On the eve of the Turin Derby, Juventus winger Francisco Conceição spoke with Tuttosport (as quoted by Calciomercato) about Luciano Spalletti’s arrival, the club’s title ambitions, and the lessons from Igor Tudor’s sacking. The Portuguese talent shared honest insights into his growth, his relationship with his father Sergio Conceição, and his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo.
“The Derby Means More Than Three Points”
“We’re trying to absorb Spalletti’s new ideas,” Conceição began. “I think we’re doing a good job; we’ve started well, and now we have to win matches. The derby? It’s important — we have to win it. It means more than three points. There’s a history behind this game.
“My derby growing up was Porto–Benfica. I developed at Sporting because when my father stopped playing, we moved to Lisbon. On Tuesday they whistled at me because I’d played for Porto — that’s always been my team. I understand the rivalry, but I’ve had no contact with Torino fans. I just hope we win — maybe even with one of my goals.”
“Tudor’s Dismissal? It Was Also Our Fault”
Reflecting on Tudor’s departure, the 22-year-old didn’t hide his sense of accountability. “We could have done more during that run of games we didn’t win. The coach wasn’t the only one at fault — we had many responsibilities. When you don’t win at Juventus, the atmosphere becomes heavy, but if you’re here, you have to be ready. We made several mistakes; it was a combination of things. We looked at ourselves in the mirror and talked a lot in the dressing room. Now it’s up to us to work hard under Spalletti.”
“At Juve, You Have to Fight for Everything”
When asked about the team’s title aspirations, the winger was direct. “Did Spalletti break the taboo by mentioning the Scudetto? Yes, of course. When you’re at Juventus, you have to fight for everything. Here, you play to win titles.”
“Spalletti Talks, Listens, and Improves Players”
Discussing his first interactions with the new manager, Conceição said: “Yes, we’ve talked about how I feel and where I fit. We know he’s a winner — he’s already proven his quality. Hopefully, he can really help us. At Juventus, you fight to win, yes, but you also have to play well. I like that idea — keeping the ball, improving collectively. He’s helped many players perform better, and I hope he can do the same with me.”
He added with a smile: “My dad was happy when Spalletti arrived — he told me he’s a great coach.”
“I Feel Best as a Right Winger”
When asked about his preferred position, Conceição was clear. “I feel best as a winger on the right side. With Tudor, I played more centrally — at first I didn’t feel comfortable, but later it got better. The coach changed me in a positive way. I’m very competitive; if you want to grow, you have to adapt to different roles.”
“Cristiano Tells Me About Juve”
The Portuguese made no secret of his ongoing admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo. “Yes, I like talking to him,” he said. “I learn a lot. Cristiano had a great time here. He always tells me, ‘You’re at a great club, but when you don’t win, the pressure doubles.’”
“In Portugal, They Value Technique Over Physicality”
“In Portugal, at a certain point, between physical and technical ability, they choose technique. In Italy, it’s usually the opposite. That gives you advantages at first but takes something away later. If I’d grown up here, it would have been harder to stand out — maybe I’d have struggled to become a Juventus player.”
“Goals and Assists Make the Difference”
“I can give a lot more,” he admitted. “I haven’t played badly, but I haven’t shown my full potential. Goals and assists make the difference between a good player and a top one. That’s the path I want to follow — you can only be among the best if those numbers grow.”
“New Players Need Time”
“The new signings have quality — they’ve already shown that in other leagues. We just need to be patient. Italy is harder for forwards and for dribblers too. I like taking on opponents, but only to hurt teams decisively. Here, they always double up on you — it’s complicated, but dribblers always find a way to stand out.”
“My Inspirations? Cristiano, Messi, and Neymar”
“Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Neymar are the ones I’ve always looked up to — but there are fewer and fewer players like them now.”
“My Father Was a Great Example”
Speaking about his father, Porto coach Sergio Conceição, he said: “I always support my father, but what happened in the past is in the past — we move forward. I’ve never played against one of his teams, not even last year when I was injured.
“Being coached by him was tough at first, but in Portugal, people never talked about our relationship because I was performing well on the pitch. If one day he became Juventus manager? Perfect!” he laughed. “He’s a great coach. I know his value — I reached the national team thanks to him. I’m here because of the journey I had with him. He was very demanding, especially off the pitch — he taught me the importance of recovery, diet, and daily discipline. He’s been a huge example.”
“Vlahović Is Key — I Want to Help”
“Vlahović has a great hunger to do well,” he said. “I like him a lot. He has everything to help us with his goals, and I want to help him with my assists. He’s training well, as always.”
“I Must Always Earn Juventus”
Conceição closed with a reflection on what being at Juventus means to him. “Here, I always feel the duty to deserve Juventus. I’m working to reach better moments. The goal is to win and grow together.”
