Kostic on ‘amazing’ Juventus birthday gift as Vlahovic warning on ‘bad habits’

Filip Kostic admits it is ‘amazing’ to score his first Juventus goal in over two years on his birthday, while Dusan Vlahovic warns they need to ‘get rid of some bad habits’ now Luciano Spalletti is here.

The Bianconeri have had three different coaches so far this season, as they sacked Igor Tudor on Monday, then beat Udinese 3-1 on Wednesday in the midweek round under caretaker manager Massimo Brambilla.

This evening the team made its debut under Spalletti after just one training session, picking up a 2-1 victory away to a Cremonese side that had lost only one match this term.

Kostic opened the scoring within 85 seconds, not scoring since March 2023 in Serie A, then Andrea Cambiaso doubled their lead.

“The feeling is so nice, I’m so happy for scoring, but even happier because we won the game. It’s so important for us and we need to continue like this,” Kostic told Sky Sport Italia.

“It has been a very difficult period, but I always believed, I always worked hard, the team helped me a lot too. I am just happy because the last two games I got to start, today is my birthday, and also the birthday of Juventus, so this is amazing.”

Today is also the 118th anniversary of the foundation of the Turin-based club.

Spalletti did not shy away from tactical experimentation, launching Teun Koopmeiners in the back three as a very deep-lying playmaker.

However, Juventus seemed to back off in the second half and allow Cremonese back into the game, which they almost did with Jamie Vardy scoring a late goal.

“I wouldn’t say we had the wrong approach, in the second half, it’s that we have some bad habits we need to get rid of,” Vlahovic told Sky Sport Italia.

“We sat too deep for no reason, we should’ve continued pressing them and scoring more goals, which we wasted. Cremonese deserve congratulations too, as they made it very tough and refused to give in. Tomorrow we will analyse the game, see what we got wrong, and then prepare for the next match.”

It was put to Vlahovic that he seems to prefer playing with another striker by his side rather than left fairly isolated upfront.

“It depends on the coach, I am ready to give my all for the team in any system, then it is up to the coach how we play,” concluded the striker.

Juventus now must prepare for a crucial Champions League clash with Sporting CP on Tuesday, then the Derby della Mole against city rivals Torino next weekend.