Spalletti: I ‘can’t say’ how I handled three steps back, no doubt about Juventus future

Luciano Spalletti insists that recent poor results have not made him reconsider his future at Juventus, but won’t disclose how he handled recent issues: ‘There are things you can’t say.’

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Juventus prepare for Saturday’s Serie A match against Como following three defeats in the last four games across all competitions. The Bianconeri have conceded 13 goals in the process.

Spalletti had said after a 5-2 Champions League loss to Galatasaray on Tuesday that his players had taken three steps back and needed a different approach in games.

A reporter questioned the Italian coach about how he dealt with the situation, but Spalletti declined to give a detailed answer.

“There are things you can say in a press conference and others you can’t because they’re meant to be said to the players,” he said via Ilbianconero.com.

“I’ve told the footballers. The famous three steps back were addressed in our meeting, and they could be the steps that take you before a run-up to gain more momentum. We’ll see if that turns out to be the case.

“The three steps back are also the defeats we suffered. There are moments when we must run more, press more, and sometimes think more clearly, because we must not be dragged into the chaos and remain clear-headed without being emotionally involved. We had been good at hiding some uncertainties, and when you have uncertainties, the opponents take advantage.”

Juventus will host a Como side that drew 1-1 with Milan at San Siro earlier this week and is just four points below the Old Lady in the standings.

“Como are a strong team that knows how to apply their coach’s ideas and the kind of football he has in mind,” Spalletti said.

“Fabregas is a strong coach with great qualities to pass on to his team. He himself was the example of a complete player, always available, and he wants to instil that in his side. For him, controlling the match is the simple foundation on which to build everything else, in terms of quality of play and results. I think he’s doing very well. I consider him one of the best we have. I went to watch him train when I was the national team coach, and that confirmed it to me.”

Spalletti’s contract expires at the end of the season, but Juventus’ directors have reiterated that they are already considering the coach’s future beyond the summer. Does Spalletti feel the same, or does he have doubts following recent poor results?

“Do you care about this situation? I don’t think that’s the solution that would change things,” Spalletti told the reporter.

“I think it’s the opposite. Since it’s been said to me as well, it’s something I could do on my part, because I’m not looking for anything different. I’m looking for a football pitch, a ball, and players to coach, preferably intelligent ones, and I have that because my players are like that. If that were the necessity, it could be sorted out immediately.”