Juventus legend Franco Causio gave an extensive interview to Tuttosport, analyzing the Bianconeri’s start to the season and speaking openly about the problems he sees in Luciano Spalletti’s team. Causio believes Juventus are still in the process of rebuilding, but he has faith in the club’s new management. He spoke in particular about Kolo Muani, Nico Gonzalez, Francisco Conceicao, Kerim Alajbegovic, Kenan Yildiz, Bremer, Douglas Luiz, Manuel Locatelli and Guglielmo Vicario.
“JUVENTUS ARE A TEAM IN REBUILDING”
Causio believes the current results need to be viewed in the context of the many changes that have affected Juventus.
“This is a team that is in the process of rebuilding. Because of the numerous injuries, Spalletti has not yet been able to fully develop the team’s technical and tactical potential. There have also been major changes in the management. There is no need to rush, but rather to make decisions carefully and analyze what works and what does not. Of course, results cannot be ignored, because they help you grow.”
“WITH CARNEVALI AND MASSARA, JUVENTUS ARE IN GOOD HANDS”
Unlike certain areas of the squad, the new management has earned Causio’s trust.
“I know both Carnevali and Massara very well, and I am sure Juventus are now in good hands. They are excellent professionals and it seems to me that their cooperation is working. The most important thing is that they do not make mistakes with their next moves, starting with the January transfer window.”
CAUSIO IS CLEAR: “THEY ARE MISSING LEADERS, A 20-GOAL STRIKER AND A PLAYMAKER”
When asked where Juventus need to strengthen, Causio identified several major problems.
“They are missing players with charisma. At the moment, perhaps they only have Bremer, who is slowly becoming decisive again. They are also missing a striker capable of scoring 20 goals in a season and a top playmaker – a midfielder who will drive the team forward.”
He singled out Bremer as one of the few current leaders of the team.
DOUGLAS LUIZ: “HE IS STILL NOT AT HIS LEVEL”
Causio has followed Douglas Luiz since his days in the Premier League and therefore believes the Brazilian can offer much more.
“I have followed him since his early years in the Premier League, when he was one of the best. It was strange for me to watch him struggle so much in Italy. Spalletti is giving him confidence and we have received some answers, but he has still not reached his former level. I would like to see him more involved in the game.”
“LOCATELLI IS VERY UNDERRATED”
Causio had particularly interesting words about Manuel Locatelli.
“Locatelli is a very underrated player. Luciano is trying to turn him into his Pizarro in front of the defense and I think he has done a very good job so far.”
However, Causio believes the quality and depth in midfield are still not at the level Juventus once had.
“Something is still missing in midfield. There are few players who can make a difference, even when they come off the bench. I remember the days when a Juventus coach could turn around and see Dybala, Pogba or Marchisio on the bench. Those were players capable of changing a game. Today, with all due respect to the current players, we do not have such options.”
CONCEICAO UNDER SCRUTINY: “HE IS GOOD, BUT HE DOESN’T FINISH WHAT HE CREATES”
Causio was much more direct when speaking about Francisco Conceicao.
“He is good, but he never manages to finish what he creates. It is similar with Zhegrova, who seems like his copy to me. Those areas of the pitch need more personality. It is up to Luciano to bring that out of him.”
According to Causio, improvement does not depend only on confidence, but also on the way the Portuguese winger works during the week.
CAUSIO’S ADVICE FOR CONCEICAO
Causio then described how he used to improve his game after regular training sessions.
“After training, I would stay with Bettega and Anastasi. I would run up and down along the touchline, dribble around cones and try to deliver the most accurate crosses possible to my teammates. I did the same at Udinese with Zico.”
His message to Conceicao was clear:
“I advise Chico to do the same. He has to learn how to find the striker better.”
KOLO MUANI: “HE IS STILL TOO INEFFECTIVE, BUT HE IS NOT GETTING THE RIGHT BALLS”
One of the central topics was Randal Kolo Muani. Causio praised his performance against Atalanta, but pointed to a problem with his end product.
“Against Atalanta he played a very good game, but he is still too ineffective. Part of the reason is also that he is receiving too few good balls.”
Causio believes Juventus need to make better use of the French striker’s characteristics.
“He has to be put in a position where he can shoot at goal. I am sure Luciano will find the right tactical solutions. He is extremely good at that.”
ALAYBEGOVIC: “HE STILL HAS A LOT TO IMPROVE, BUT HE DOESN’T LACK QUALITY”
Causio also spoke about young Kerim Alajbegovic.
“He still has a lot to improve. He certainly does not lack quality.”
For the young Juventus player, it was a short but clear assessment – the potential is there, but there is still a lot of work ahead.
MESSAGE FOR YILDIZ: “HE HAS TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY”
Causio had a similar message for Kenan Yildiz, in whom he sees enormous room for improvement.
“Yildiz has incredible room for improvement. When he returns from injury, he will have to take more responsibility and convince himself that he can carry the weight of the team on his shoulders.”
Causio wants to see Yildiz much more active within the entire system.
“He cannot isolate himself and think only about his own area of the pitch. I hope he takes that step forward, because he is still young.”
CAUSIO IMPRESSED BY NICO: “HE HAS SOMETHING MORE THAN THE OTHERS”
When asked to name the player who can currently change the course of a match the most, Causio did not have many doubts – Nico Gonzalez.
“At the moment I would say Nico, because he definitely has something more than the others. Not only experience, but also that aggressiveness, that ‘garra’ typical of Argentinians.”
He particularly appreciates his ability to create an advantage in one-on-one situations.
“He is the type of player who does not need specific instructions. Wherever you put him, he will find a way. He brings dribbling and creates a numerical advantage in one-on-one situations – that is his greatest strength.”
Causio is also pleased with his versatility:
“I liked him in every position in which he has played – both as an attacking midfielder behind the striker and on the wing.”
“JUVENTUS NEED AN ITALIAN CORE”
Causio believes the management must also think about the structure of the dressing room in the future, not just individual quality.
“Having an Italian core within the team is of fundamental importance. These are players who build the dressing room. I am not talking about my era, when almost all of us were Italians, but about more recent generations: Buffon, Barzagli, Chiellini, Bonucci, Marchisio, Pirlo… true leaders.”
He links the lack of such figures to his earlier observation that the current Juventus squad is missing players with strong character.
VICARIO? “A GOOD GOALKEEPER, BUT WE CANNOT COMPARE HIM WITH BUFFON, ZOFF AND TACCONI”
Finally, Causio also spoke about Guglielmo Vicario.
“Perhaps today it no longer makes much sense to ask whether someone is ‘Juventus material’, because so much depends on the period the club is going through. We cannot compare him with Buffon, Zoff or Tacconi – those are unreachable mountains.”
Nevertheless, his view of Juventus’ current goalkeeper is positive.
“In any case, we are talking about a good goalkeeper. I have followed him since his time in Udinese’s youth academy.”
Causio’s analysis therefore paints a fairly clear picture: Juventus have quality and young players with significant room for development, but in his opinion the team are still missing leaders, a top playmaker and a striker capable of guaranteeing around 20 goals per season.
Source: Tuttosport – Franco Causio interview
