Newly appointed Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti stated on Friday that his seventh-placed club is capable of fighting for the Serie A title.
“Of course, I hope this team can still get involved in the title race,” he said Friday, on the eve of Juve’s game at Cremonese.
Spalletti, who takes over from the sacked Igor Tudor, added, “As we discussed with the players on Thursday, we must aim for the highest.
“And the highest is the Scudetto.
“Only nine matches have been played; there are still 29 left to play. That’s a lot of matches, and I’ve seen many things during my 30-plus years of career.”
Juventus has given Spalletti till the conclusion of the season in the hopes that the 66-year-old can qualify for next season’s Champions League. His contract extends till June 30.
If he succeeds, Spalletti will be granted additional time to assist Juve in reclaiming the top spot in Italy, having been surpassed by Inter Milan and Napoli in recent seasons.
Spalletti led Napoli to their historic Serie A victory in 2023 and has been one of the country’s most prominent coaches for the past two decades, outperforming expectations at Roma and Inter Milan.
He also stated at his unveiling, “If I didn’t believe in this team, in its potential despite the difficult moments, why would I have agreed to sign an eight-month contract?
“I believe we can do good work, which requires availability, willpower, and self-discipline.”
Five months after his sack as Italy coach, Spalletti is relishing being back in the Serie A limelight.
“In a club like this, ambitions are obviously high. We must compete in the Champions League.”
He had kind words for the former coach he placed, Tudor, who was sacked on Monday.
“I’m sure I will be taking over a team that is mentally strong and well-trained,” he said.
