Spalletti: We Repeat the Same Mistakes, and We Don't Have a Player with Vlahović's Characteristics

Luciano Spalletti, Juventus coach, expressed his anger at his team's performance despite the 1-0 victory over Lecce in the match held at Via del Mare Stadium, as part of the Italian league competition.

Spalletti said: "We have been saying this for a while, we repeat the same thing, we score early and then don't seal the matches, as if it's a copy-paste of previous mistakes."

He added: "We dominate entire parts of the matches, and it seems we have full control, then moments of superficiality come where we lose our focus and make unbelievable wrong passes at the level of football we play."

He continued: "It seems we are not able to maintain focus, determination, and solidity throughout the match, and when we make these mistakes, tension and fear enter, and the match returns to balance."

He explained: "Then we get upset with ourselves, take the match by the neck and bring it back on track. A match like this cannot end 1-0, we almost didn't allow them into our half of the pitch, and there were many instances where we had two attacking options and we always chose the third worst one, this is what we are."

Regarding criticisms related to possibly changing a large number of players, Spalletti said: "The media acts as if we are going to change 18 out of 25 players in the locker room, but you can't do that, this is a serious project, and this means many of these players must be part of it, because it's hard now to change that many."

He added: "Juventus also spent a lot during the last two seasons, so it's not like they can continue spending without limits, there are some situations in football that need to keep up with the times, but first and foremost, these players must grow from within."

He talked about the lack of offensive characteristics saying: "We missed Vlahović greatly because we don't have another player with his characteristics, the winning team needs a physically strong striker, even if he's not very tall, he must be able to withstand physical challenges."

He added: "Jonathan David can score goals, but in one-on-one confrontations and physical strength, this is where he struggles."