Spalletti Questions Himself as Juventus Crumble in Rome
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti did not hide from the wreckage of Saturday night’s 0-3 Serie A defeat at Lazio, telling Italian broadcaster DAZN that his team had neither control of the game nor a clear idea of how to play. The result left the Turin club facing uncomfortable questions about its direction just weeks into the season.
“Maybe this is the first time this season we felt Juventus did not control the game,” Spalletti said. “Maybe the tactics we prepared were not reflected on the pitch, or did not work. Maybe it is the first time we have seen Juventus inferior to their opponent, and I think the whistles in the stadium said that.”
Those whistles came from the travelling supporters, and they carried a message. Spalletti acknowledged that the performance was a step backwards. “It is hard to explain, because we did nothing that we had prepared during the week,” he said, suggesting the problems ran deeper than a single bad evening.
The 66-year-old, who took charge in Turin with a reputation for tactical clarity, went further in a second interview with Sky Sport Italia. He said he was “a bit surprised” by how many weaknesses his side exposed, pointing to late decisions, missed opportunities and spells of possession that went nowhere. “On top of the objective difficulties that already existed, we made mistakes,” he said.
His comments came after defender Bremer publicly criticised the team’s attitude, saying he could not “carry everyone in his arms.” Spalletti’s response was measured but pointed. “Bremer needs to respond,” the coach said. “It is good that he can analyse things, but before we talk about the group, we first have to look at ourselves.” He added that he must also examine his own relationship with the squad — a rare admission from a manager under pressure.
The defeat leaves Juventus chasing the leading pack in Serie A and searching for the intensity that once defined the club. Spalletti’s honest assessment may buy him some time, but the coming fixtures will decide whether it was a turning point or a warning.
Italian football’s spotlight does not linger gently. With the international break approaching, Spalletti has a short window to reset his team’s mentality and restore the sense of control that he admitted had vanished in Rome. For a club of Juventus’s stature, a night like this is never just one loss.