Luciano Spalletti sheds light on relationship with Jose Mourinho
Luciano Spalletti spoke in a press conference on the eve of his Juventus’ Champions League match against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica. “When you play against teams like that you face a piece of soccer history, an’identity. Portuguese teams get you into their rhythm, if you are not careful you end up in it and by the time you realize it, it is late. I expect our players to be ready. With Jose there’s been a first period where we said something to each other, more him than me, then we esteemed and appreciated each other. It will be a pleasure to meet him again, in games where Mourinho is there, the volume of soccer is turned up. For me to be on the’other bench is a source of pride”.
Challenge in challenge that between the two coaches, with the Special One returning to the hosts’Allianz Stadium bench that he has already occupied on several occasions: “Against him you always expect something different, it’s an important challenge for us and for them: it’s a direct confrontation. I expect an aggressive Benfica, they will be forced, like us, to put their own identity into the match. I am convinced that it will come out an interesting challenge”.
Inevitable questions about the market: “With the management we see each other every day. Comolli also came to our training this morning. These are questions you have to ask them, but I don’t expect anything at all. We go forward with quiet consistency and confident that we can go and fight for our goals with the players I found here. Then it is clear that injuries can make people think of something else, but I am happy with the players I have available”.
Juve meanwhile continues to work on the market to reinforce the attack and one of the main names remains that of Jean-Philippe Mateta. Also in the last hours there have been new contacts between the Juventus club and Crystal Palace, but the negotiation is still not close to closing.
The English club, in fact, continues to ask for 35 million euros and wants to include a formula with an automatic redemption obligation. This demand is still considered high by the bianconeri, although compared to last summer there has already been a reduction, since then Palace asked for as much as 45 million.
