Juventus: Spalletti Dispels the Ghost of Antonio Conte: “I Have the Cure”

Juventus makes its Europa League debut, fresh off a heavy defeat against Sassuolo. Ahead of their home opener against NEC at Allianz Stadium, Luciano Spalletti urged calm and sought to dispel rumors of a possible return by Antonio Conte: “We’re aware there’s room for improvement; we’ve analyzed the situation in depth and identified what needs to be corrected.”

“We need to be more compact to cut off our opponents’ passing lanes. And we need to close in on them quickly. Essentially, it’s about reading the moment—the explanation lies less and less in collective tactics. What makes the difference is how we interpret the situation; mental rhythm is what makes the difference. Maintaining a certain rhythm is key to getting there first and anticipating our opponents. I won’t say anything about the lineup,” added the Juventus coach.

When asked directly about his possible dismissal, Spalletti was clear: “Am I under pressure? Accepting it is the key to learning how to live. You feel pressure when you forget who you are. If you let everything people say to you get to you, you lose your identity.”