Spalletti Addresses Juventus Line-Up Against Fiorentina Amidst Criticism
Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti shared insights about his tactical choices for the upcoming match against Fiorentina, introducing a new attacking trio while responding to critics. The match is set to begin at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 19:45 GMT (20:45 CET).
The Bianconeri have struggled in recent encounters against Fiorentina, with their last victory dating back to April 2024, during which they achieved a 1-0 win alongside two draws and two defeats since.
In his analysis, Spalletti said, “We played two days ago, another three days before that, so we need to rest these players at some point.” He included Weston McKennie and Zeki Celik back in the squad, while Nick Woltemade, despite suffering from flu symptoms, will feature in the starting eleven alongside Jeremie Boga and Randal Kolo Muani. This decision leads to Kerim Alajbegovic being benched for the match.
“Boga scored a great goal off the bench; he must sit back down, so every now and then we have to put our faith in these players,” Spalletti remarked.
Juventus has recently rebounded from a challenging phase marked by a 3-0 home loss to Lazio and a 2-2 draw against Rennes, securing back-to-back wins over Napoli and AZ Alkmaar. Spalletti noted the significance of the game atmosphere, saying, “It is a game where the volume will be turned up, in the crowd, on the field. We must avoid getting manipulated or dragged into the frenetic nature of this fixture. We’ve got to keep our heads, and hopefully raise the quality level of our performance.”
He further acknowledged the expectations surrounding the team, quipping, “You all say we need to win the Scudetto, so we’ve got to play with the quality that this squad does possess.” Spalletti emphasized the importance of maintaining composure, stating, “Being frenetic robs you of the right choice; it stops you seeing things clearly, so this can be a turning point for us.”
Currently, Juventus continues to contend with several absences, including Kenan Yildiz, Andrea Cambiaso, Nico Gonzalez, Manuel Locatelli, Khephren Thuram, and Kamil Grabara, while Jeff Ekhator is returning from a lengthy injury layoff. Spalletti described Ekhator as “a physically strong centre-forward who can run into space and hold up the ball,” adding that he will need time to adjust but is an important option moving forward.
