Luciano Spalletti has admitted he is still uncertain about his Juventus side after six months in charge, despite a 2-0 victory against Genoa. The win moved Juventus to within a point of fourth-placed Como. However, Spalletti criticised his players’ performance, highlighting a lacklustre second half after a dominant first.
“After 6-7 months I’m still not sure what I’m dealing with,” Spalletti told Sky. He questioned the team’s consistency and their tendency to underperform, adding, “It’s not possible to go from a first half like tonight to a second half in this way.” He stressed the need for the team to establish a solid foundation and maintain continuity.
Injury Concerns for Juventus
Adding to Spalletti’s worries are calf problems experienced by Vlahovic and Perin. “There is concern because they felt a muscular hardening and tests need to be done to see how long it will take,” he explained.
Praise for Conceiçao and Di Gregorio
Spalletti did, however, offer praise for Francisco Conceiçao. He drew comparisons between Conceiçao and Salah, describing the former as a young player with immense potential. Spalletti noted Conceiçao’s intensity and skill in one-on-one situations, while also identifying areas for improvement, such as his shooting quality.
Michele Di Gregorio also received commendation from the Juventus coach following his penalty save against Martin. Spalletti acknowledged Di Gregorio’s strong response after a 43-day absence from the starting lineup, stating, “He had put something of his own into having the shirt taken away from him and he put something of his own into taking the shirt back.”
Spalletti’s World Cup Disappointment
Spalletti also reflected on Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time. “I experienced it very badly,” he admitted, revealing that he immediately thought of Gattuso after the match. He empathised with the pressure and disappointment Gattuso must have felt, saying, “If I had still been there and it had happened to me in that temperature, in that stadium, I really don’t know how I could have reacted.”
Spalletti humorously acknowledged reaching 300 Serie A victories, quipping, “It means I’m pretty old…”