On the eve of Juventus’ trip to Cremonese, Luciano Spalletti addressed the media, reflecting on his team’s progress, tactical challenges, and the mentality required to keep improving.
Growth and Modern Football
Spalletti began by acknowledging Juventus’ evolution since his arrival but stressed there is still work to do.
“I think we’ve grown in many ways,” he said, “but there are still things we need to grasp — things that are part of modern football. For example, quick ball recovery gives you confidence and lets you restart from the position where the play ended. Within constant pressure and aggression, more duels and second balls occur, and having players who can manage them is like winning a dribble or creating a shooting chance. Many of these aspects are often overlooked because we still have a vision that needs deepening.”
Working Methods and Respect for Opponents
When asked to compare this Juventus to his first year in Naples, Spalletti emphasised his consistent passion for the game.
“It’s not comparable to that feeling,” he explained, “but rather to a way of working and being — driven by emotion. I love this sport deeply, and it still moves me. Every time I’ve worked within a club, it’s the players who make me feel part of something. I think we’re on the right path, but we need to do it all over again each time. The challenge is to bring the game into the opponent’s half and control it there. We’ll see if we can do that against Cremonese. When you look at Nicola’s teams, you can see the craft; he knows how to exploit certain moments that others might treat as ordinary.”
January Challenges and Maintaining Focus
Spalletti reflected on the busy fixture calendar:
“Playing on Monday lets us see other matches, and you notice that it’s never easy for anyone to win. Thinking some matches will be easier is a trap — it fools you into believing the path is smooth if things go well. But between European competitions and fatigue, obstacles appear. The key is to stay consistent. We always have to go towards victory; victory doesn’t come towards us unless we make the first move. It’s better to focus on one match at a time.”
Player Trust and Team Balance
On the importance of player quality and trust, Spalletti said:
“You always depend on the players’ quality and willingness. They make the difference. When it seemed there wasn’t much trust, I always said the same thing, and maybe I was the only one who believed it. But that’s how you deal with strong players — humble lads who understand the idea of a team. Individual talent comes out through the group. We’ll see if we’re able to maintain this level. We should be like Ferrari in Formula 1 — use the whole track, up to the kerbs. Sometimes we don’t use the full width of the pitch, but we should, constantly rotating across the entire field.”
Individual Performances: David, Miretti, and Comparisons
Discussing forward David, Spalletti offered encouragement:
“He can be a confidence boost. He played a great match, and I expect him to keep improving. He covers a lot of ground, links up well with teammates and creates spaces where Miretti has been able to get involved. Tomorrow, he will get another chance.”
On Miretti’s maturity and contribution, Spalletti added:
“Miretti’s father deserves credit — if his son is that professional and respectful, it reflects great upbringing. We might even have a small reception with the parents because of the example they set. Miretti helps us a lot; he has potential and a strong engine. He just needs a bit more spark, but he’s brave in duels. I haven’t asked for anything specific in midfield — I’m happy with the players I have. The market creates possibilities, but also distractions. I’ll be fine if we stay as we are.”
Asked about his previous comparison between Federico Chiesa and tennis star Jannik Sinner, the coach smiled:
“That was a compliment. Sinner is one of the best for consistency and perseverance — maybe in football terms, it was like having a player who could beat his man and create chaos. The quality is sky-high, but that’s it — he belongs to another team now, and we don’t have him anymore.”
Defensive Phase and Set Pieces
Spalletti praised his team’s defensive improvements.
“I like our defensive phase because our best defending is our ball possession,” he said. “It’s a different way of seeing things, but I’m happy about it. Our goal in possession is to create as many chances as possible. The key element is controlling the pitch.”
On set pieces, he noted:
“We’re not missing anything — we’ve come close a few times. I hope the players are convinced they can score from them. The same level of focus I see elsewhere gives me confidence.”
On the Market and Management
Spalletti kept his comments brief on transfer matters.
“There are a few positions we still need to complete,” he said. “But it’s the directors who run the market — the general manager and sporting director. I fully trust them. We’re keeping our ears open to see if we can fill certain roles with proper cover.”
Handling the Media
Responding to recent controversies, Spalletti clarified his stance.
“What happened seemed exaggerated,” he said. “There’s a lack of clarity over who should do what, but we move forward. To truly understand certain situations, you need to have lived them. Sometimes it feels like people don’t just comment — they go beyond that. For my press conferences, I have four top professionals who summarise everything for me. What I say isn’t spontaneous rebellion — it’s the result of work. When unpleasant things are repeated several times, eventually you respond. Then you see this call to arms to defend your ‘category’, but that wasn’t my intention. My brother used to say: only by saying what you truly think can you create the basis for understanding.”
Looking Ahead
As for Juventus’ points target, Spalletti remained cautious:
“I don’t know if we can reach 50 points. There’s still a long way to go. Every pass, every ball has to be earned — and then we’ll see where we end up. There are many matches, and a lot can happen. Better not to run too far ahead.”
