Socrates

Spalletti sends strong video response after Conte criticism Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti sent a pointed video message to Antonio Conte after the Napoli boss complained, proving that he did in fact show respect to the ‘Champions of Italy.’ ............ This evening, Spalletti sent a pointed response via his official Instagram account, although he never named Conte or the controversy that it was clearly a reply to. ............ “Tonight we can say that we learned a lot, because we were up against the best of them all, we were hosting the champions of Italy,” said the Juventus coach in this clip. “Doing it against them probably means more, but now we begin another rhumba dance. You have to take off the clothes of the winner and put on those of a humble worker who goes out there to toil in the field, that is how you get to be a winner again.” ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-strong-response-to-conte-criticism/

PSG refuse to open doors for Juventus talks about Muani Juventus have so far failed in their attempts to secure a new striker, a situation that has forced the Bianconeri to reconsider a potential move for Randal Kolo Muani. The French forward spent the second half of last season at the Allianz Stadium and delivered encouraging performances, prompting Juve to explore the possibility of bringing him back during the summer transfer window. Paris Saint-Germain were initially open to allowing the player to leave, and discussions took place between the two clubs. However, despite prolonged talks, they were unable to reach an agreement on the structure of the deal. ............ Juventus are now once again keen to ensure the squad is reinforced with a recognised striker, leading them to re-establish contact regarding Kolo Muani. At present, the forward is on loan at Tottenham, and the Premier League club has shown no willingness to allow him to depart. More significantly, Paris Saint-Germain are also not interested in reopening discussions. The Ligue 1 champions remain unhappy with how Juventus handled negotiations during the summer and are reluctant to facilitate a move for any of their players to Turin. This lingering irritation appears to be a major obstacle, regardless of Juventus renewed interest in the striker. ............ Despite the difficulties at club level, Kolo Muani reportedly enjoyed his previous spell in Turin and would be open to returning if the opportunity arose. His positive experience with the team and familiarity with the environment make him an appealing option for Juventus as they continue their search for attacking reinforcements. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/psg-refuse-to-open-doors-for-juventus-talks-about-muani/

Juventus prepared to make Yildiz highest paid player with new contract Reports from various outlets in Italy claim that Juventus are close to extending the contract of poster boy Kenan Yilidz, and that the youngster could soon become the highest-paid player at the club once he renews. The 20-year-old Yildiz is having a brilliant 2025-26 so far. He has eight Serie A goals to his name, already an improvement on last season’s tally, is one goal away from double figures in all competitions, and his total goal contributions across all competitions rack up to 17 from 29 appearances. Yildiz is already tied down on a for at least another three years in Turin, with a contract that runs until 2029, but the Bianconeri do not want to take any risks and are prepared to reward the Turkey international with a new and improved deal to fend off any interest from elsewhere. ............ Tuesday’s reports claim that Yildiz’s family have met with the club management on several occasions already and that head coach Luciano Spalletti has given his approval to the contract extension. Tuesday’s reports add that Juventus are prepared to offer Yildiz an annual salary in the region of €6m, marginally higher than summer signing Jonathan David, who arrived on a free transfer. ............ With Dusan Vlahovic increasingly likely to leave Juventus once his contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 campaign, and once Yildiz signs his new deal, the 20-year-old could become the highest paid player at the club. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-prepared-to-make-yildiz-highest-paid/

“Played a perfect match” David must maintain his for says pundit Jonathan David is beginning to show encouraging form, highlighted by his goal as Juventus defeated Napoli in their most recent match. The Canadian forward has faced criticism for his performances since arriving at the Allianz Stadium this season, but recent displays suggest a clear improvement. His growing influence comes at an important stage of the campaign, with Juventus relying heavily on his contribution in attack. ............ This period represents a crucial opportunity for David to demonstrate that he can be trusted to perform consistently at the highest level for the men in black and white. Juventus require him to remain focused, confident, and effective in front of goal, as their attacking options are limited. His recent performances indicate that he is responding positively to this responsibility. ............ David’s display against Napoli drew particular praise, including from Massimo Mauro, who acknowledged the forward’s progress while urging him to maintain these standards. Mauro offered a balanced assessment of the striker’s recent performances. He said, “We criticized David a lot, and rightly so, because he played poorly. He played a perfect match against Napoli. That is, he made no mistakes in the first half in getting the team moving, and he scored with his first chance in the penalty area. Then he was substituted, but I believe that the center forward is essential for Spalletti and he must continue like this.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/played-a-perfect-match-david-must-maintain-his-for-says-pundit/

Marco De Marchi impressed with what Spalletti has done at Juventus Juventus appear to have turned a corner since Luciano Spalletti agreed to take charge until the end of the season, with clear signs of improvement emerging over the past few weeks. The experienced coach arrived in Turin with a proven track record, and his influence has played a significant role in revitalising the Old Lady during a demanding period of the campaign. ............ The recent victory against Napoli was a particularly strong statement. That result not only underlined Juventus’ improvement but also reinforced the idea that they remain a formidable force at home. Performances like that send a clear message to the rest of the league that Juventus expect to dominate on their own ground, regardless of the opposition. As the season progresses, consistency will be vital. Juventus still have many matches to navigate, and each fixture will present a different challenge. While confidence is growing, they will need to continue proving themselves week after week to sustain their resurgence. The league remains competitive, and momentum can quickly shift if standards drop. ............ Former player Marco De Marchi has been impressed by what he has seen, highlighting the mental and tactical shift within the side. He said, “It’s a fearsome Juve, they’ve become solid, compact, the players have gained confidence in their abilities. Spalletti did well to put things right. They’re playing as a team and with a mentality that’s returning. Now they’ll be able to have their say.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/marco-de-marchi-impressed-with-what-spalletti-has-done-at-juventus/

Angry Conte aims dig at Spalletti: ‘He has to be more careful when he speaks’ Conte bad loser Antonio Conte has not taken too kindly to a comment made by Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti, describing Napoli as the ‘former champions of Italy’ rather than simply ‘the champions of Italy’ after Juventus’s 3-0 victory over the Partenopei in Serie A: ‘He has to be a little more careful when he speaks’. ............ Speaking at his post-match press conference after the Napoli game, Juventus head coach Spalletti said that “winning against the former champions of Italy gives you more certainty that you are becoming a strong team.” ............ He said: “I’d like to take a break after that game, especially when you have three in quick succession. I don’t understand what he said. Former champions? If he said something like that, it wasn’t a great sentence, it was an unfortunate phrase. “We still wear the Scudetto on our chest and that deserves respect. I would have never allowed myself to say something like that to another team. I’m sorry because Luciano Spalletti is a great coach, but he has to be a little more careful when he speaks. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/angry-conte-aims-dig-at-spalletti-more-careful/

Adani hails Spalletti: “One of the best in Europe” Retired Italian defender Lele Adani highlighted the great impact that Luciano Spalletti has had since joining Juventus. The 66-year-old joined in late October as a replacement for Igor Tudor. The latter had endured a torrid start to the season and was shown the door after going eight matches without a win. ............ Adani insists that Juventus had also produced an impressive brand of football in their defeat in Cagliari the previous week, when they dominated the action, but were stunned by Luca Mazzitelli’s goal. “Spalletti is a professional who has the team in his hands — and I say this as I did after the defeat in Cagliari, because winning or losing doesn’t interrupt a sound process. Not at all. In terms of ideas, shared vision, and involvement,” argued the former Inter and Fiorentina defender. ............ “That’s why the relaunch is even more convincing: you beat Napoli, a direct rival, and beyond many situations that I believe are Napoli’s real problem — injuries, not the league table — Juventus’ win is deserved. “And it’s deserved because they’re living what modern football demands today: multiple matches within the same match.” ............ “In this kind of strategic, on-pitch work, Spalletti is one of the best around, in my opinion, in Europe — in his reading of the game, in developing players, in bringing the squad together. “And when he’s asked in the press conference whether he needs another centre-forward from the transfer market, he says no, we already have one: McKennie.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/lele-adani-juventus-luciano-spalletti-best-europe/

Juventus in discussions over Kolo Muani return after En-Nesyri letdown Reports in Italy claim that Juventus have opened discussions over a potential return for last season’s loanee Randal Kolo Muani after learning that a deal for Youssef En-Nesyri is looking unlikely. ............ This situation leaves Juventus circling back on other options, including the likes of Jean-Phillippe Mateta, Beto, Federico Chiesa and Joshua Zirkzee. ............ Juventus have also begun discussing a potential return for Kolo Muani, currently on loan in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. The Frenchman enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Old Lady in the second half of the 2024-25 season, netting a goal every other game in Serie A with eight goals from 16 league appearances. There was no buy option included in Kolo Muani’s loan deal last winter, and ultimately, Juventus were unable to come to an agreement with parent club PSG for either an extended loan deal or for a permanent transfer over the summer. Kolo Muani has not made the same impression in North London as he did in Turin, though: He is still without a Premier League goal after 15 appearances. Now, according to Monday’s reports, Juventus have opened discussions over a potential deal for Kolo Muani in January. ............ Relations between Juventus and PSG are not particularly rosy after their unsuccessful negotiations over the summer. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-in-discuss-kolo-muani-return/

Everton striker Beto emerges as last-minute option for Juventus Juventus have identified Everton striker Beto as a possible reinforcement in attack after talks with Youssef En-Nesyri collapsed. ............ Juventus are only interested in a loan deal with an option to buy, which is the same reason why En-Nesyri has turned down their offer. It remains to be seen whether Beto would accept a temporary move to Turin if the two clubs ultimately reach an agreement. Everton value Beto at €20m. ............ The Bianconeri already held talks with Crystal Palace for Jean-Philippe Mateta and have reportedly resumed talks with Manchester United for Joshua Zirkzee. Juventus haven’t yet made any new signings in the January transfer window, which will officially close next week, on February 2, at 20:00 CET. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/everton-beto-last-minute-option-juventus/

Elkann congratulates Juventus after 3-0 win over Napoli Juventus owner John Elkann visited the team in the dressing room at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday, congratulating them on a 3-0 win over Napoli. ............ Juventus posted pictures of Elkann visiting the Bianconeri players in the dressing room in a visibly relaxed mood after a big win. Last night’s win leaves the Bianconeri fifth in the Serie A standings, one point below Napoli and Roma, who occupy a Champions League spot. ............ Juventus’ next game is away at Monaco on Wednesday, in the final game of the league phase of the Champions League. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/elkann-congratulates-juventus-3-0-win-napoli/

Le Pagelle: Juventus vs. Napoli There was celebration at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday night, as Juventus completely dismantled Napoli in a 3-0 victory that pulled them to within one point of their opponent for fourth place. It was perhaps their best performance of the season. They completely throttled the defending champions (barf), dominating the midfield and keeping Antonio Conte’s men from posing much of any threat to Juve’s goal. ............ MICHELE DI GREGORIO - 6. ............ PIERRE KALULU - 6.5. ............ BREMER - 6. Mostly held Rasmus Hojlund in check, but pushed his luck to the absolute brink at the end of the first half when he put an arm around the Dane’s head in the box. Luckily, nothing came of it. Had a rough day passing, completing only 71.4 percent. LLOYD KELLY - 6.5. Made three tackles and three clearances, while negating most all of Napoli’s attempts to attack down his flank. Helped make Giovane’s debut quite flat indeed. WESTON McKENNIE - 6.5. Played in several different positions over the course of the game, starting as a right wing-back before moving into the trequartista spot of a 4-2-3-1 and ending the match playing as the No. 9. Had two key passes and led the team with five clearances, while helping keep the midfield firmly in Juve’s control. MANUEL LOCATELLI - 7. Dominated the midfield battle with Scott McTominay. Constantly marked the Scot out of proceedings, while still finding the time to complete 92.8 percent of his passes and make a truly outrageous pass for the assist on David’s opening goal. Finished with three tackles and a pair of blocked shots defensively. KHÉPHREN THURAM - 8. The standout of the match on all levels. He made a mind-bending eight tackles, and was desperately unlucky not to score the opener with a fantastic shot that thunked off the corner of the woodwork. Also noteworthy was his lung-busting run through the middle of the Napoli defense at the end of the first half, resulting in a corner kick after his shot was blocked. He’s been regaining form the last few weeks, and this may have been the best match he’s ever played in Juve colors. ANDREA CAMBIASO - 5.5. ............ FRANCISCO CONCEIÇÃO - 6. ............ KENAN YILDIZ - 7. Had a pair of key passes and his finish on the goal was typically excellent. Made a great impact even though he was getting draped by a pair of defenders most of the time. JONATHAN DAVID - 7. Scored a great goal in the first half, and it’s really clear that he’s regained his confidence. He ran everywhere, leading the game in distance run by the time he was taken off. Here’s the guy we were promised when he signed. SUBS FILIP KOSTIC - 6.5. ............ JUAN CABAL - 6. ............ FABIO MIRETTI - NR. ............ TEUN KOOPMEINERS - NR. ............ FEDERICO GATTI - NR. ............ MANAGER ANALYSIS Seven weeks ago Spalletti completely bottled things against Napoli. On Sunday, he got everything right. The way he set the team up was pitch-perfect. He was able to completely wipe out McTominay, who had been a major problem in the return, and completely neutralized the Napoli attack. What was a little bit more concerning, at least at first, was how the team came out in the second half. It looked for all the world like Spalletti had made the out-of-character decision to sit on the 1-0 lead and ride out the rest of the match on defense. It was enough to give flashbacks to other coaches whose first impulse was to do that. I, for one, was getting nervous as 20 minutes or so went by with Napoli controling 70 percent or more of the possession in the half. Napoli had barely put a shot towards goal—much less one on target—during that time, but we’ve seen Juve waste games like this with a single mistake even when they were dominating the match. But close to the 70 minute mark or so, Juve started to come out of their shell. They looked to attack more, and when Yildiz scored the second goal it let the air out of Napoli like a balloon, and Juve kept complete control of the game from then on out. Looking back, it feels like Spalletti was lying in wait for those first 25 minutes or so of the half, waiting for the Napoli players—who had hardly anything on the bench to back them up thanks to their mountainous injury list—to show some signs of fatigue before springing the team forward and running them ragged in the last phases of the match. It feels like Conte was sensing the same thing on the Napoli sideline, because he threw on two of his meager subs to try to counteract that within five minutes of each other. It isn’t a surprise that Juve regained their control of the match as time ticked on after that. If that’s where Spalletti’s mind was going, it was a superb reading of the situation. One way or the other, he cooked up a fantastic plan to smother Napoli and right the wrongs from the December game in Naples. LOOKING AHEAD Juve now turn their attention to the Champions League league phase finale on Wednesday at Monaco. Depending on the results around them, a victory could secure a high place in the seed pot for the playoff round, or, if everything goes right, a place in the top eight to bypass the playoff round altogether. . Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/35813/le-pagelle-juventus-napoli-player-ratings-manager-analysis-2026-serie-a-matchday-22-final-score-result-vs-napoli

“Happiest I have seen him” – Juventus star’s father opens the door for renewal Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie is delighted to work under Luciano Spalletti, as confirmed by his father, John. The Texan has been an automatic starter since the arrival of the Italian manager in late October, featuring in a variety of playing roles. ............ Following Sunday’s 3-o over Napoli, the Juventus head coach reserved some special praise for McKennie, describing him as a ‘perfect striker’. “McKennie is a perfect central forward, one of the strongest around in that role. He battles, he’s strong in the air, and he has an impressive leap,” said the 66-year-old in his post-match interview. “He doesn’t play to be pitied; he plays to get results, because he makes decisions. He would be a perfect striker.” ............ “We will let this marinate! I can personally tell you that Wes is the happiest I have seen him in quite some time. Coach has definitely been the difference!” posted the player’s father on his personal X account. While McKennie Sr. didn’t explicitly mention anything related to the player’s future, his comments certainly open the door for expected contract talks. The 27-year-old is currently running on an expiring deal, but he wouldn’t want to leave Turin now that he’s hitting his stride and working under a manager capable of maximising his potential. ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/happiest-weston-mckennie-father-juventus-renewal/

Thuram explains Juventus goal celebrations against Napoli Khephren Thuram explains Juventus’ goal celebrations in their 3-0 win over Napoli and insists ‘we can still improve’ under Luciano Spalletti. Juventus secured a massive 3-0 win over rivals Napoli at the Allianz Stadium last night. ............ Thuram spoke at a press conference attended by Football Italia last night, during which he explained the Bianconeri’s goal celebrations: “We celebrated by drinking a coffee. When Kenan scored, he did a star, and we mimed little sparkles. I don’t know what we’ll do going forward, but it’s nice.” ............ “Our goal is to win because we are at Juventus. We must always try to win and grow, as a team and as players,” Thuram continued. “We’ve been improving a lot since the coach arrived, but we can still improve even more, and we’re working toward that.” ............ The Bianconeri currently sit 5th in the Serie A standings, just one point below Roma and Napoli, who occupy a Champions League placement. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/thuram-juventus-goal-celebrations-napoli/

How Juventus fans mocked Conte during 3-0 win over Napoli Juventus fans mocked their ex-coach and midfielder, Antonio Conte, in the final minutes of a home 3-0 victory last night: ‘Jump with us.’ Juventus secured a 3-0 victory over rivals Napoli last night, thanks to goals from Jonathan David, Kenan Yildiz and Filip Kostic. ............ The entire home crowd stood up after the third goal scored by Kostic at minute 86, singing, “Antonio Conte, jump with us.” ............ A former midfielder and coach for Juventus, the relationship between Conte and most Juventus fans collapsed when the Italian tactician took over at Inter, the Bianconeri’s biggest rivals, in 2019. Juventus fans mocked their former star and coach, but didn’t insult him, while they loudly booed Romelu Lukaku when the Belgian was introduced as a substitute in the second half, making his first appearance in 2025-26. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/how-juventus-fans-mocked-conte-3-0-win-napoli/

Anche Thuram lo prende per i fondelli

Spalletti urges Juventus to sign a new striker: “We need someone like Hojlund” Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti made it abundantly clear that his squad is currently lacking a classic No.9. The 66-year-old avenged himself against his former employers, Napoli, who had dealt him his first defeat as Juventus manager in December. The Bianconeri prevailed by three unanswered goals on Sunday, much to the delight of the home supporters at the Allianz Stadium. ............ Despite David’s improved form, Spalletti took the opportunity to publicly plead to the management to bring him a new centre-forward. Even though Rasmus Hojlund wasn’t able to make a difference on Sunday, the Italian manager believes Juventus are in dire need of a centre-forward with similar characteristics, one capable of acting as a battering ram. “David is a strong player, and tonight he showed he can hold his own in a duel inside the box,” said Spalletti in his post-match interview. ............ “In the penalty area, there’s no free space — space has to be taken away from the opponent, torn from them — and he did exactly that. He scored a real striker’s goal — a great goal, considering his characteristics. “When Napoli push you back and force you into launching long balls, you need someone like Hojlund who can bring it down and hold it down. “When a striker holds the ball like that, try pressing again… Sometimes you wish you had someone who does that, but we’re absolutely delighted with David.” ............ Juventus have already attempted to sign two centre-forwards in January, but they couldn’t find an agreement with Crystal Palace for Jean-Philippe Mateta, while Yousssef En-Nesyri wasn’t happy with the temporary formula, as confirmed by Giorgio Chiellini on Sunday. ............ “McKennie is a perfect central striker, one of the strongest around in that role. He battles, he’s strong in the air, and he has an impressive leap. “He doesn’t play to be pitied; he plays to get results, because he makes decisions. He would be a perfect striker.” ............ . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/luciano-spalletti-juventus-striker-hojlund/

Juventus 3 - Napoli 0: Initial reaction and random observations Within the span of five days, two opposing managers in the visitors’ dugout had the same kind of expression on their face as the final minutes ticked off the clock at the Allianz Stadium. First it was Jose Mourinho as Juve handed his Benfica a crushing blow for their Champions League hopes. And now, with his squad already decimated by injuries, it was our old buddy Antonio Conte putting two fingers up to his face to rub his eyes after Juventus’ thundered home a third and final goal. Both games, both wins, were signs of just how much this Juventus squad have changed under the man who — especially considering the opponent this weekend — has started to put his stamp on this Juve team. Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus beat Conte and Napoli 3-0 on Sunday at the Allianz Stadium. It was a stark contrast from what we saw from these two teams 49 days earlier in Naples, with Napoli taking advantage of Spalletti’s own experimentation to get three points in their first matchup against their former manager. But on Sunday, with Conte’s Napoli still dealing with the same kind of injury crunch that they were last month, Spalletti won it with the kind of football we actually expect from him — there was pressing, there was quick recovery of the ball, there were quality chances being created, all of it. This was a Spalletti win if there ever was one. And it came against Napoli. Say what you want about their injury situation, but this is still Juventus beating Napoli. This is Juventus getting within a point of Napoli in the Serie A table as they now wait to see what happens between Roma and AC Milan in the Italian capital. (And makes you shake your head about the dropped points to Cagliari last weekend, too.) They were beatable back in December because of who they didn’t have on the field, but Juventus couldn’t get it done then. This time around, though, Juve did the exact opposite of that. They got the lead against Napoli thanks to Jonathan David’s third goal in his last four Serie A games, they then hunkered down and took Napoli’s biggest punch of the night and only true extended period of pressure, and then they put them away with Kenan Yildiz scoring his career-best eighth goal of the league season. The cherry on top came from Filip Kostic of all people, with a left-footed strike we haven’t seen from him all that often ever since he first wore bianconero under Max Allegri. ............ This is a different Juventus than the one we saw in southern Italy nearly two months ago. Spalletti has put his stamp on this squad, they’ve grown in confidence since the loss to Napoli and they’re playing an overall much-improved brand of football compared to the first few weeks of Spalletti’s tenure as Juve manager. ............ I just can’t get past the fact that they withstood Napoli’s only real extended push forward to try and even the game, defended things well, barely gave Michele Di Gregorio a thing to do and then delivered a knockout blow with about 15 minutes to go. That feels like a pretty good sign that this team, while still very much a flawed one, is really on an upward kind of trajectory under their manager now that he’s about to finish his third month in charge. And just as a topper to all of this: With how Inter Milan are currently playing right now, did this Juventus win just put one of the final nails in the coffin when it comes to Napoli’s Scudetto hopes? Seems like it. I’d call all of that a pretty good Sunday for Juventus. RANDOM THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS That was … how do I phrase this properly so people get it easily … incredibly enjoyable. Yeah, that’s it. ANTONIO CONTE SALTA CON NOI!!!!!!! ............ I wholeheartedly support Khephren Thuram playing like he did against Napoli for the rest of this season and his Juventus career. Whether it was because of his dad and brother both being in the stands or his overall form just getting better the last couple of weeks, Thuram was excellent. That was the Thuram of last season that had a whole lot of us excited about his future at the club. More of that, please, KT. I mean, Thuram won EIGHT tackles. EIGHT TACKLES! That is insane for a midfielder. Weston McKennie’s heat map is a thing of beauty. ............ Somebody who also had an impressive kind of heat map with all the work on and off the ball he was doing? That would be a certain Canadian with the last name of David. The man was an absolute workhorse against Napoli. The goal was very well done and a sign of how he was able to use his strength to hold off his man, but overall you can just see his game starting to grow. Same with his confidence, too. He’s said it, Spalletti has said it and now we’re saying it here. He’s not on great form just yet, but David is certainly digging himself out of that early-season hole he found himself in. This had to be one of the quietest games that Scott McTominay has had ever since joining Napoli and I feel like the work that Thuram and especially Manuel Locatelli did to mark him out of the game is a huge reason for that. McTominay has been on an absolute heater of late, and yet he barely made a peep against Juventus. That Locatelli assist on the David opener was pretty great, too. Don’t forget that part. That Fabio Miretti assist after just coming onto the field on Yildiz’s goal was pretty nice, too. We would like to thank Juan Jesus for that mistake that led to Yildiz’s goal. Thank you, Mr. Jesus. ............ Lloyd Kelly is also good! What a big step forward he’s made since joining Juventus a year ago now. Praising Kelly pretty much every post-game thread I write over the last few weeks? Did not expect that to be the case, but here we are — and I’m quite happy to be proven wrong. Keep doing you, Lloyd. ............ Di Gregorio had to make one save. It was pretty early in the game. Other than that, dude did not have a whole lot to do — and that’s what we like no matter who’s in goal for Juventus. Kostic scored as many goals as he attempted crosses. If only that was always the case, right? I say that in jest, but Kostic popping up on the right after Spalletti brought him on was at first more of a defensive move more than anything else. But then it turned into a move that resulted in him scoring a really nice goal thanks to his extreme left-footedness. That works just fine in my book. ............ Read more -> https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/previews-reviews/35766/juventus-3-napoli-0-initial-reaction-and-random-observations

Spalletti statistics speak for themselves as Juventus continue road to recovery Juventus’ 3-0 win over Napoli felt significant not only for the opponent or the scoreline, but for what it continues to say about the direction of the club under Luciano Spalletti. ............ Juventus controlled the tempo, pressed with purpose and showed a clarity that has increasingly become a feature of their matches in recent weeks. ............ After 18 Serie A matches in charge, Luciano Spalletti has led Juventus to 12 wins, four draws and just two defeats. That translates into an average of 2.08 points per game, a return that places Juventus firmly back among the league’s elite and reignites belief in a genuine push towards the top end of the table. ............ Under Igor Tudor, Juventus had started positively, but collected 1.50 points per match across his first eight league games. Respectable, but not transformative. ............ What stands out most is not just the results, but the consistency. Juventus look calmer in possession, more aggressive without the ball, and far clearer in their attacking ideas. Players such as Kenan Yıldız appear liberated. ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-statistics-juventus-transformation/

Juventus 3-0 Napoli – Jonathan David: ‘I can feel my improvement, Spalletti always gave me confidence’ Jonathan David continued his improved run of form as Juventus swept aside Napoli with a convincing 3-0 win, with the Canadian forward opening the scoring and reflecting on a season he feels is finally clicking into place. ............ “Yes, I’m improving this season,” he said. “I can really feel that growth, not just individually but also within the team.” ............ The goal against Napoli took David to four league goals and six in all competitions, numbers that reflect a steady upward curve after a more difficult start. ............ For the striker, a key moment in that journey came earlier in the season after a missed penalty, an episode that, rather than setting him back, helped unlock something mentally. “For me, that was the turning point,” David explained. “From that moment, an important phase of growth began. I’ve always felt the coach’s confidence in me, and that shows on the pitch.” ............ “The celebration was something we thought of today, quite quickly,” he said with a smile. “You serve the coffee and then you drink it together.” ............ . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/juventus-3-0-napoli-jonathan-david-improvement/

Spalletti: Juventus need a new striker, but Yildiz ‘is an alien’ Luciano Spalletti praises Jonathan David, Weston McKennie and ‘alien’ Kenan Yildiz but insists Juventus need a new striker in January. Juventus secured a 3-0 win over direct rivals, Napoli, on Sunday, moving one point below the defending champions in the Serie A table. ............ “All the matches are important. They’re all worth three points,” Spalletti said. “It’s an important win for the awareness of what we do and the players’ awareness that they can play high-level football. These are matches you have to show yourself who you are, why you’re here and why you do it.” ............ “David is a strong player, and tonight he showed that he can hold his own in a duel in the box, where there’s no space, so it has to be taken away from the opponent,” he said. “If you put all your strength into those moments, it’s fine, otherwise you don’t get there. He scored a goal as a proper striker. “McKennie is a perfect central striker, one of the strongest as a centre-forward. He fights, he’s strong in the air, and he’s got an impressive leap. He plays to get results because he makes decisions. He would be a perfect striker. “The match was always open because when you don’t finish your chances and the result isn’t safe, something unexpected can come from any episode,” Spalletti continued. ............ “For me, what’s fundamental is that they always did things the same way. The idea was always to go and press. Bremer was excellent in one-on-one in open field. Hojlund is strong physically, technically and in running behind. He handled that one-on-one perfectly.” ............ “There are strikers like Hojlund who drop into midfield, you smash the ball into them, and they still make it playable,” he said. “That’s something we don’t have. David is fine for scoring goals, but when you look further, you also need someone who battles physically with the centre-back. We don’t need a striker to score goals, but for that kind of job. David is very strong, but he can’t do that kind of job. If the team manages not to concede goals and David keeps scoring, like he is now. Then we’ll still keep our heads above the water we can breathe, and everything is perfect.” ............ “Yildiz played as a striker and scored. He’s an alien; he’s not a normal footballer,” argued Spalletti. “Every now and then, he does something wrong just to see if he can fit into normality, but he can’t; he can’t become a normal footballer.” Juventus’ next match is just around the corner as the Bianconeri will return to the pitch on Wednesday, away at Monaco in the Champions League. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/spalletti-juventus-need-striker-yildiz-alien/

Juventus player ratings vs Napoli: Locatelli outclasses the reigning champions Juventus enjoyed a magical night at the Allianz Stadium, as they put three past Antonio Conte’s Napoli, who were completely shut down. The Bianconeri opened the scoring through Jonathan David in the first half, before adding two goals in the final 15 minutes courtesy of Kenan Yildiz and Filip Kostic. ............ Juventus XI (3-4-2-1) Michele Di Gregorio – 6 ............ Pierre Kalulu – 6.5 ............ Gleison Bremer – 6.5 The Brazilian took a big risk when he wrapped his arms around Rasmus Hojlund, but it was a superb outing otherwise. Lloyd Kelly – 7 Another fabulous performance from the Englishman, who has become essential for this Juventus side. Made some crucial interventions at the back. Weston McKennie – 6.5 The ultra-versatile midfielder was literally everywhere on the pitch. His touch abandoned him at times, but he can be forgiven, considering the ground he covered. Manuel Locatelli – 8 A midfield masterclass from the Juventus captain, who was well and truly perfect. Produced an outrageous assist for David’s opener with a deft flick, and completely imposed his will in the middle of the park. Never gave Scott McTominay any room to manoeuvre. Khephren Thuram – 7.5 A wonderful performance from the Frenchman in front of his father, Lilian, and brother, Marcus. Stopped McTominay in his tracks on some occasions, and drove the ball forward with vicious runs. He almost scored the opener, but his top-notch curler crashed against the post. Andrea Cambiaso – 5.5 ............ Francisco Conceicao – 6 ............ Kenan Yildiz – 8 Another brilliant display from Juve’s most celebrated star. He could have had two assists in the first half had Thuram and Conceicao scored their chances. But in the end, he got on the scoresheet with a clinical touch. Jonathan David – 7 The Canadian did well to anticipate Locatelli’s pass, hold off Leonardo Spinazzola, and slot the ball past Alex Meret. This is the type of goal that made him so revered in Ligue 1. Substitutes Filip Kostic – 6.5 The Serbian is seldom deployed on the right wing, but his inverted role put him in an inviting shooting position, and he made the most out of it. Juan Cabal – 6 ............ Fabio Miretti – 6.5 ............ Teun Koopmeiners – N/A Federico Gatti – N/A . Read more -> https://www.juvefc.com/juventus-player-ratings-vs-napoli-locatelli-outclasses-the-reigning-champions/

Player Ratings: Juventus 3-0 Napoli – Locatelli commands midfield as David scores again Juventus 3-0 Napoli Player ratings Juventus: Di Gregorio 6; Kalulu 6, Bremer 6.5, Kelly 6.5, Cambiaso 5.5 (60′ Kostic 7); Locatelli 7.5 (87′ Koopmeiners N/A), Thuram 7; Conceicao 5.5 (60′ Cabal 6), McKennie 6.5, Yildiz 7 (88′ Gatti N/A); David 7 (76′ Miretti 7). Coach: Spalletti 8. Best Juventus Player: Locatelli 7.5 – Another all-round performance from the Juventus captain, who received another standing ovation when he was subbed off in the dying minutes. One assist for David’s opener, 93% passing accuracy in the opposition half, six duels won and four recoveries. ............ Lowest Juventus rating: Cambiaso 5.5 – Often messy with the ball at his feet. The movements were good, but he was sloppy when he had possession. He was booed by his own fans when he was subbed off. Juventus coach: Spalletti 8 – Less than two months ago, he lost his first game as the Juventus coach in Naples. Fast forward to today, and he’s turned Bianconeri completely upside down. The Old Lady dominated and didn’t concede much to the defending champions, moving just one point below them in the table. . Read more -> https://football-italia.net/player-ratings-juventus-3-0-napoli-locatelli/