Spalletti: ‘I have to question myself’ after ‘terrible’ Juventus result | OneFootball

Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti admits he must ‘question’ himself after a 2-0 home loss to Fiorentina, leaving the Bianconeri two points off a Champions League spot with one game remaining.

Spalletti looked irritable during his post-match interview with Sky Sport on Sunday. The reporter noted that the Bianconeri had to win the “game of their lives,” but the Italian tactician hit back: “If you start this way, you immediately begin badly.”

Spalletti’s interview after Juventus 0-2 Fiorentina

“This fact that it’s all finished, that we are all dead…it’s wrong,” he added.

“Obviously, this is a terrible result. It was an important game.”

A few weeks ago, Spalletti had claimed he had not yet understood his team, so does he have a clearer idea now?

“As for my assessment, it’s not only based on today. I think they’ve made great things; there was significant growth, and they laid the foundations for important things,” he said.

TURIN, ITALY – APRIL 06: Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Genoa CFC at Allianz Stadium on April 06, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“We had to play football today, keeping a high level of quality and personality.

“First of all, I have to question myself rather than the footballers. As I told them today, if this is what my team offers, I must assess mostly what I’ve done, before analysing what they’ve done.

“The performance was dreadful in many aspects,” Spalletti admitted.

“Sometimes we were not lucky as well. We went 1-0 down despite not conceding much. We didn’t start well; we didn’t win many duels, and we didn’t fuel the atmosphere in the stadium.”

Juventus conceded through Fiorentina’s first goal on target.

It was the 16th time this season that the Old Lady conceded with the opponents’ first attempt.

“I must make sure it doesn’t happen anymore. I must talk about this and something else: creating tranquillity in the players’ minds, allowing them to make decisions, find the right space, play aggressively and play tidy balls,” Spalletti noted.

“These are things that bring the stadium by your side. On the other hand, we didn’t do much regarding what was needed.

“We know that the lack of Champions League affects the team financially, but talking about life and death and talking war is wrong. This is just a football game.

“The footballers must be tidy, the playing style remains, and this is what has brought us here.”

Spalletti signed a new contract with Juventus in April, extending his stay at the Allianz Stadium until 2028.

“I have clear ideas about my footballers and me, I’ve known myself for 68 years, and I’ve always travelled by myself,” Spalletti said.

“I must, first of all, analyse myself. Did I do everything to bring them into the appropriate mental condition? It’s mostly about the head. I must talk to myself, first of all.”

TURIN, ITALY – MAY 17: Cher Ndour of ACF Fiorentina celebrates goal with teammates during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and ACF Fiorentina at Allianz Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)

Juventus needed to score in the second half, yet Lois Openda and Jonathan David spent the entire match on the bench. Spalletti had asked for a new centre-forward in the January window; so would it have been different for Juve had they signed a new striker in the winter window?

“It’s useless to talk about this. I had to do well in this game,” he replied.

“We’ve done quite well. I think some things are clear, but we are not there now; [the Champions League] is something Juventus and their fans deserve.”