Spalletti: ‘Juventus must be decisive on the pitch with clear heads’

Spalletti: ‘Juventus must be decisive on the pitch with clear heads’ Luciano Spalletti wants Juventus to ‘play with clearer heads and with the desire to make decisions on the pitch’ against Napoli, but always with the right sense of balance. It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET). You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog. The mood in the Bianconeri camp is dire after the humiliating 2-0 defeat to relegation battlers Genoa on Wednesday evening, only the latest in a series of inexplicably sluggish performances. However, it is a very special occasion for Spalletti to be reunited with his old club, where he won the Scudetto in 2023. Spalletti hope for Juventus GENOA, ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Luciano Spalletti, head coach of Juventus, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Juventus FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 28, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) “My state of mind is the desire to change this trend, to overturn any negative situation that comes our way,” Spalletti told DAZN Italia. “These are all things I’ve already been through in football, at my age, so it feels like I know what to say and do, but then that is up for others to judge. I need the team to play with clearer heads and with the desire to make decisions on the pitch, otherwise you never know what awaits you, and that is negative in the sport of football.” Juventus went into a mini training retreat as a bonding exercise, including the many players who are out injured, and director Giovanni Carnevali spoke to the squad too. “He is an experienced director, who knows where he came from and has all the desire to take charge in such an important club. He wants to transmit his experience to all of us,” noted Spalletti. ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Luciano Spalletti, head coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Juventus FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) The coach was asked what irritated him the most about the last few weeks, but again stuck to basics. “The only thing that irritated me was the failure to get results. That irritates me and all, then anyone can express themselves any way they like, you have to accept people’s opinions. I just get up early, try to do what is best for the team, hope those things are recognised and we see them on the field.” There are already calls for the coach to be fired, and this is the first home game since the 3-0 defeat to Lazio, so it remains to be seen what the reception will be from the supporters. “This desire to win must push us forward, but we must do so with balance, because otherwise we risk getting knocked back,” added Spalletti. “There are some things you can do in certain moments, we will need to defend at others against a strong Napoli side. If you want to ask about our approach, then just look at the line-up and that says it all.” TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 17: Luciano Spalletti, Manager of Juventus, reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Juventus and N.E.C. Nijmegen at Juventus Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Jeff Ekhator is back in the squad after a couple of months, but Nico Gonzalez, Francisco Conceicao, Zeki Celik, Kenan Yildiz, Manuel Locatelli, Khephren Thuram and Kamil Grabara are still sidelined. It remains to be seen what formation this is , but Kerim Alajbegovic, Nick Woltemade and Randal Kolo Muani are all starting together, with Weston McKennie the tactical wild card.