Luciano Spalletti faced the press after Juventus’ thrilling 3–3 draw against Roma, analysing his team’s performance, their reaction, and the overall direction of the Bianconeri project. The Juventus coach, while satisfied with the team’s determination, admitted there are still aspects to refine before they can truly deliver the style and consistency he desires.
Performance and Reaction
Reflecting on the game, Spalletti noted areas where Juventus faltered but praised his players’ resilience under difficult circumstances.
“There were still a couple of lights left off,” he explained. “We misplaced four or five balls in numerical superiority and in the second half when Thuram played Yildiz a bit too long. But the reaction was there. I’m satisfied with that because the players shared that desire.”
Spalletti highlighted the team’s spirited response despite their recent challenges.
“They believed,” he continued. “These lads are coming from 120 minutes played with a man down, just after going out of the Champions League. I’ll take the whole picture: it was a good match overall, against a Roma side that played great football. We made one marking mistake, but we take home the reaction and the good performance.”
From the National Team to Club Life
Asked about the differences between managing Italy and coaching Juventus, Spalletti reflected on the contrasting demands and his journey since arriving in Turin.
“They are two different jobs,” he said. “During my time with the national team, too many things happened, especially in a delicate moment like the match against Norway – we arrived exhausted from the league, with a strong group that had lost badly in a final. That penalised us, and I’m disappointed, but I accept it.”
“The club is top, everyone knows that,” Spalletti added. “In my opinion, the team has made steps forward. I thought I could bring back beautiful and winning football, but that hasn’t been the case so far. We’ve gone backwards a bit, with some episodes going against us.”
The coach also pointed to the demanding fixture list and limited recovery time as major factors.
“In this period we’ve played three games in ten days, all close together, and fatigue can be felt. With so many matches, I can only help them recover – training but not overloading them mentally. Tonight, they showed recovery; being capable of reacting after what has happened shows the players are strong.”
“We’re Close to Entertaining and Getting Results”
Despite the challenges, Spalletti remains optimistic about the team’s progress and potential.
“There’s my regret for believing we could create something beautiful, but we haven’t managed it yet,” he admitted. “I still think the same about the team – if you ask the players, they’ll tell you. I know the squad’s potential, but there are still things to fix to be good, and we must work on others to be excellent. We’re close to being able to entertain and bring home results.”
