Juventus coach Spalletti experiments with Koopmeiners in tactical gambit

Despite having just one training session with Juventus, new head coach Luciano Spalletti actioned some peculiar tweaks to the Bianconeri tactics in their match against Cremonese on Saturday evening.

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Juventus’ pre-match graphic suggested the club would line up in a 4-3-3 but the truth is less clear than that.

At first glance, Spalletti set up his Bianconeri side in a 3-5-2/3-4-3, with Teun Koopmeiners making a surprising start at centre-back. In his AZ Alkmaar days, the Dutchman was no stranger to playing roles all over the pitch and it appears Spalletti is trying to reinvigorate the former Atalanta man with a new role.

Playing on the left-hand side of the back three, Koopmeiners pushes higher up on the attack but quickly shifts back into central defence when defending.

Spalletti’s tactics against Cremonese are dynamic and seems to be more akin to the ‘relationism’ philosophy of football thinking – where greater impact is placed on fluid movement rather than rigid tactical structure.

Weston McKennie also appears to be a beneficiary of Spalletti’s adjustments, playing a more advanced role and drifting wide but also making himself present on the edge of the box if one of his teammates is pushing down the flank.

Lois Openda, likewise, appears to be part of a flat front-two on the surface but drifts out wide when his teammates need the space in the channels and presses the back line hard.

Juventus’ press, on the whole, appears much improved already. There is a newfound intensity in the team, with wing-backs charging down the Cremonese wing-backs whenever they gain possession.

At the time of writing, Juventus lead the match 1-0 heading into the half-time interval.