During his pre-match press conference ahead of Juventus’ Serie A fixture against Sassuolo, coach Luciano Spalletti addressed several pertinent topics. These included the potential comeback of striker Dusan Vlahovic, his personal contract situation, and the club’s ongoing battle for a Champions League qualification spot with just eight games remaining in the season.
Spalletti remained deliberately vague when questioned about Vlahovic’s status, guiding reporters to consult the official squad list for precise details.
He remarked, “There are a couple of players with some discomfort to assess; we will have the final picture by tomorrow morning.”
The Serbian forward has been absent due to injury, and his return would undoubtedly provide a timely boost for a Juventus squad intensely focused on securing a top-four league finish.
Spalletti Welcomes Discussions on Juventus Contract Extension
The coach was more candid regarding the subject of his own contract extension, indicating that the recent international break presented an ideal period for productive discussions with the club’s management.
“It seems like a correct moment; there is less stress and the necessary time,” Spalletti stated. “On my part, there is complete availability to hear what the club wants to say to me.”
However, he playfully sidestepped questions about potential new signings, joking that discussing players he might wish to recruit while his own contract remained unsigned would make him “feel like an idiot.”
Furthermore, the Juventus coach passionately defended his team’s drive and motivation, dismissing any suggestions that missing out on Champions League football would be an easily digestible outcome.
He passionately asserted, “Pressure is a privilege that belongs only to those who have a history to honour. Our fans travelled to Bodo, overcoming all the costs and difficulties just to be there. We owe them everything.”
Addressing the season-long debate surrounding the number nine position, Spalletti provided his characteristic straightforward perspective.
He affirmed, “It is the moment, the episodic decisions inside a game, that decides things, not a profile. We are not inferior to Galatasaray. The red cards decided that tie, not the level of football.”
