Spalletti: Is There a Problem With Muani? You Will Have to Change Your Views at the End of the Season

After leading his team to a 1-1 home draw against Milan in Serie A Round 3, Juventus head coach Spalletti accepted an interview with Slow Motion.

Spalletti, normally when a match ends in a draw, the side that withstands pressure and equalizes late to secure a result often tends to interpret the game from a positive perspective. Does this same mindset and pattern apply to you tonight?

No, no. You are always accustomed to following only events and results that have already happened, while we have always been trying to anticipate these events in advance and actively determine their direction. The fact that we were able to equalize at the very end of this match fully shows the resilience of the whole team. Even when we were behind and in a difficult situation, the players continued to firmly do what they needed to do on the pitch without losing their composure. I really like the character shown by the players, and I also really like this fighting response of never giving up. In fact, I am very satisfied with our overall performance throughout the match.

However, we could also see that the forwards' performances in the final stages of attacking moves appeared to once again reveal some shortcomings...

Yes, the forwards could indeed have done better and contributed more, because we had frequently pushed toward the edge of the opponent's penalty area. In that key area, whether it was attempts at passing combinations or the choices of specific attacking patterns, there is certainly room for improvement and reflection. But do not forget that the opponent standing in front of us today was Milan, a top-level team with tremendous heritage and quality.

Therefore, when facing an opponent like this, it is completely possible in football that you cannot always have the perfect instinct or deliver the perfect penetrating pass every time. But we will go back and continue working hard, aiming to make progress and improve a little in every match and every day's training. Tonight, I have already seen some highlights and improvements in the team's performance compared with the first two matches.

Speaking of playing as a makeshift striker, when you brought on defender Gatti in the closing stages of the match, was that finding a surprise option who could play as a forward?

Yes, that is indeed true, because Gatti does have those qualities. Gatti is the kind of player who believes he can score whenever he enters the penalty area, and every forward run he makes carries great impact and strength. However, we were somewhat unlucky on several crosses into the box afterward, because Kolo Muani had already made an excellent run into space inside the area to receive the ball, but unfortunately we did not have enough luck for the ball to land exactly where he was. In any case, we are very happy and satisfied with everything the team was able to achieve today and what it showed.

Regarding Kolo Muani, there were also some boos from the stands today. For him, is there any problem or crisis involved?

The problem is with you, not him. When this season ends, you will have to change your opinions and say something completely different from what you are saying now. At the end of the season, the ones who will truly have a problem will be yourselves.

I would also like to ask you about Woltemade. As a player we need to discover and understand, we will gradually explore him together with everyone in the coming time. What is your view of him?

He is indeed a player we need to discover, and we will gradually explore him together with everyone in the coming period. He is definitely a player with great potential and room for growth, because his physical ability in duels and his strength are very evident. We firmly believe that in these areas—including future attacking finishing and shooting—he will also be able to provide us with great help and bring something different to the team.