Luciano Spalletti paused his pre-match duties at the Allianz Stadium to acknowledge a Juventus figure who still carries enormous weight on these afternoons. As Alessandro Del Piero entered the ground to the applause of the home support, the Juventus coach stopped his touchline interview and joined the ovation for the club’s former captain and number 10.
A salute for a Juventus standard-bearer
Del Piero’s arrival brought a warm response from the stands, and Spalletti made sure not to let the moment pass unnoticed. The coach interrupted the questions being put to him and applauded alongside the supporters, a small but meaningful gesture towards one of Juventus’ defining modern-era players.
It was a reminder of the continuity that surrounds the club: the old captain returning to the Stadium, the current coach preparing his side for another demanding Serie A test against Atalanta.
Spalletti’s warning before Atalanta
Once the tribute had passed, Spalletti turned to the match and the responsibility placed on Juventus’ attacking players. He said they would need to understand the different phases of the contest rather than simply focus on their work in possession.
- Spalletti expects Juventus to have periods with more of the ball than usual.
- He warned that Atalanta can pull opponents around the pitch if they cannot establish control.
- The Juventus coach said merely sitting back and defending would not be the right approach, while accepting that the match itself would provide the final answer.
“They must know how to act in different moments of the game, then we will assess it,” Spalletti said. “With this team, it is more likely that you can have the ball for a few extra minutes. Otherwise Atalanta take you around the field. For me, defending only is not quite the correct choice, but the game will tell the story.”
Douglas Luiz asked to lead the midfield
Spalletti also addressed Douglas Luiz’s continued place in the starting XI, offering a light-hearted answer before outlining a serious task for the Brazilian. The midfielder’s role may change depending on the player beside him, but the coach stressed that he has shown he can contribute in several areas of the game, including covering ground defensively.
- Douglas Luiz was selected in the Juventus starting line-up again.
- Spalletti believes he can perform more than one midfield function.
- Weston McKennie was assigned the job of reducing some of the pressure on his team-mate.
“He can do several things and has shown that he is good at covering the pitch too,” Spalletti said. “Today he must take control of the team, and McKennie must ease the pressure on him.”
