Spalletti: ‘I tried to add Juventus quality so we can win games’

Luciano Spalletti keeps Cremonese guessing on the tactical set-up for his Juventus debut, insisting only he wants ‘more quality on the field, as this is how we can try harder to win games.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Giovanni Zini at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game, Udinese-Atalanta and Napoli-Como on the Liveblog.

This has been a very tough week for the Bianconeri, who sacked Igor Tudor on Monday and earned a 3-1 victory over Udinese on Wednesday under the guidance of caretaker manager Massimo Brambilla.

Spalletti was formally appointed on Thursday and here makes his debut on the bench, shaking things up immediately with what appears to be a 4-3-3 formation with Dusan Vlahovic, Lois Openda and Filip Kostic upfront.

Some of the changes are forced, because Kenan Yildiz, Lloyd Kelly, Gleison Bremer, Juan Cabal and Arek Milik are out injured, but the new boss had only one training session.

“There are so many things to do, it is also the 118th anniversary of Juventus, so it was all concentrated together. We must still try to give some indications, we’ll see on the pitch if they were right or not,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.

There is some real confusion over what line-up Juventus have this evening, as some put it in a 4-3-3, others a 3-4-3 with Manuel Locatelli in central defence, some with Weston McKennie as a trequartista behind the strikers rather than as a full-back.

Spalletti was asked about the system, but laughed when told Cremonese coach Davide Nicola wasn’t listening.

“Let’s just say the intention is to have more technical quality on the field, as it is through quality that we can have good performances, and try harder to win them. Missing someone like Yildiz, I need to find that quality elsewhere, so I tried to give my contribution.

“I believe these are the best players available, but the trouble is also that we don’t have many defenders left, so we need someone who is fresh to come off the bench and give their contribution.”

Napoli were held to a 0-0 draw by Como this evening, so this is already an opportunity for Juventus to close on the Serie A joint leaders and perhaps get back into that Scudetto race.

“Everyone wants to challenge for silverware, plus we are called Juventus, that is our history and I have someone like Chiellini by my side, so it is obligatory to push for the maximum and dream of something wonderful until it becomes mathematically impossible,” smiled Spalletti.