Luciano Spalletti shared his thoughts with Sky Sport after Juventus’ victory over Benfica, a result that sealed their place in the Champions League play-offs. The Bianconeri coach analysed the team’s performance, praised the players’ mentality, and looked ahead to the upcoming clash with Napoli.
Reflecting on the match, Spalletti acknowledged the game’s complexity and the moments of difficulty his side faced. “It was a bit of a mixed game,” he explained. “There weren’t many chances for either side. They occupied space well in midfield because they’re good at keeping the ball, and we left too much room, which forced us to give up a few metres and lose some composure. Then we created a couple of good chances — Miretti and David both had important ones. In the second half, we lost four or five balls that created some tension again, but then the team settled down. We scored and won a tough match, even without being as sharp and clean as in the last two games. But it turned into a more open contest.”
“The players are the real protagonists”
Spalletti went on to discuss the mentality driving his squad and the importance of continuous improvement. “Alex [Del Piero] was one of those players I admired, so thank you very much,” he said. “We try to keep moving forward, to keep this imagination alive of going after more and more. The main protagonists remain the players — that’s the first thing I’ve tried to say. It’s through their decisions and their ability to stay balanced. They’re the ones who decide, but then we need quality: speed, precision, and the ability to play in tight spaces with your radar always on.
“Sometimes we lose our rhythm and then find the right line again. Sometimes we even make the ball cough with how we play,” he joked. “In the second half, we just needed to get the first pass right more often, and we didn’t always manage that. When you spend too much energy on defending, it becomes hard to break forward.”
“Thinking about Napoli? Maybe a little”
Finally, Spalletti admitted that his focus is already shifting towards the weekend’s high-profile Serie A showdown with Napoli. “Am I thinking about Sunday? A little, yes,” he smiled. “Now we’ll enjoy this match — it’s just finished, and it wasn’t a given. It’s a great result. The first milestone, really. My staff reminded me that it had been several years since Juventus had beaten Benfica. Beyond the two goals, there were some very good moments, even if not consistently throughout the match.”
