Luciano Spalletti and Chico Conceicao spoke to the press ahead of Thursday night’s Celta Vigo-Juventus meeting, with Juventus looking to build on their opening 4-0 win over NEC in Matchday 1 of the UEFA Europa League.
The match comes at a busy point in the schedule, and Spalletti made clear that Juventus may need to rotate. He said the competition allows more playing time for those who feature less regularly, while also giving the team a chance to rest some of the mainstays and see more of the squad.
Spalletti on rotation and the challenge ahead
Spalletti said Juventus must be at their best because the Europa League includes several high-calibre teams, and he stressed that Celta Vigo are capable of fielding a side with quality and experience. He also said Juventus cannot afford any moments when they appear weaker, and that the team has to demand a top-level performance from itself.
Rotation, he added, is not just helpful but necessary given the tight schedule and the fact that Juventus have more than 11 first-team regulars to rely on. He specifically mentioned Federico Gatti and Nick Woltemade as players who deserve a chance based on what they have shown when given opportunities.
Spalletti also touched on Juventus’ competitive edge, saying the team is still not aggressive enough in the moments when a match can swing in its favour. He said the staff reviews those games afterward, identifies what needs to change, and uses that work to push the learning process forward.
Conceicao on progress, ambition and Salah
Conceicao spoke about his own development and said, “I try to improve every day.” He added that Juventus is a great club with big ambitions, but that he understands he has to be the first to improve and keep taking steps forward.
He said he is happy at Juventus and feels the confidence of the team, the manager and the club. At the same time, he underlined that the pressure to win is high, which is why the group must improve quickly and clean up the small details that can lead to success.
Conceicao also said Celta Vigo are a good side and pointed to their work last year, while stressing that Juventus must aim to take all three points to keep the Europa League campaign on track. On the subject of players he studies, he said he learns from many footballers and described Mohamed Salah as a football legend.
For Juventus, the immediate focus is simple: maintain momentum after Matchday 1, manage the squad across a packed stretch of fixtures, and make sure the trip to Spain produces another result that strengthens the club’s position in the Europa League.
