Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli expressed his disappointment, calling the team’s final home game of the season an “ugly” loss. He attributed the defeat to a perceived lack of personality within the squad, stating, “This is the reality.”
The Bianconeri suffered a 2-0 setback against Fiorentina on Sunday, causing them to drop to sixth place in the league standings. With only one match remaining in the 2025-26 campaign, they are now two points behind a Champions League qualification spot.
Locatelli was the sole Juventus player to address the media following the match. Speaking to DAZN, as reported by Tuttosport, he commented, “There has been a technical and tactical coach since the coach arrived, but it’s hard to comment or find positives if we don’t reach the target. It’s hard to understand why we played such a game; perhaps we were a bit under pressure.”
The disappointing conclusion to their home fixtures has left Juventus in a precarious position. Despite manager Luciano Spalletti signing a contract extension until 2028 in April, the team now faces a crucial final game against city rivals Torino. Their Champions League hopes also depend on favorable outcomes from matches involving Roma, Como, and Milan.
“It’s ugly, we ended badly at home, and it’s hard to comment on such a game,” Locatelli continued. He acknowledged the fans’ frustration, noting that the boos heard at full-time and the protests outside the stadium were justified given the team’s performance.
Echoing Spalletti’s sentiments about the team struggling under pressure, Locatelli stated, “There are games that must be won, even when you play badly, and we don’t have such a thing.” He emphasized the need for swift improvement, recognizing the high stakes of playing for Juventus. “This is the reality; surely, we were not able to cope with the pressure that comes from playing here. I think it’s evident that if we can’t win a decisive game like this one, many things didn’t go the right way.”
Locatelli dismissed tactical or technical issues as the primary cause of the loss, pointing instead to a lack of fundamental desire. “It’s not a tactical problem when you arrive late on second balls, or when you misplace passes that you can’t get wrong,” he concluded. “We needed to show more motivation than they did. It’s not a technical or tactical problem, but the desire to win the game that we didn’t have.”
