On 30 November 2024, one year before today, Luciano Spalletti held his first press conference as Juventus manager, after the sacking of Igor Tudor and the 3‑1 victory against Udinese. On that occasion he declared that he wanted to "return to the Scudetto", reiterating that the team still has many matches to play and that his objective is to get back into the running for the title.
Spalletti also spoke about the tactical changes he intends to introduce. Certaldo's manager has expressed his desire to abandon the three-man defence, which had worked for Juve in the past, and to return to a more traditional structure. Regarding midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, Spalletti defined the player as a "midfielder" and underlined that his experience in Turin did not give him the qualities of a true cager with his back turned near the opponent's area.
He expressed confidence in the squad project, stating that the team "has potential, I'm sure of it". He explained that the decision to accept an initial eight-month contract was motivated by the belief that he could achieve his goals; the agreement was subsequently renegotiated until 30 June 2030.
At the moment, however, Juventus has not managed to achieve the desired results. After nine groups the team has fewer points than the previous year and the ranking is worsening. In the first 50 games with Spalletti at the helm, the team achieved ten wins, four draws and only one defeat, while in the last fifteen games they recorded seven wins, four draws and four defeats.
The next match, scheduled for tomorrow at the Stadium, will be against Napoli, a team that represented a point of reference for Spalletti during his experience in the city. The coach has already expressed appreciation for the work done in Naples, defining the club as "a city that will always remain in my heart" and underlining the importance of the relationship with the players and fans.
With the match against Napoli in sight, Juventus will have to try to get back on track and demonstrate that Spalletti's vision can translate into concrete results on the pitch. The future of the team will depend on the ability to consolidate the new tactical structure and fully exploit the potential of the players available.