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FIRST DEFEAT PAIN: LUCIANO SPALLETTI ENDS UNBEATEN RUN; CRITIQUES JUVE'S TIMIDITY AND CROSS DEFENSE
Luciano Spalletti confessed Juventus were "passengers" in the 2-1 loss to Napoli, attributing the first defeat of his reign to poor ball control and tactical rigidity in midfield.
Luciano Spalletti admitted Juventus was just along for the ride in their loss to Napoli. He explained what went wrong with his bold choices for the starting lineup.
This game marked Spalletti’s first loss since he took over as Juventus coach from Igor Tudor. It ended his streak of four wins and three draws across Serie A, the Champions League, and Coppa Italia matches.
“It’s true, Napoli pushed harder from the beginning,” Spalletti told DAZN Italia. We were too hesitant moving the ball and lost it easily. That made us chase them.
“They are in good form, so if you don’t hold onto the ball, they make you run all over the field with their skill and strength.”
Spalletti talked about Juventus' starting lineup surprises against Napoli.
With Dusan Vlahovic injured, the Juventus coach surprised everyone by not starting either Jonathan David or Lois Openda. Instead, he put Kenan Yildiz in as a false 9.
The Turkish player scored a quick goal to tie the game. But Rasmus Hojlund scored twice, giving Napoli a 2-1 win.
“I think Yildiz and Conceicao can play those roles because they pass the ball well,” Spalletti noted. Locatelli sat back too far and didn’t stay where I wanted him in midfield. The two forwards didn’t move enough, and we got stuck in the middle. We didn’t pass the ball fast enough or create enough space in midfield.”
He subbed David in for Juan Cabal at halftime, which did bring some change.
“We played better in the second half when we matched them man for man. But we still had trouble with Napoli’s pace and their ability to counterattack. Even though we matched them, they still created problems.
“After we scored and tied the match, we had control. But we were too predictable and didn’t push hard enough as a team. We didn’t try to do anything different, so we really need to improve quickly, or it’s going to be tough.”
“We’ve had some good moments, but now we need to look at what's happening.
Spalletti had mentioned this game as important for his Juventus team, matching up against Italy’s current champions. The two squads did not seem to be on the same footing.
“We can play better than we did. We gave away so many passes. If you don’t control the game, you let the other team control you.”
Juventus has a weakness on defence, as they often struggle with crosses to the far post. This was a problem under the previous coach, Tudor, as well.
“Napoli blocks to create space, and we fell for it every time. We needed to communicate better. We also made it too easy for them to cross the ball. These are all split-second decisions.”
It was sure to be an emotional night for Spalletti, as it was his first game back at Stadio Maradona since helping Napoli win the Scudetto in 2023.
“Of course, when the fans sing those songs that I know so well, it’s great. Only the Stadio Maradona can create an atmosphere like that.”
ROMA LOAN CUT SHORT: GASPERINI SAYS EVAN FERGUSON NEEDS TO IMPROVE "TECHNICALLY AND PERSONALLY."
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini clarified he doesn't dislike Evan Ferguson but issued a clear demand: the striker must "up his game, not just technically, but also as a person."
Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini has told Evan Ferguson he needs to improve.
Gasperini clarified that he doesn't dislike the striker, who is on loan.
There have been reports that Roma might want to end their season-long deal with Albion for the Republic of Ireland international, as he hasn't made a big splash in Italy yet.
Gasperini hasn't said he wants to cut the loan short. Most sources suggest it's possible, but only if Albion agrees.
Gazzetta Dello Sport even ran a headline this week suggesting Roma had already decided.
Many fans and media jumped on this, especially since Albion striker Stefanos Tzimas just suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for months.
Gasperini has supported Ferguson, who has been dealing with his own injury.
However, he seemed to lay down the law before the Europa League game against Celtic.
At a recent press conference, the Roma boss said he had no antipathy toward Ferguson, but he seemed to imply that he wants Ferguson to step up his game.
Gasperini told reporters, “There's no dislike for the players; it's about their performances.
“Ferguson has had many chances. Do we want to be patient with him? Yes, we do.
“He needs to up his game, not just technically, but also as a person.”
While Ferguson hasn't been at his peak, he also hasn't gotten great support when he's been on the field in Serie A or the Europa League.
Gasperini seemed to acknowledge this before the Parkhead game.
He said, “We haven't scored much all year, so it's probably a structural issue for us, even though we've played well at times.
“In these last two games, we haven't been creating as many dangerous chances.
“This isn't about individual players; it's a team problem.
SUPER-SUB CHRISTIAN PULISIC BAGS TWO; MILAN'S 3-2 THRILLER KEEPS TOP SPOT
A 29-meter strike from Rabiot and a Pulisic brace secured a season-defining 3-2 victory for AC Milan, demonstrating determination in the title race.
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After recovering from a fever, Christian Pulisic scored twice in AC Milan’s 3-2 victory at Torino. Adrien Rabiot chipped in, describing his own fantastic goal.
The USMNT star wasn’t even supposed to play. He had a high temperature the night before and only joined his teammates a few hours before the game.
Coming off the bench, he scored twice, helping turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 win against Torino. Rabiot added a goal from 29 meters out.
I was really sick two days ago, but I felt better today. “I’m just glad I could be here and help the team,” Pulisic told Sky Sport Italia.
I didn’t know if I could play. I felt better this morning. I’m happier about the win than my goals.
Pulisic has played less compared to past seasons because of injuries, but has scored seven goals in nine Serie A games.
It’s been a weird season, and I want to get more playing time. We’ll focus on each game and see where we stand at the end of the season.
Milan's win means they're still at the top of the table with Napoli, one point ahead of Inter, a good response to their Coppa Italia exit to Lazio.
We started badly, but we improved halfway through the first half. We knew we had to play better in the second half and be more determined. We picked up the tempo, and Christian’s substitution helped, Rabiot told Sky Sport Italia.
These are the games that can turn a season around. It shows we’re determined and focused. We need to start stronger because we can’t always expect to come back from 2-0 down.
Rabiot's goal was amazing, maybe the best of his career, and seemed to come out of nowhere.
We needed a spark, and sometimes you have to try something different. We made errors, but the important thing was our attitude and how we turned it around. Everyone who came off the bench played well, said the France international.
We’ll see what happens, but with this attitude, we can go far.
Rafael Leao left the game in the first half with a possible adductor injury in his right leg.
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