Spalletti: Locatelli's absence puts responsibility on everyone

Luciano Spalletti, the manager of Juventus, has confirmed that his team has prepared well for the upcoming match against US Sassuolo, pointing out that Manuel Locatelli's absence due to injury imposes greater responsibilities on all players.

The Italian coach said: "We feel sorry for what happened to Locatelli, but his absence distributes responsibilities among everyone, as he is a player who is always attentive to everything." He added that the team has trained well and shown readiness to fight in various situations.

Luciano Spalletti has provided an update on his squad, revealing that Weston McKennie and Andrea Cambiaso are unlikely to participate, with a final test for Cambiaso scheduled for the morning of the match. Meanwhile, Pape Sarr has become available for selection.

Juventus coach emphasized that Manuel Locatelli's absence will not change the team's tactical options, stating: "We have the ability to play in any system, as the squad allows us to do so," confirming that the goal is to achieve victory and deliver a performance worthy of the name Juventus.

Spalletti praised several of his players, highlighting Teun Koopmeiners, stating that the increase in minutes helped him regain his freedom and confidence on the pitch. He also commended Douglas Luiz, describing him as a strong player capable of playing both short and long passes, in addition to possessing physical strength and readiness to assist his teammates.

He also confirmed that Nick Woltemade quickly integrated with the group and showed from his first training session his ability to handle the team's atmosphere, while describing Boubacar Sarr as a strong player with great running and endurance capabilities.

Regarding US Sassuolo, Spalletti warned of a tough encounter, praising the team's quality and their ability to regain possession and quickly transition to attack.

He also gave special praise to coach Alberto Aquilani, confirming that he had seen coaching qualities in him since his playing days. He said: "When I was coaching him, I already had the impression that he could become a coach, and he had a bag full of quality, always suggesting something to his teammates through his play."