Juventus return to Serie A action after the international break with an away trip to Cagliari. Ahead of the match, Luciano Spalletti spoke about the ambitions of the Bianconeri, the dangers of playing in Sardinia and the roles of several players. He paid particular attention to Randal Kolo Muani, Teun Koopmeiners and Nico Gonzalez, while also leaving open the possibility of Edon Zhegrova earning a place among the starters.
A message to those who underestimate Juventus: “We raise the bar ourselves”
Spalletti responded firmly to a question about assessments that leave Juventus out of the group of leading title contenders.
“We don’t care about that! For those who have chosen this path, there will never be any respite. Juventus will always be condemned to win.”
The Bianconeri coach emphasised that their ambitions must come from within the team, without waiting for outsiders to define them.
“We raise the bar for our ambitions ourselves. We know we can be among the best. Some people mention us as candidates for the Scudetto, while others always assign that role to someone else. But we have great ambitions. We understand the situation we are in, and we don’t need anyone to tell us what we should want.”
Cagliari set a trap: The space they offer could prove costly
Spalletti expects a demanding away fixture against a team that knows how to surrender the initiative before exploiting the space available for quick attacks.
“Statistics must be interpreted correctly and placed in their proper context. Otherwise, they can give a completely different picture from what is actually happening. Pisacane and Giulini deserved the points they have earned, but they did not deserve last year’s victory against us.”
For Juventus, the way they respond after losing possession will be crucial.
“We have a difficult match ahead of us. They deliberately leave us some space and invite us to play in their half. At the same time, they have players who are very good at transitioning from defence to attack, combining effectively and escaping our attempts to win the ball back immediately.”
Spalletti also singled out Daniel Maldini as one of the players whose qualities Cagliari have managed to bring to the forefront.
“As in previous years, they have managed to bring individual players into the spotlight. This season, they are doing that with Daniel Maldini. We will have to be very good, determined, alert and intense. If you give them space, they know how to exploit it.”
Kolo Muani must move beyond the traditional number nine role
Spalletti wants to make the most of Randal Kolo Muani’s attacking potential by encouraging him to move more freely and develop a more versatile approach.
“We want to give him the freedom to play his own way, but we are also encouraging him to develop different habits from those of a traditional number nine. He needs to explore new possibilities. A player’s limitations are not only defined by what he can do, but also by what he fails to recognise and see.”
The Frenchman possesses the qualities to threaten opponents in different areas of the attack.
“He is extremely fast, very good on the wing and also capable of playing as a central striker. He is good in the air, comfortable in acrobatic situations and knows how to turn with the ball. We value him highly.”
However, the coach wants him to change certain habits.
“We want to support his decisions while also showing him something new. He has spent too long operating exclusively as a traditional centre-forward. Now he needs to move around more, in accordance with the demands we have placed on him.”
Koopmeiners has “three-dimensional glasses”: Spalletti has not lost faith
Spalletti has not abandoned the idea of Teun Koopmeiners becoming one of Juventus’ key playmakers.
“He can do a great deal. He has vision and the ability to suddenly produce a long pass. He helps you recognise space because he sees things others do not, almost as if he were wearing three-dimensional glasses that allow him to look beyond the opposition’s defensive line.”
He particularly highlighted the quality of the Dutchman’s left foot.
“His left foot gives the ball its rhythm and directs the play towards the final third and the goal.”
Although the Dutchman can cover several positions, Spalletti sees him as a player who can take responsibility for the team from midfield.
“In defence, we have Lukumi, who is playing very well, while Kelly has enjoyed a positive period at our club. Koopmeiners can play deeper in midfield, organise the team and take responsibility for our play. He has probably made mistakes himself, but I always expect him to show his true value. I have not lost faith in his ability to take control of Juventus’ game.”
Nico Gonzalez shows that he wants to determine his own future
Speaking about Nico Gonzalez, Spalletti focused on the Argentine’s character, determination and intensity.
“There are players who immediately show you what they are made of. They have the look of determined people who do not allow others to decide their future for them. They want to get the maximum out of themselves, and Nico shows intensity in everything he does.”
The Argentine’s attitude has made a strong impression on the coach.
“He has a penetrating, determined and distinctive look. He immediately makes it clear which path he wants to follow, whether the person in front of him is an opponent or a coach. He also has that distinctive line shaved into his eyebrow, along with a deep and penetrating gaze.”
Zhegrova is pushing for a starting place, while the international players return in good spirits
Edon Zhegrova remains among the options for the starting XI. Spalletti revealed that he had included the winger among the potential starters during the last few training sessions.
“Zhegrova is one of the players who has been among the starters during the last two training sessions. I am monitoring his playing time and speaking with him over the phone.”
The coach was pleased with the way the players returned from their international commitments.
“All the international players returned in a good mental state and completed their final training sessions well. I am satisfied with their concentration, rhythm and approach to work.”
Workloads were adjusted to suit each individual player.
“We adapted the sessions depending on how many matches they had played and when they rejoined us. We are satisfied with the players available to us, particularly with their current condition.”
Cambiaso is ready: Spalletti does not want to waste time on obstacles
Andrea Cambiaso has completed his preparations as expected and remains part of Spalletti’s plans.
“He completed all the training sessions as he should have, and I am counting on him. I am satisfied with the players available to me.”
Spalletti does not want problems to become the main topic ahead of the match.
“You cannot avoid every obstacle or every difficult situation. The most important thing is not to keep highlighting them and talking about them, but to get through them. Constantly describing problems only wastes our time. We are satisfied with the players available, and we will go out there with them, play the match and try to win.”
Sar can change roles during a match
Pape Matar Sarr gives Spalletti additional options in midfield, particularly through well-timed runs from deep.
“He is somewhere between a traditional defensive midfielder and a player who contributes to building attacks. His game is not based solely on covering a large amount of ground, but also on making well-timed runs from deep and contributing significantly.”
The coach drew a comparison with Weston McKennie.
“He judges the right moment to make his move well, and in that respect, he is more similar to McKennie. He covers space and is one of those players who can change roles during a match.”
Asked about Romano, Spalletti praises his own midfield
Spalletti commented on Romano’s performances, but quickly turned the conversation towards Juventus players.
“I think his performances have been recognised, which is why he has been called up to the national team. However, when I want to praise someone, I prefer to do so with my own players.”
He particularly emphasised the importance of quality playmakers and Douglas Luiz’s contribution.
“I have a top-class player for organising the game. Good playmakers generally make a coach’s life easier. Douglas Luiz also helps me, as he is generous towards his teammates. He demonstrates that both on the pitch and through his character.”
Juventus respond after Sassuolo defeat: “We are on the right path”
Spalletti believes Juventus must continue learning and improving, even when they produce a good performance.
“We want to keep improving, growing and learning. Someone who stops learning often ends up repeating the same things, while someone who wants to learn continues to progress. We want to discover new things.”
Speaking about the hunger for victories, he stressed that a team’s attitude towards football must be reflected in its performances on the pitch.
“Hunger is always important in football. Love for the game must be visible on the pitch. You have to show the people around you that you are serious in your behaviour, and you must constantly strive for better performances and results. That is exactly what we are doing.”
There is always room for improvement, even when the performances and results are positive.
“We have often played well, sometimes very well, but there is always something we can improve. You might think you have reached a certain level, only to realise the following year how much more you still have to learn.”
For the Juventus coach, the team’s response after the defeat to Sassuolo is an encouraging sign.
“We are on the right path. After losing to Sassuolo, we won two matches, and that was not easy at all. We are continuing along the path we need to follow.”
How did Juventus use the extended break?
Finally, Spalletti explained how the coaching staff approached the extended break and the players’ recovery.
“Everything has its advantages and disadvantages, but these situations are relatively simple to manage. After a period with matches coming in quick succession, we give the players more time to rest and recover from accumulated fatigue. There is no other remedy.”
The approach was tailored to each footballer’s commitments and physical condition.
“We approach every player individually, depending on who has remained available to us.”
Source: Juventus.com
