Juventus, Spalletti: Promise not to coach after Napoli was for one season | OneFootball

Luciano Spalletti is in a hurry to join Juventus: yesterday the official announcement, today the presentation as the new coach of the Bianconeri in a press conference that will also serve as an opportunity to address the first technical and tactical issues since tomorrow the championship resumes, with the debut at 8:45 PM for the Saturday evening match against Cremonese. Follow Spalletti's first words live as the Juventus coach.

Juventus, Spalletti: “The promise not to coach another team after Napoli was about the season following the championship. What was I supposed to do? Not coach anymore?”

The very first sensations in black and white. “They are wonderful sensations because we all know the history of this club, we all know the organization of this club, we know there are high expectations, we know many things, but then entering it and having direct contact is always a wonderful emotion.”

I refer to Sabatini's beautiful words. I was struck by that metaphor: “Juventus for him is like morphine.” I ask you if the desire to anesthetize the pain for the National team prevails more or the challenge of bringing Juventus back to high levels?

“I think it's easy: the desire to bring this club back to high levels prevails more, even though I have absolute respect for this ranking, respect for the work Tudor has done, whom I greet dearly because I had the chance to meet him and I was certain in knowing him that he is a splendid person and a true professional. Therefore, I am sure to find a team in good mental condition and well-trained precisely because of the professionalism of those who preceded me. Naturally, we must work hard to have the possibility to reach those ambitions and what was mentioned before. I am happy to be here, I thank director Comolli for the words he used towards me. He always insists on speaking with him in Italian because he doesn't want... besides, I know little English, he made my life easier because that way I can understand what I say (laughs, ed).”

What idea have you formed about the value and quality of this squad? “The idea is all contained in what I accepted to come here. If I hadn't believed that this team has potential and possibilities, despite having gone through difficult times, why would I have accepted an eight-month contract? Therefore, I believe I can do a good job with them, because then it starts from there, it starts from what is the availability, from what is the will, self-discipline to then achieve important results. I see possibilities to fix some things, then I don't know what the level will be. It is clear that the intentions and aims are high, because for a club like Juventus, we must try to enter the Champions League again and currently, we must do a good job and set things right to succeed because others are running fast.”

I ask you for indications on the team of collaborators you have chosen for this adventure. “I brought with me four collaborators, three technical collaborators or a second and two technical collaborators and a fitness coach. Because then everyone knows each other a bit in the football world and they are equipped with all the other figures correctly. It's just a matter of getting a bit familiar, because through what is this indirect knowledge, many things are now known that just need to be verified directly. They are Domenichini, Martusciello, Russo, and Sinatti. I wanted to say a few words about Daniele Baldini who decided to end this story as a collaborator, he decided it entirely himself, because I was also a bit surprised when he told me, and thank him for everything he made available to me, everything I learned, because he is one of those smart, good ones who knows how to do his job. I'm sorry but I absolutely have to accept his will.”

How much does the possibility of getting these forwards to score a lot again, to restore a high level to some who were champions, stimulate you? Did you think about this when you accepted Juve? “It is clear that this analysis you made is part of my job. It is a stimulating thing, sometimes it is recognized in the abilities of a coach what the numbers a player had previously and what instead you managed to bring him as a possibility of success from the work. Goals are a fundamental thing, because to win games you have to score goals. Offensive football is another important quality, then the essential thing is to be a team, to be a group that understands what we have to do on the field in various situations, that will bring us benefits from all sides. If we are long, if we are fragmented, if one thinks in one way, another thinks in another, this becomes a bit more difficult. Stimulating what you said, stimulating everything for me for having accepted such a situation.” Two days ago Vlahovic said: “We players have to look in the mirror because if in a year and a half three coaches are changed, it can't always be one person's fault.” Exchange of words in a clip with Perin to whom you said “It will depend on you.” A hope or a warning? “I think Dusan's analysis was correct, that then the players actually realize what it is, what they are giving and what they are returning, to a passion, to a club that believes in them and so on. As for the joke with Perin, it is just a joke. I know well and we all know that we depend a lot on the players, because one can be as good as he wants, can commit as much as he wants, but then it is the quality of the players that makes the difference. Therefore, the ‘it will depend on you’ was to involve them and to inform them that naturally no one has the magic wand, it will be the things done practically on the field that will then determine what my future will be. Because as mentioned before, fortunately, I am not one who needs to be reassured about his future. I consider it quite correct to evaluate from time to time, I don't have to be in a situation because I am bound by a contract. We go to do this experience together and I find it a very simple, honest, and very clear situation. We start working trying to work among all the staff and all the people of the Juventus world who are people of the highest value because I know almost all of them. And then in the end, we sum up. No difficulty in accepting such a contract here. Given what happened previously, if I had been Juventus, I would have done so.”

Do you think Juve can get back into the championship race? Vlahovic also has the same months of contract as you. Being at the end of the contract, how do you plan to manage him? Like any player in the squad or will this affect your choices? “Yes, I hope to be able to get back into the championship race, why not? Indeed, it is a bit what was commented on with the players in the locker room. At least the intentions must be at the maximum and in this case, the maximum is to get back into the championship race. Nine matches have been played, there are still 29 left and there are many matches left. I have seen all kinds of things in my 30 and more years of profession, so since I had the fortune to make this journey here, I don't see why now that I am almost at the end because I am an old person, I should be content to finish leaving things as they should go. I will try to put even more effort into it and we will see what I managed to do, what we managed to do, because for me they are the ones who become very important. I repeat: absolute respect for the value of these players. Vlahovic? We talk, I have not received any imposition from the club on any player in the squad, so I go there, I see what he does, I see what his response is, what his intentions are. And judging from the last match played the other night against Udinese, his intentions are very clear and that behavior there clearly puts everything in place because he played a splendid match.”

What is the best outfit for your Juve? “Today I will have the first training session and it will be very limited. I respect the work done previously and maybe I could give continuity. I think there are the conditions to give continuity. Then it is clear that there are players who would like to play in different positions and some players will have to create availability. I will also try to play with a four-man defense.”

What opponent do you expect tomorrow? “I have seen many matches of our championship. I saw the last match of Napoli and Inter which I consider the most equipped. We cannot be presumptuous about anything and we must not have any kind of slogan. We must leave the noise of the ball sliding on the grass. This is the correct way to speak.”

About your past at Napoli? “I have left something in every city I have left. In Naples, something superior came because we brought home a beautiful Scudetto. I have established a particular relationship and it will remain intact. Today I did the tests and I gave the other arm because I didn't want anything to be touched. Naples is a city that will always remain in my heart. After Naples, I said that after that season I would not want to wear another tracksuit, only for that season. I had respect for that option and for the city of Naples. After that season I had to go and have other experiences and work in other clubs. Then those who take these things to attack me are using this to change reality.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.