Spalletti: "Rest? No alibis, I’m not talking about the injured players any more. Missing out on the Champions League hurt us" | Goal.com
Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti spoke at a press conference on the eve of the match against Sassuolo in the fourth round of Serie A.
Can you tell us a bit about how the team are and what sort of energy you have sensed from the group ahead of this important and demanding week?
"First of all, we are sorry about what happened to Locatelli and, naturally, Loca's absence spreads responsibility to everyone, because he is one of those who does not take off the shirt even after having had a shower. We know his value and how much he cares about making a contribution. In the way he lives his daily life he is always attentive to Juventus's fate and situation. As I said before, this has brought out a sense of responsibility in everyone and it has been visible in these training sessions. I have seen a very attentive team, very eager, very willing to fight in any situation that comes against them. I saw them train very well, I saw them very serious, very professional. As I was leaving just now, who did I meet at the door? Kolo Muani, who has the chance... That way I won't make anyone angry. If Kolo Muani is better, Kolo Muani now comes to the training ground, having the possibility of arriving at dinner time. He prefers to spend five hours in here with those two or three team-mates who are here, inside an environment he likes to live in, where he likes to be. Precisely because of what is probably the desire to contribute or to provide the team with all his quality, all his strength, to achieve what he dreams for the team".
Against AC Milan did you play with three in midfield?"At times we switched from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3. There is one system in the defensive phase and one in the attacking phase. Everyone can interpret it as they want, but we are free to combine and get to know everything in the world and in football. A positional system no longer exists because of this individual pressing. With so many little duels you try not to give reference points so as to draw them out of their own areas of the pitch and put them in difficulty. At times we defended with five. Without Locatelli nothing changes and we have the possibility to use any tactical system because we have a squad that allows it".
Can Koopmeiners take on greater responsibility?"I agree with you because we have already seen differences. Now there is a deeper understanding and the boy's desire to stay at Juventus, and that has pleased us. Now he is much freer even if he is a complete player. For me he can split himself and play as a holding midfielder/box-to-box midfielder. I am expecting a great match".
Is Douglas Luiz a bet that has paid off?"He is a certainty in football and he has shown in more than one place that he is a strong player. He only needed to feel trusted. When he arrived he held onto the ball too much and now he has understood that the more he moves it, the more he touches the ball. He does this business of playing long and short very well. He is also a physical player and is very willing to run himself into the ground for his team-mates. He is Douglas Luiz and I take no credit".
An update on the injured players? Did you have the feeling that Aquilani could do this well?"I had the feeling Aquilani could become a coach because he was a player who already had a backpack full of quality. With his plays he suggested plays to his team-mates. I am not surprised and naturally I congratulate him. McKennie and Cambiaso will be difficult. Tomorrow we will test Cambiaso. For McKennie we move on to Thursday's test. Sarr, on the other hand, we get back. We built the squad with two strong players for every role".
First impressions of Sarr? Will Owusu be added to the group?"Sarr is a player who creates curiosity because he knows how to behave well in every situation. He has this ease in running and you find him everywhere naturally because he has this deep running. We are convinced we have a strong player available and he will probably show it as early as tomorrow. Owusu is a young player of great hopes but he is a strong player. From the physical point of view he is an enormous plank and it is difficult to take the ball off him. He only needs to anticipate things a little more because otherwise it becomes hard".
Can Woltemade start?"We will assess it but he has already made everyone appreciate him from the first training session. He has shown us that he knows how to be on the pitch and can cover more than one role. Certainly sooner or later he will play tomorrow".
On Gatti?
"Gatti is a player with very specific characteristics, especially when it comes to trying to score from set-pieces. He has sorted out that problem that happened in the match with the Next Gen because he could not train properly. Now he is training well and he will be able to get his minutes to show the great value he has. At this moment Kelly is also playing less, but in these other matches Gatti will find his space and will show the plays of the top player he is".
How much did the Champions League show?
"It hurt us and created problems for us. We have to live with this, but it will become a great stimulus for us. Pain creates greater responsibilities and creates the desire to put yourself back in that position that allows you to play against the best teams in the world"
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