Luciano Spalletti analysed Juventus’ crucial Champions League victory over Pafos in his post-match interview with Sky. The Bianconeri coach acknowledged the importance of the result for their European campaign but did not hide his disappointment with certain aspects of the performance.
The importance of the result
“Fundamental to win, with victories you always fix many things,” Spalletti began, underlining how much was at stake. “We needed to do more, I am not happy and neither are the lads. At certain moments we did the minimum, there were even some embarrassing situations in the first half. In the second half we loosened up.”
The success keeps Juventus on track in the Champions League, but the coach made it clear that standards must rise.
The Juventus he wants to see
Spalletti then explained how the team evolved between the two halves. “I wanted to do it in the first half but I was afraid of moving them around on the pitch,” he admitted. “We had talked about it in training and in the second half we developed it very well, we were organised and determined to bring the result home. These are difficult matches because before this they had only conceded against Bayern.”
The coach stressed that his ideas had already been shared with the squad, and he was pleased with how they finally applied them after the break.
Defensive issues and roles
The Juventus boss also focused on the team’s defensive difficulties and the impact of injuries and roles on his choices. “We were in difficulty, we need to get a right-sided centre-back back so that Kalulu can play full-back,” he explained. “Cambiaso is an offensive player but he has to defend against physical players and their changes of direction, he struggles because when he pushes and supports in the attacking phase, in the first half we conceded too much and exploited too little. We did not notice some plays; watching them back it seems incredible that our players could not read those situations.”
Spalletti made clear that finding the right balance in the back line is a priority for the coming weeks.
Time, fatigue and squad management
Asked whether he has had enough time to impose his ideas, Spalletti offered a detailed look into the team’s schedule and condition. “My opinion of the players does not change, for now we are doing little of what I expect, far too little,” he said. “When you talk about time, we came back from Naples at five in the morning, the next day two little steps and the day after that we are in training camp, some players still have to recover. Yesterday they simulated the way of being on the pitch, tactics, this morning two attacking set pieces. You do not find rhythm, intensity, you do not have the chance to stay on top of them and make them feel your breath on their neck.”
He also justified some of his in-game decisions. “I took Yildiz off in the last twenty minutes because I hope he recovers for the Bologna match, those minutes stay in your legs, the final minutes of stress and chases drain you completely. Taking them off can make the difference, those who have played less need to grow: Miretti has played less but needs to be on the pitch because he can do more. Adzic also has quality. The team must be brought up to the right level and then something different can be shown, but for now we are going slowly.”
System and future formation
Finally, Spalletti discussed his tactical plans and the formation he hopes to use once the squad is complete. “I hope to get there when I have a right-footed central defender,” he said. “Kelly on the right limits the team in the build-up and Koop on the left as well. As tonight it is fine, but then the full-backs concede. We are working; I want to develop the 4-2-3-1 and try to put it on the pitch.”
