From substandard attack to very thin squad: Coach Luciano Spalletti’s challenges with Juventus
Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti is facing mounting pressure following a lackluster start to the season that mirrors the performance of his predecessor. Despite high expectations and a significant investment in striker Randal Kolo Muani, the team is struggling to find form and sits in 6th place.
Why it matters
The performance of major football clubs has significant economic and cultural implications for the sports industry and its fan base.
Juventus entered the current campaign with high expectations following Luciano Spalletti's rapid turnaround of the club after Igor Tudor's dismissal in match-week 8 of the previous season. However, after narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification following a 2-2 draw with cross-city rivals Torino on the final day of 2025-26, significant concern now surrounds the Italian giants early in the season.
Although the Juventus board signalled their trust in Luciano Spalletti by extending his contract through June 2028 last April, the Bianconeri could part ways with the former Roma, Inter, and Napoli coach much sooner if the team's current form does not improve.
Following their frustrating 1-1 draw to Cagliari at the Unipol Domus stadium, the Turin based club currently sit in 6th place with 11 points, 5 points adrift from the league leaders Inter and Lazio who share the top-spot with 16 points each.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in