Spalletti and Kalulu look ahead to Juventus vs NEC | OneFootball

The Men’s First Team begin their Europa League campaign with a League Phase match against NEC Nijmegen on Thursday, September 16. 

Coach Luciano Spalletti and defender Pierre Kalulu spoke to the press ahead of the first League Phase match of the campaign at the Allianz Stadium.

PIERRE KALULU

THE DESIRE TO BOUNCE BACK

“Among ourselves, we’re always focused on getting revenge in the next game, because that’s the only one that matters. You can’t change the past, you can only influence the future. So there’s a strong desire to play well tomorrow. We reviewed the game against Sassuolo and identified our mistakes. NEC attacks relentlessly, so we’ll have to play a careful game.”

THE EUROPA LEAGUE

“When you’re on the field, you always want to play. In terms of days, very little changes because we’ll always have two or three days to recover anyway. Thinking right now that we can win the Europa League would be the wrong way to think. We mustn’t consider it the easiest path to victory. We have to choose our own path and follow it with all our strength.”

HIS TEAMMATES

“I know Randal [Kolo Muani] well, and I know he’s working hard. It’s true that he hasn’t been scoring lately, but we know the goals will come and that he’ll be a huge help to the team. I have no doubts about his season. [Teun] Koopmeiners? In the dressing room, he’s a guy you can talk to and joke around with. He works hard, has physical strength, and can deliver key passes with his left foot. For me, it doesn’t make much difference whether I play with [Chico] Conceicao or [Edon] Zhegrova. They’re both very good at attacking, even if they have different strengths. It’s up to me to adapt to their styles, and I want to do everything I can to help them develop their attacking skills”

LUCIANO SPALLETTI

THE NEC TEAM THAT AWAITS US AT ALLIANZ STADIUM

"Schreuder had the courage to impose his ideas in a country with a highly developed football culture. He left behind a distinctive style, winning a third-division league title. We must expect a high-quality style of play, and we need to be ready for it, otherwise, we may be caught off guard. His teams average two goals scored per match, and that says a lot about his style of football. He has strong players like [Dusan] Tadic, and they play with their weaker foot because they want keep every option open. We’ll need to be mentally sharp. If we’re not ready, it could turn into a difficult evening.”

THE REACTION AFTER SASSUOLO

“We’ve been focused, clear-headed and aware that we need to improve. We’ve identified the areas where we need to make changes. We need to be more compact to cut off our opponents’ passing lanes and understand when to press and when, instead, to set up a lower block, waiting for the opponent to make a mistake. But the explanation lies less in collective tactics. Today, the difference is made by the way you read situations. Mental resilience will be crucial tomorrow.”

PRESSURE AND CRITICISM

"Accepting the pressure is the key to learning how to live. I care deeply about my profession, but I’m not interested in what comes out after a defeat because I can’t control it. I decide what to take seriously and what not to. You can’t be understood by everyone. You have to do what you believe is right for the good of the club and the team. Being ready is the only way to prove that we’re Juventus. And we’re ready.”

THE PERSONALITY OF THE SQUAD

“The game has become too fast-paced, there are so many variables and it relies increasingly on the players’ decisions. You have to anticipate situations and know how to handle them. No one can help you from the sidelines, you have to react on the pitch. Hitting a snag, as we’ve done, gives you insights that can serve you well in the future. Even the new refereeing guidelines protect the spectacle and encourage duels and physical contact. You have to know how to take the hit.”

JUVENTUS AND THE EXPECTATIONS

"I’m not surprised by the controversy. We know we have pressing matters. We must win this match, but that’s not all. We must show that we are Juventus. We must prove that we deserve the position we’re in and that we can stay there. All our energy must be focused solely on that. I’m not interested in what people say about me. I’ve been through plenty of situations like this in my career."

WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE