Luciano Spalletti was full of praise for his side after Juventus’ solid performance against Udinese, speaking to Sky in the post-match interview. The Bianconeri coach highlighted his team’s intensity, the adaptability of certain players, and the continued growth of the group.
The Match
“We should have finished it earlier because the team really played well and maintained that level of ruthlessness to try to close it out as soon as possible,” Spalletti said. “We actually managed to do it, but that’s fine because we were up against a very strong side.”
Boga and Yildiz
The coach took a moment to analyse the performances of his attacking players. “I was satisfied with Boga – I had never used him in that central role before, but he moved very well as a striker,” he explained. “Yildiz, on the other hand, doesn’t feel entirely comfortable in that position yet. He hasn’t yet mastered the art of being guided from behind. He still needs to learn how to read both the ball and the opponent, then make his move dynamically. Starting from that area caused him some problems. But credit to Udinese – if you allow them to settle into shape with their physical presence, it’s very hard to break them down.”
Cambiaso
Spalletti also discussed Andrea Cambiaso’s movement on the pitch, praising his flexibility. “If he doesn’t move around the pitch, he won’t play anymore,” the coach joked. “It’s better for him to roam and act almost like an extra midfielder. When you send players like Boga and Conceição inside, those half-spaces are better occupied by him, leaving the wing for the one-on-one battles. For them, situations were getting crowded because the wide centre-back had to mark the opposing winger. This habit of seeking out spaces freely is a quality for a team; otherwise, you give strength to a top side like Udinese, especially in terms of physicality.”
Growth and Mentality
According to Spalletti, Juventus’ real growth lies in their improved control of possession and game rhythm. “Improvement comes when we keep the ball more,” he said. “It mustn’t be a superficial exercise; it needs to create openings for decisive chances. We also need to avoid unnecessary risks. We’re consolidating our ability to control matches, and then we choose when to take risks. Tonight, we were perfect in that sense. We didn’t allow many ball recoveries. It’s part of the mentality of a strong team. Tonight, we played like a strong team.”
