Luciano Spalletti admits Juventus players ‘are forced to ask themselves questions’ and their ‘conscience’ jeered them after defeat to Lazio, but he listened to their appeals against Rennes.
It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17.45 UK time (18.45 CEST).
The only previous meetings between these clubs were for the two-legged Intertoto Cup Final of 1999, which Juve won 4-2 on aggregate.
The tension is sky high after a 3-0 home defeat to Lazio, yet in the Europa League it is a completely different story, Juventus beating NEC 5-0 and completing a comeback 2-1 victory away to Celta Vigo.
It was reported Juve had a crisis meeting after the Lazio loss.
Spalletti listening to Juventus players
“Every day produces something new, every day has meetings, discussions, even clashes at times, but that evening you wipe the slate clean, because if you don’t do that, the next day things pile up in your mind and it becomes difficult to deal with,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
“We hope that we wiped the slate clean, we can focus on the next game, try to give the best indications, and hope for the optimal response also based on the things that they said. The players said some things, and I liked many of them, so we want to put this into practice.”
For the first time, Woltemade and Kolo Muani start together upfront, a situation that both strikers had made public appeals for several times in recent weeks.
The coach listened and decided to launch the pair in a new 3-5-2 formation, although it could be a 3-4-1-2 with Weston McKennie in a free role.
“The pitch always tells the truth. We’ve got to pay attention to the characteristics of the players and try to make the most of them. Nobody would be crazy enough to use Edon Zhegrova as a right-back, so we have to set out a system that will get the best out of their strengths.”
It was put to Spalletti that football is not just finding the best players, but creating that combination so that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
“That is very wise, because a players has to consider how much do you press, when to use this move, how many times I want to get to the edge of their penalty area and leave space behind to risk a counter-attack, which forces me to track back towards our box? Am I supported by the team when I start that press, or am I creating a division between the sectors that opponents can run into?
“These are all matters we discuss in training and work on, because it’s not a lack of courage, it’s about considering the risk and benefit of certain movement that leaves space for your opponents. There are players who are more suited to helping the team and providing coverage, but give you less unpredictability.”
Spalletti then referenced the jeers that the crowd rained down on the Juventus squad after their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Lazio, and the Bremer comments about teammates who ‘hide’ in high-pressure situations.
“It’s about finding the balance between all those elements, and then as you in the media always say, this jersey weighs heavily, people are not happy, but we carried those jeers with us into the locker room. We jeered ourselves in there.
“The conscience of the players jeers in the silence of the locker room, so difficulties always force you to ask yourself a question: What person do you become under pressure? Are you the one who pushes forward, goes to get the next ball and wants to dig your way out of trouble, or are you afraid and therefore cannot stay within a club like this?
“This is the question that you have to ask yourself.”
It is not just the Juventus jersey that weighs heavily, but also the touchline is a dangerous place to be for any coach.
“Well yes, the bench is burning after a week, because the more coaches you get fired, the better for news. That has always been the case, there are many more against us than there are for us,” replied Spalletti.
“Beware, because I always prefer to start again rather than give up, so be careful or you’ll find something to chew on. Munch, munch, munch.”