Spalletti: We Must Raise Our Level, and This Is What We Must Do
Luciano Spalletti did not hide his frustration after Juventus returned from Fiorentina's stadium with just one point, emphasizing that his team needs to "raise their level" if they want to stay on track to achieve their ambitions this season.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, extending Juventus's unbeaten streak. However, it also once again highlighted the recurring issues with possession and decision-making.
The coach said: "In the first half, we were not smart and made many technical mistakes. These are mistakes we cannot afford because our level should be higher. It was a tough match against a team that wants to respond. Fanoli gives energy and aggression to his players, and we know him well. But we came here to give more, and we definitely have to raise our level."
He added: "As I said earlier, we must have the ambition to compete for the league title. This is different from saying that we have already arrived. I believe we are capable of delivering more than what we showed today. The silence in the dressing room tells me that the players were not happy either, and I like that. Now we have to show a different level of football."
Regarding Kenan Yildiz: "We didn't utilize him enough. We held onto the ball a lot in our defensive areas, whereas we needed to break through the lines and play more vertically. Yildiz was deeper at first, then moved to the left, but we need to involve him more."
In conclusion, Spalletti condemned the hostile chants directed at Dušan Vlahović: "Dušan is handling it the right way, but socially, we need to stop going to stadiums to do things that have nothing to do with sports. The more this happens, the more we spoil the most beautiful game in the world."
The match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, extending Juventus's unbeaten streak. However, it also once again highlighted the recurring issues with possession and decision-making.
The coach said: "In the first half, we were not smart and made many technical mistakes. These are mistakes we cannot afford because our level should be higher. It was a tough match against a team that wants to respond. Fanoli gives energy and aggression to his players, and we know him well. But we came here to give more, and we definitely have to raise our level."
He added: "As I said earlier, we must have the ambition to compete for the league title. This is different from saying that we have already arrived. I believe we are capable of delivering more than what we showed today. The silence in the dressing room tells me that the players were not happy either, and I like that. Now we have to show a different level of football."
Regarding Kenan Yildiz: "We didn't utilize him enough. We held onto the ball a lot in our defensive areas, whereas we needed to break through the lines and play more vertically. Yildiz was deeper at first, then moved to the left, but we need to involve him more."
In conclusion, Spalletti condemned the hostile chants directed at Dušan Vlahović: "Dušan is handling it the right way, but socially, we need to stop going to stadiums to do things that have nothing to do with sports. The more this happens, the more we spoil the most beautiful game in the world."