On the eve of Cagliari vs Juventus, Luciano Spalletti addressed the media with his characteristic clarity and depth of thought. The Juventus coach discussed focus, individual players, tactical philosophy, and the upcoming transfer window, offering a window into his meticulous approach to both the present and the future.
Spalletti opened with a metaphor that summed up his current mindset: “Zoom in and zoom out – you focus on one thing at a time, you go deep to fill your mind. Then you zoom out and see the bigger picture, the future. But right now, the only thing in focus is the match against Cagliari.”
On Bremer and Adzic
The coach spoke highly of defender Bremer, praising both his recovery and mentality. “I’m very happy with how Bremer has returned and how he’s improving,” Spalletti said. “These types of injuries can leave you with doubts, but he’s cleared his mind completely. He always plays with a sort of internal gauge – if the opponent has strength three, he’ll use five. He must learn to adjust that. The substitution was precautionary because it’s the accumulation of effort that can create problems.”
On forward Vasilije Adzic, Spalletti was equally enthusiastic: “From my point of view, it’s simple. He has extraordinary abilities, the kind top players have. I’d like him to find clarity – what to let go and what to impose. He hits the ball like a hammer, has speed, sees things quickly, but sometimes loses himself chasing the sensational play instead of repeating the simple one. For me, Adzic is untouchable, and I expect great things from him. There’s a hidden treasure in him.”
Results and Playing Style
Spalletti reflected on football’s classic debate between performance and results, mentioning inspiration from a recent Serie A encounter. “I didn’t just watch Como vs Milan – I rewatched it,” he revealed. “You learn a lot from both teams. People talk about purists (the ‘play lovers’) and pragmatists (the ‘result seekers’). But why shouldn’t those who love the game also want results? Winning can come in different ways. You can adapt your style without betraying your identity.”
He continued, “You need defensive balance – the right number of players to prevent losing the ball. Both styles are valid. Playing deep and countering is slightly easier in today’s football, but pressing and dominating is more stimulating and international. Against strong teams, you must be ready — many try to choke you with intensity. I don’t see myself in the role of someone always chasing the others.”
Locatelli the Leader
Spalletti dismissed any doubts about Manuel Locatelli’s ability to wear the captain’s armband. “Who says Locatelli isn’t fit to be Juventus captain? The data speaks for him — after Modric, he completes the most key passes. He’s perfect for balancing creativity and stability,” Spalletti insisted. “He’s embraced his role fully, doing the dirty work for the team. I see constant growth in him, his radar is always on. For me, he’s the ideal Juventus captain.”
The David–Openda Comparison
Speaking about his attacking options, Spalletti drew comparisons between Jonathan David and Loïs Openda: “David has grown with the team. Openda has different qualities, but David fits better with our idea of managing possession in the opposition half. The goals he’s scored come from that. David needs the team, and the team needs a striker like him – we go hand in hand.”
The January Market and Squad Depth
When asked about the transfer window, Spalletti kept his focus on balance rather than revolution. “January is meant for adding qualities you don’t already have. Since I arrived, we’ve always been ‘on the market’ in that sense — learning new things about our players. I can see growth, new behaviours, and that’s the most important thing. There might be a couple of roles we lack, but overall, the squad is strong.”
He also mentioned specific names: “Yildiz, I want to protect him. He’s very strong, extraordinary, and I don’t want to put pressure on him. Kostic looks highly motivated, more than before. Cabal is back to his best levels. When players are at their peak, you can place them anywhere. Ottolini is handling things – he’s competent and serious.”
Learning from Milan
Reflecting on his recent matches, Spalletti underlined the importance of tactical flexibility: “I learned that against teams like Milan, you can’t just suffer their quality — you must pay attention. There are different ways to win. Playing with too many attacking players in their half is risky because recovering becomes hard — you end up running 60 or 70 metres back constantly.”
Managing Yildiz
Finally, Spalletti gave an update on rising star Kenan Yildiz. “We were looking for someone to fill certain spaces, and Yildiz has them all. A top player either lives within the team or has moments of brilliance — he has both. He’s important to us, and we’ll protect him. He missed one training session with a sore throat but trained well today. Conceição will return but can’t play a full match yet. So we’ll see — Yildiz might start or come in later. He’ll play many games; he gives us multiple solutions.”
