Spalletti: ‘Juventus players forced to ask questions under pressure’

Spalletti: ‘Juventus players forced to ask questions under pressure’ Luciano Spalletti admits Juventus players ‘are forced to ask themselves questions’ and their ‘conscience’ jeered them after defeat to Lazio, but he listened to their appeals against Rennes. It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17.45 UK time (18.45 CEST). You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Bournemouth-Milan and Ajax-Atalanta on the Liveblog. TURIN, ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Oliver Provstgaard of S.S. Lazio celebrates scoring his team’s first goal as Guglielmo Vicario of Juventus reacts after failing to make a save during the Serie A match between Juventus and SS Lazio at Allianz Stadium on October 18, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images) The only previous meetings between these clubs were for the two-legged Intertoto Cup Final of 1999, which Juve won 4-2 on aggregate. The tension is sky high after a 3-0 home defeat to Lazio, yet in the Europa League it is a completely different story, Juventus beating NEC 5-0 and completing a comeback 2-1 victory away to Celta Vigo. It was reported Juve had a crisis meeting after the Lazio loss. Spalletti listening to Juventus players VIGO, SPAIN – OCTOBER 15: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, gestures during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between Real Club Celta and Juventus at Estadio Balaidos on October 15, 2026 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images) “Every day produces something new, every day has meetings, discussions, even clashes at times, but that evening you wipe the slate clean, because if you don’t do that, the next day things pile up in your mind and it becomes difficult to deal with,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia. “We hope that we wiped the slate clean, we can focus on the next game, try to give the best indications, and hope for the optimal response also based on the things that they said. The players said some things, and I liked many of them, so we want to put this into practice.” For the first time, Woltemade and Kolo Muani start together upfront, a situation that both strikers had made public appeals for several times in recent weeks. The coach listened and decided to launch the pair in a new 3-5-2 formation, although it could be a 3-4-1-2 with Weston McKennie in a free role. TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Luciano Spalletti, Manager of Juventus, looks on before the Serie A match between Juventus and Atalanta BC at Allianz Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) “The pitch always tells the truth. We’ve got to pay attention to the characteristics of the players and try to make the most of them. Nobody would be crazy enough to use Edon Zhegrova as a right-back, so we have to set out a system that will get the best out of their strengths.” It was put to Spalletti that football is not just finding the best players, but creating that combination so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. “That is very wise, because a players has to consider how much do you press, when to use this move, how many times I want to get to the edge of their penalty area and leave space behind to risk a counter-attack, which forces me to track back towards our box? Am I supported by the team when I start that press, or am I creating a division between the sectors that opponents can run into? “These are all matters we discuss in training and work on, because it’s not a lack of courage, it’s about considering the risk and benefit of certain movement that leaves space for your opponents. There are players who are more suited to helping the team and providing coverage, but give you less unpredictability.” FROSINONE, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Luciano Spalletti head coach of FC Juventus looks dejected during the Serie A match between Frosinone Calcio and Juventus FC at Stadio Benito Stirpe on August 23, 2026 in Frosinone, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) Spalletti then referenced the jeers that the crowd rained down on the Juventus squad after their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Lazio, and the Bremer comments about teammates who ‘hide’ in high-pressure situations. “It’s about finding the balance between all those elements, and then as you in the media always say, this jersey weighs heavily, people are not happy, but we carried those jeers with us into the locker room. We jeered ourselves in there. “The conscience of the players jeers in the silence of the locker room, so difficulties always force you to ask yourself a question: What person do you become under pressure? Are you the one who pushes forward, goes to get the next ball and wants to dig your way out of trouble, or are you afraid and therefore cannot stay within a club like this? “This is the question that you have to ask yourself.” TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 19: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Bologna FC 1909 at Allianz Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) It is not just the Juventus jersey that weighs heavily, but also the touchline is a dangerous place to be for any coach. “Well yes, the bench is burning after a week, because the more coaches you get fired, the better for news. That has always been the case, there are many more against us than there are for us,” replied Spalletti. “Beware, because I always prefer to start again rather than give up, so be careful or you’ll find something to chew on. Munch, munch, munch.”