Claudio Marchisio spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about the current Juventus side, Luciano Spalletti, Antonio Conte, Kenan Yildiz, Randal Kolo Muani, Douglas Luiz and potential reinforcements.
The Juventus legend believes the club needs continuity after years of changes, but without lowering its ambitions. One of the most interesting parts of the interview concerned his son Davide, who has since taken another major step forward - making his first-team debut for Juventus.
CONTE IS CONTE, BUT NOW IT IS TIME TO TRUST SPALLETTI
Marchisio has never hidden how much Antonio Conte means to him. It was under Conte that he became one of the symbols of the Juventus side that began a remarkable winning cycle, so he understands why some fans would still welcome the former captain and coach back to Turin.
However, his message regarding the current Juventus project is different - the club cannot keep starting over every time difficulties arise.
“Conte is Conte for Juventus. But now we have to trust Spalletti.”
The essence of Marchisio’s message is continuity. Juventus have changed coaches, players and executives repeatedly in recent years, while a new project cannot fully develop if every setback leads to another revolution.
Marchisio believes Spalletti deserves time to impose his ideas on the team, but that does not mean lowering expectations.
“JUVENTUS MUST TRY TO WIN EVERY COMPETITION”
When it comes to ambitions, Marchisio leaves little room for compromise. Juventus may be going through another rebuilding phase, but the history and weight of the black-and-white shirt demand ambition.
“Juventus must try to win every competition.”
That applies particularly to the Europa League. Marchisio does not believe Juventus should view it as a consolation prize simply because they are not competing in the Champions League.
Quite the opposite. A European trophy would carry enormous significance, especially for a club that has been waiting a long time to add another continental title to its history.
The message is clear: Juventus can talk about development, a process and the time Spalletti needs, but the club must never enter a competition without believing it can win it.
YILDIZ IS SPECIAL: “WITHOUT HIM, JUVENTUS ARE AT 70–75%”
One of the players Marchisio spoke about most enthusiastically was Kenan Yildiz. In his view, the young Turkish star’s importance goes far beyond statistics.
Yildiz gives Juventus unpredictability, individual quality and the ability to change a match with a single action.
“Without him, this Juventus are at 70–75%. Kenan is special.”
Marchisio also mentioned Kerim Alajbegović as a major talent, while stressing that he is a different type of player. In other words, Juventus may have several talented young players, but they currently do not have an obvious replacement for everything Yildiz brings to the team.
“THE NEW DOUGLAS LUIZ” - MARCHISIO PICKS OUT AN UNEXPECTED DIFFERENCE-MAKER
As a former elite midfielder himself, Marchisio is particularly interesting when discussing what Juventus need in midfield. He has always appreciated Douglas Luiz’s technical qualities, but what he sees now is a different version of the Brazilian - more involved, more important and more willing to take responsibility.
“The new Douglas Luiz.”
Marchisio expects even more from him, particularly in front of goal. During his own career, he understood better than most how much a midfielder capable of scoring regularly can change the balance of a team.
He has a similar view of Randal Kolo Muani. The Frenchman is a striker and goals are expected from him, but Marchisio does not want the entire burden of Juventus’ attacking output to fall on one player. Conceição, Nico González, McKennie and the rest of the squad must contribute goals as well if Juventus are to become less predictable.
TONALI WOULD BE DIFFICULT — THEN MARCHISIO MENTIONS FRATTESI
As a former world-class midfielder, Marchisio is naturally drawn to discussions about what Juventus are missing in the middle of the pitch.
Sandro Tonali is a player he rates highly, but Marchisio is also aware of how difficult such a transfer would be.
That is why he mentioned another intriguing name:
“Maybe Frattesi could become an option again.”
Davide Frattesi fits the profile Marchisio particularly appreciates - a midfielder capable of arriving late in the box, attacking space and contributing goals.
His name is especially interesting at a time when Juventus are looking to strengthen the Italian core of the squad.
HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS SON AT TRAINING - AND DAVIDE HAS NOW DEBUTED FOR JUVENTUS
Perhaps the most personal part of the interview has taken on an even greater significance today. Marchisio spoke about his son Davide Marchisio, a midfielder who came through Juventus’ academy and had already been given the opportunity to train with Spalletti’s first team. One of the first things Davide told his father stood out:
“Dad, Gatti presses so much, he is always on your back!”
At the time of the interview, it was simply a charming story about the son of a Juventus legend getting his first taste of life around the senior squad. Since then, however, the story has taken on another dimension - Davide Marchisio has made his first-team debut for Juventus.
For Claudio, that moment can hardly be an ordinary one. He came through Juventus’ youth system himself, reached the first team, won trophies, wore the captain’s armband and became one of the defining figures of the modern club.
Now his son is taking his first steps along the same path.
Marchisio is back in the Juventus first team - this time, the name on the shirt is Davide.
MARCHISIO’S MESSAGE: JUVENTUS NEED TIME, BUT NOT EXCUSES
When all of Marchisio’s comments are put together, his vision for the current Juventus becomes very clear. He does not want another revolution at the first sign of trouble. Conte will always have a special place in Juventus history, but now the club must trust Spalletti. Yildiz is a player around whom the future can be built. Douglas Luiz is showing a different side of his game.
Kolo Muani cannot be expected to carry the entire goalscoring burden alone, and another midfielder capable of making a difference could strengthen the squad. But for Marchisio, patience should never mean abandoning Juventus’ identity.
“Juventus must try to win every competition.”
Perhaps that sentence best captures his entire message. Give the coach time. Develop the young players. Build a new team. But never accept that Juventus should stop thinking like Juventus.
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport
