Spalletti urged Juventus to maintain resilience and make their formation more compact.

The first round of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League season will feature another key match, with Italian giants Juventus hosting Dutch side NEC Nijmegen. At his press conference, Spalletti stated that the team needs to make their formation more compact to disrupt the opponent's passing lanes, and emphasized that maintaining resilience is crucial.

In an earlier Serie A match, Juventus lost 2-3 to Sassuolo after two goals from Gegrowa. Following their first league defeat of the season, Juventus currently sits in 8th place in the standings with 7 points.

Juventus coach Spalletti said, "We have remained focused and are very clear about what we need to improve, and we have identified the details that need to be changed. We need to make our formation more compact to cut off the opponent's passing lanes, and at the same time, we need to understand when to press high and when to drop back, adopt a lower defensive line, and wait for the opponent to make a mistake."

"The reasons are not entirely at the overall tactical level. What really determines the game now is how well we understand the situation on the field. Mental resilience will be crucial in tomorrow's game."

In response to external opinions, Spalletti said, "Learning to accept pressure is key to understanding life. I love my career very much, but what kind of comments come out after a setback is not my concern, because it is beyond my control."

“I will decide for myself what is worth taking seriously and what is not, and we can’t expect everyone to understand us. We must do what we believe is good for the club and the team, and we must be prepared to prove that we are the only way for Juventus, and we are ready.”

Spalletti pointed out, "The pace of the game is too fast now, there are too many variables on the field, and the game is increasingly dependent on the players' own judgment. Players must anticipate the situation on the field and know how to deal with it. There is no one on the sidelines who can solve problems for you, so you have to react on the field yourself."

"Just like we have experienced before, setbacks can give the team some experience, and this experience will definitely come in handy in the future."

In addition, Spalletti said, "I am not surprised by the comments from the outside world. We know that we are facing some pressing issues. We must win this game, but that is not enough. We must show the depth that Juventus should have."

“We must prove that we deserve where we are now, and we must prove that we can maintain it, and all our energy must be focused on this. I don’t care what others think of me. I’ve been through this many times in my career.”

Image source: Internet