Key Highlights
- Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti discusses upcoming match against Fiorentina.
- Spalletti emphasizes the importance of stability and professionalism for Juventus.
- Coach highlights the qualities and leadership shown by players like Teun Koopmeiners.
The Road to Tuscany: Pre-Match Press Conference with Spalletti
In a pre-match press conference ahead of Juventus’ upcoming clash against Fiorentina, coach Luciano Spalletti spoke candidly about the team’s preparation and expectations for Saturday’s encounter. Kick-off in Florence is set for 18:00 CET.
Focus on Florence
“I know Florence well because of my past life there,” said Spalletti, who will face a familiar city and opponent. “I expect a great performance from my players because it will be a very difficult game. We will not only find an opponent that will give everything but also the entire city pushing their players to perform at their best tomorrow.”
Spalletti continued, emphasizing his role as the coach of Juventus: “Once I’m on the field, I will be the coach of Juventus. I have always respected everyone and have no debts with anyone from a moral point of view. We must show that we belong here and are professionals.” He also praised Paolo Vanoli, mentioning his admiration for the Fiorentina coach.
The Shape of the Group
Regarding the team’s preparation during the international break, Spalletti noted: “It’s clear that I didn’t have many players available to me. However, with those who were here, we worked in depth on important aspects. This willingness from the players is nice.
We only had seven or eight players and used this time effectively.” He further stated, “We couldn’t have asked for more from those returning from their national teams.”
Spalletti highlighted the importance of stability: “The real work is managing to find our own stability on which to rest the strength of the team. It’s a matter of creating a foundation recognized by the players. I am happy to have found what I was hoping to find here at Juventus.” He emphasized the need for shared values and behaviors, stating, “We must share, know each other, stay together, and have the same passion.”
The Individuals
In terms of individual performances, Spalletti praised Teun Koopmeiners: “In general, it is not the position that changes a great player; they bring their style of play with them wherever they go. We need to understand where we want to make the most out of Teun’s qualities, and I think that in these three matches he has shown them. I’m happy that he responded the way he has because it wasn’t a given.”
Spalletti also mentioned the return from injury of Lloyd Kelly and Juan Cabal, stating: “We have two strong defenders who are back from injury, which could see Koopmeiners in a more advanced position.
Kenan Yildiz is the one who breaks the mold, offering another perspective. Whoever sparks Kenan into life will spark the whole team because he represents the team.”
The Bianconeri coach concluded with a note on his philosophy: “Being part of Juventus doesn’t mean being presumptuous; it also means not succumbing to pressures. Personality is that thing you manage to develop based on where you find yourself.” The focus remains on building a strong, cohesive unit ready for the upcoming match.
