Spalletti praises Juventus’ authority after victory over AZ Alkmaar

Luciano Spalletti praised Juventus’ authority after their victory over AZ Alkmaar. The coach was pleased with the seriousness his team showed against an opponent he described as very strong, but also acknowledged that Juventus allowed AZ back into the contest after dropping their level in the closing stages.

“I’m extremely satisfied because they played a serious match against a strong team, a very strong team,” Spalletti told Sky Sport. The result carried particular significance for him: AZ had gone 17 consecutive European matches at home without defeat. Spalletti emphasised that the performance was a collective achievement, rather than the work of one player. Asked about Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani, whose displays had impressed, he stressed the contribution of the whole team.

The coach nevertheless described a more difficult finish. Juventus had controlled much of the match before losing some assurance and allowing the hosts to exploit hesitation in their defensive shape. “As soon as you lower your level slightly, as we have seen in the Champions League and Europa League, the others always do it,” he said. In his view, repetition and conviction can turn something that begins as uncertainty into a strength for the opposition.

Spalletti also rejected the idea that simply withstanding pressure should be the objective. “We have to score goals, not withstand pressure. The concept is completely the other way around,” he said. He described players caught halfway between stepping out and holding their position, while AZ found space behind them and sent balls into the box. “If it had lasted another five minutes, I don’t think we would have taken the result home,” he admitted.

That warning was part of a broader criticism of how opponents are assessed. After Juventus’ previous victory against NEC, Spalletti felt the Dutch side had not received enough credit. “I have to keep reminding you about NEC, when you all laughed in our faces because we had beaten them and said they were a poor team, a seven-point team,” he said. He called for greater perspective, humility and respect for other teams, rather than placing all the pressure on his own side.

In reviewing the performance, the coach also highlighted the defensive work of Lucumí and Kalulu, as well as the team’s willingness to press high despite the risks. He did not want to single players out: Lucumí, he noted, handled situations well when required to use his right foot, even if he might not have been playing in his natural position. Kalulu, meanwhile, had been playing full matches in succession and appeared close to asking to come off towards the end.

Spalletti also praised the group’s attitude, including that of the substitutes, who encouraged their teammates. For him, accepting the challenge of direct play and the opposition’s pressing was part of what the victory represented. His assessment, though, was two-sided: Juventus showed the authority and courage he wanted, while leaving him with defensive hesitation to address.