I was the first to say we had to do more, and we need to bring the best out of them. We must use the horses we have and all our qualities. I’ve seen all the desire of this team and the responsibilities we face—either you confront them or lose. The pitch and the weather are disadvantages because I’ve been fortunate to work abroad, where the air you breathe is different. It’s all a matter of habit, and it’s different from ours. Our desire to perform must compensate for this gap. They are also good at choosing players, not just because of the pitch and cold. They have significant international value.”
Tomorrow’s Match
“It’s a different story and I hope the players can adapt to the new conditions here. They must be able to enter into a functioning system. We need to recognize their speed and play technically even on such a pitch. In Florence, we had a first half where the ball moved too slowly and we needed to try to play through the middle to find solutions. In the second half, I saw more. We have many qualities, but we must execute our passing well and not give opponents the chance to hurt us. Tomorrow we must get used to the climate, avoid many mistakes, and also make some key plays. Right now, we are too reactive, but we must create space and look beyond the first pass to find continuity. We need to improve here, and I expect that.”
The Cold
“It’s tough with me because I spent five years in Russia. I even had a daughter there, and I enjoyed living there.”
Synthetic Pitch
“It’s a real difficulty because of habits and ball bounces. We will definitely pay something for this, but we will face it. We all had some fears, but after facing it, we adapted, and this could bring us satisfaction. The pitch bothers us, but we want to perform.”
About David
“It’s true, he needs certainty. But when we talk about attackers and offensive play, there’s a risk of confusion. You have to score goals — so far, he has drawn them — and in the search to score, you risk losing them. He’s not fully at his peak with the options they have. We need to think deeply and reflect. We have three similar forwards: three main strikers who move similarly. If you talk with them, they’ll tell you ‘I’m a striker.’ We need to maintain team balance and improve by adding players like Zhegrova and Adzic, who have qualities. We need to proceed step-by-step. Openda is the same type as David but has also played little. We will try to listen to his advice.”
Bodo/Glimt and Lazio
“It’s true, he needs certainty. But when we talk about attackers and offensive play, there’s a risk of confusion. You have to score goals — so far, he has drawn them — and in the search to score, you risk losing them. He’s not fully at his peak with the options they have. We need to think deeply and reflect. We have three similar forwards: three main strikers who move similarly. If you talk with them, they’ll tell you ‘I’m a striker.’ We need to maintain team balance and improve by adding players like Zhegrova and Adzic, who have qualities. We need to proceed step-by-step. Openda is the same type as David but has also played little. We will try to listen to his advice.”
Yildiz Rested
“They can’t always be at their best. Unfortunately, I read and see that sometimes there are natural moments when performance dips below usual. Kenan hasn’t had exceptional performances, and rest is part of the game. Sometimes circumstances keep you out, and you have to encourage your teammates to give their best.”
Changes on the Pitch
“We will change some players. Judging only by numbers is a limited view because they have the ability to occupy spaces and move you around if you aren’t balanced. We must not leave gaps inside because they are good and know how to play in tight spaces. We must stay very close and make them play outside.”
Psychological Work
“I haven’t studied psychology, but I know that when things aren’t going well, looks, hugs and wanting to be together sharing difficulties are important. It’s essential to have this availability. It depends on the people you’re dealing with, and they are tops in terms of group and relations. I must raise the level of my directions, not my voice.”
