Luciano Spalletti says it’s ‘useless for Max Allegri to wear a fake beard or a hat’ to try and hide the Bianconeri’s role as favourites for Napoli v Juve. The mind games between the two managers have begun in earnest with Allegri suggesting earlier today that Napoli have more to lose than the Old Lady in this top of the table clash. Speaking in his pre-match presser, Spalletti pointed to the large investments the Bianconeri had made in the summer, suggesting that they have certain targets they have to meet, given the money they’ve spent:
“I understand that it’s convenient for Allegri to pass off as a supporting player, but for a Juve always stuffed with champions it’s impossible for them to hide from the role of favourites.
Certain investments only pay off by playing for Scudetto and Champions League victory. It’s useless to wear a hat or a fake beard, there is no fourth place that will satisfy Juventus.
When you wear such important shirts, I think its hard to play with fear, no one will be afraid, there are strong players in terms of personality and technique and both will play to win and it will be a great show.
The first move is made by the one who hits the middle of the pitch. They are two different philosophies, Allegri espouses the Juventus motto, winning is the only thing that matters.
Here it’s all more heart and soul, there was Maradona, they saw him play, and when he won he showed how much beauty there is in football and we can’t help but take some of that beauty with us and remember that football hoping to reproduce it.
You have to know how to interpret correctly because you leave the pitch and take what they concede. They counter and have multiple individual plays, the first consideration will be to never lose balance in attacking.
Juve’s defence? They drop down deeper, in front of the penalty area, it’s easier defensively than pressing high, then there’s the will of the football you want to play, the skills you think your players have and whether you can like it, as a spectacle, to do that football there beyond the wins.
We will do what we like best and what the fans like. A coach came through here a short time ago, Sarri, who won nothing but people only talk about his football and so he has value and I like that other stuff.
There was Benitez who won a couple of titles, he was also well spoken of, but he didn’t impress like Sarri so you have to be careful. Sometimes you leave a mark more with the visible things than with what you bring home, without doing a job on the pitch.
Juve’s off the pitch issues? You never know the reaction of a team, sometimes it’s the opposite and teams huddle in and everything else becomes an extra motivation, maybe it was needed to make this winning streak.
The Roma-Napoli brawl? Those who feel like beating each other up instead of watching the show must stay out. This stuff here can’t be seen, they have to stay home and if they’re not there, it has to be imposed.
What do i promise the fans? Commitment, the only thing I can promise since I’ve been doing this job. Two thirds of my day, every day, is working on the game. The fans deserve three-thirds but I have to sleep, otherwise I can’t work the next day.
Raspadori not suited to the right? No, for players like Raspadori you can say many things because he knows what to do on all sides, it would not be risky.
Juve’s tight defence? If one team plays in front of the defensive line, it’s difficult for the other to make 10 chances on goal, the space becomes narrower and you need above-average quality. The difficulties will be there and we have what it takes to play the game we want.
Change anything? Substitutions. Having other fresh players who give a burst of speed at certain times can disrupt something.”
