Luciano Spalletti spoke at length to Tuttosport about his Juventus, the pressure that comes with working in Turin, his relationship with Giovanni Carnevali, and several players who have caught his attention. The Bianconeri coach also spoke about Weston McKennie, Douglas Luiz, Kerim Alajbegovic and Edon Zhegrova, while revealing a new rule he introduced to bring the players closer to the fans.
“AT JUVENTUS, YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO USE PRESSURE”
For Spalletti, the pressure that comes with Juventus is not something players and coaches should try to escape from. Instead, he sees it as a privilege earned through the club’s history.
“Here, above all, you have to learn how to use pressure. It is a privilege that belongs only to those who have a history like this, a history that must be respected. We have to be worthy of that history and make people proud of us.”
Spalletti is therefore making it clear what kind of mentality he expects from his team. The pressure at Juventus will never disappear, so his goal is for the players to turn it into additional motivation.
RETIREMENT AFTER JUVENTUS? “I’M NOT PLANNING THAT”
Spalletti was also asked whether Juventus could be the final chapter of his long coaching career, especially if he manages to win a major trophy with the Bianconeri.
“Anyone who has had a journey like mine will understand when the time comes to stop. It is not something I am planning.”
For now, Spalletti is not putting a deadline on his career. His focus remains on his work in Turin, while any decision about retirement will come only when he feels the right moment has arrived.
A NEW RULE AT JUVENTUS: FIVE MINUTES FOR THE FANS
One of the most interesting details of the interview concerns the team’s relationship with the supporters. Spalletti revealed that a small but very clear rule has been introduced when the team arrives at hotels.
“We introduced a small rule: when we arrive at the hotel, the players have to spend five minutes with everyone waiting for us. We have to bring people closer to us.”
The idea is to make sure Juventus does not lose its connection with its supporters and that the players understand how much even a few moments with the team can mean to the fans.
“LAST SEASON’S JUVENTUS WAS CLOSE TO MY NAPOLI”
Spalletti also made an interesting comparison with the Napoli side he led to the Scudetto. Asked whether last season’s Juventus had, at one point, started to resemble his Napoli, he answered positively.
“Yes, we solved a fundamental issue – we understood who we really are. But then three or four situations happened that interrupted our rhythm.”
Spalletti believes his Juventus has already found part of the identity he is looking for, but consistency in both performances and results still needs to be developed.
ON CARNEVALI: “WE ARE UNITED BY PROFESSIONALISM, FRIENDSHIP AND HUGS”
The Juventus coach also spoke about his relationship with Giovanni Carnevali and the people working alongside him on the club’s sporting project.
“We are united by professionalism, friendship and hugs. The directors, including Masara and Ottolini, are competent and reliable. For me, that is enough to feel comfortable.”
Spalletti’s words suggest there is trust between the coach and the sporting management, something that could prove particularly important when decisions are made regarding the squad and future transfer windows.
“WE CREATED A ‘MCKENNIE ZONE’”
One of the most interesting parts of the interview focused on Weston McKennie. The American has shown in recent years that he can adapt to different tactical roles, and Spalletti clearly appreciates his versatility.
“We created a ‘Weston zone’ for him. He is a great guy who can do so many different things. He can be a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder – he can play wherever he wants.”
That ability to cover several positions makes McKennie an extremely valuable player in Spalletti’s system.
DOUGLAS LUIZ? “HE HAS DEFINITELY IMPROVED”
When asked which player has made similar progress under his guidance, Spalletti did not hesitate.
“Compared to the moment when I first met him – definitely Douglas Luiz.”
That is an important message for the Brazilian. Spalletti clearly sees progress in his game, which could earn him an increasingly important role within the team.
SPALLETTI HAS HIGH HOPES FOR ALAJBEGOVIC
When discussing players who could surprise people in the future, Spalletti singled out Kerim Alajbegovic.
“Alajbegovic is someone who can really surprise people. We have to create a more familiar and relaxed environment around him.”
The message is clear – Spalletti believes in his talent, but does not want to immediately burden the young player with enormous expectations. The goal is to provide him with the right conditions to continue developing.
“ZHEGROVA CAN BECOME A TOP PLAYER”
Spalletti had even stronger words for Edon Zhegrova. The Italian coach believes the player has not yet finished his development, but sees very high potential in him.
“If he manages to complete his development a little more, you will see Zhegrova – he can become a top player.”
This is one of Spalletti’s most interesting predictions from the entire interview. The Juventus coach clearly believes Zhegrova has the quality to reach the highest level, but still needs to improve certain aspects of his game.
SPALLETTI IS BUILDING JUVENTUS IN HIS OWN IMAGE
Spalletti’s words clearly show the direction in which he wants to take Juventus: embracing pressure rather than running from it, strengthening the connection with the fans, building trust between the coaching staff and management, and developing individual players.
From the “Weston zone”, to Douglas Luiz’s progress, and the high expectations surrounding Alajbegovic and Zhegrova, Spalletti is trying to get the best out of every player.
Above all, however, one message remains clear – Juventus must be worthy of its history and make its supporters proud.
Source: Tuttosport - interview with Luciano Spalletti
