Coach Stefano Pioli, now off the bench, spoke to Sky Sport on a series of topics ranging from his recent 2-0 defeat against Napoli to his vision of Italian football. In a 360-degree interview, Pioli began by describing the match in Naples as "beautiful and exciting" in the first half, but underlined that Juventus had "legitimized the victory" thanks to their will to win, a result which, according to him, will give the Bianconeri confidence for the following matches.
Pioli then analyzed the importance of playing with more wingers and starting with the starting centre-forwards, highlighting how Juventus has "many wingers" and how the Woltemade-Kolo Muani duo has a sense of play, especially when they find themselves paired with a nearby attacker. He praised Spalletti for his stops and for having interpreted the situation well, underlining that the Bianconeri shoot a lot from outside the area and that this strategy has given results. Regarding Muani's stay on the pitch, Pioli said that as long as there is a willing attitude, the attacker can continue to work hard, but that he may need psychological support and new positions to find the right decisive decision.
The coach then reflected on his time at Fiorentina, declaring that he "missed the bench" and needed a break. He admitted that he had perhaps raised the bar too high, putting pressure on the team unnecessarily, and expressed remorse that the results could have been different. Pioli recalled the importance of patience in building a team, citing the signing campaign which brought strong and promising players, but which takes time to consolidate.
In the wider context of Italian football, Pioli expressed his opinion that football has changed in the last two years, with coaches such as Gasperini and Fabregas offering different and spectacular approaches. He underlined that in Italy there is still a lot to do, especially in the youth sector, where growth and targeted training are fundamental. He also mentioned Lazio, believing that they were not surprised by their result, but that the team had proven to do well under the leadership of Rino Lotito.
Finally, Pioli closed the interview with a personal reflection on his role as coach: "I don't like retirements, I think they are a typical Italian problem. When you are in difficulty, it is important to work with quality and not give up." He said his approach is to arrive before everyone else, train in the morning and continue working until the afternoon, proving that dedication is the key to success. With these words, Pioli left open the prospect of a future in which his experience and his vision of football will continue to influence the Italian panorama.