Luciano Spalletti has made the expectation clear before Juventus travel to Cagliari: the pressure to win never changes. With Juventus heading into a run of seven matches in about 20 days, the head coach says the message is simple — results matter, regardless of who is available.
Juventus go into tomorrow’s Serie A Enilive fixture after the international break, having welcomed back 12 national-team players in good condition. But Spalletti also confirmed that several players are still missing, which means selection will again be important as the schedule tightens across domestic and European competition.
“Fuori ci sottovalutano per lo scudetto? Non ce ne frega nulla! La Juventus sarà sempre condannata a vincere, che qualcuno ne parli bene o male,” Spalletti said.
That is the clearest possible statement of intent. Juventus may be dealing with absences, but Spalletti is not using that as an excuse. He has framed the club’s identity around the same standard that always follows them: they are expected to win, and they are expected to handle it.
The selection calls Spalletti still has to make
One of the main questions is whether Randal Kolo Muani starts, and whether Edon Zhegrova is ready to be trusted from the beginning. Spalletti said he wants Kolo Muani to move with more freedom rather than be fixed as a classic centre-forward.
“Stimoliamo Randal a lasciarlo libero e avere comportamenti differenti da quelli che sono i movimenti classici da prima punta. C'è stato troppo al centro. Lui ha questa qualità di muoversi un po' da esterno e un po' da centravanti, l'abilità in acrobazia. A noi piace molto,” he said.
On Zhegrova, Spalletti was more cautious. He suggested the winger has moved between being a starter and a non-starter in training, and said he still has to make a final call for Cagliari.
“Zhegrova è uno di quelli che ha cambiato la casacca nell'ultimo allenamento tra non titolare e titolare, vediamo per domani: devo ancora valutare. Tutti i nazionali sono tornati con la condizione mentale giusta,” he said.
That matters because Juventus need options now more than ever. With seven games in roughly 20 days, Spalletti will have to balance fresh legs with continuity, especially after an international break that could easily have left some players less settled.
Koopmeiners and Cambiaso add to the options
Spalletti also discussed Teun Koopmeiners, saying he can do more than one job and still has the qualities to help Juventus control matches. He sees him as a deeper midfielder who can organise play and bring rhythm to the team.
“Koopmeiners sa fare più cose - precisa Spalletti -. Teun ha gli occhiali tridimensionali e un piede che trasmette ritmo alla palla. Con l'Olanda ha giocato in difesa, noi nel reparto siamo messi bene con Lucumi e Kelly. Per me Koop è un regista basso che sa per prendere per mano la squadra. Probabilmente avrà sbagliato qualcosa, però io non ho perso la fiducia di vedere Koopmeienrs che prende in mano il gioco della Juve,” he said.
Andrea Cambiaso, meanwhile, has been available throughout the build-up. Spalletti said he has always trained, and made clear that the focus is on the players he does have, not the ones he does not.
“Cambiaso si è sempre allenato. Sono contento dei calciatori che ho, non conta evidenziare quelli che non si hanno. Dagli ostacoli bisogna passare, si va a giocare per vincere con quelli che si hanno. Noi vogliamo imparare e trovare cose nuove. La fame è importante nel calcio, ma il comportamento della squadra è corretto: dopo la sconfitta col Sassuolo abbiamo vinto due partite non scontate,” he said.
That line sums up Juventus’s current mood. They have already shown a response after the loss to Sassuolo, winning two matches Spalletti described as not obvious. Now the challenge is to carry that into a difficult away trip and into the wider rhythm of the season.
Why this trip still matters
Spalletti also praised Cagliari’s work, saying Giulini and Pisacane have earned the points they have collected. That is a reminder that Juventus will not be facing a side likely to hand them anything.
“Giulini e Pisacane si sono meritati i punti che hanno in classifica,” he said.
For Juventus, though, the bigger story is still their own standard. Spalletti has set the tone: this is a club that cannot hide from the expectation to win, even with four long-term absentees and a crowded calendar ahead. Tomorrow at Cagliari, that message will be tested straight away.
