Mauro makes Juventus prediction and heaps praise on Spalletti: ‘A pleasure to watch’

Former Juventus winger Massimo Mauro has given his assessment of Juventus’s current run of form, the role that Luciano Spalletti has had to play and the encouraging signs that the team showed in the absence of Kenan Yildiz against Parma. 

The Bianconeri are now up to fourth place in the Serie A table and have won four games on the spin in the league. They have also booked a spot in the Champions League play-off round along with Inter and Atalanta. 

Mauro, speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, explained that there are several factors behind Juventus’s recent run of form. He argues that the form of summer signing Jonathan David has been key, but nothing has been more important than the guidance of Spalletti. 

“He’s done well. This version of David is acceptable and Openda is a worthy replacement, plus a few others who are doing well. Juve needs to get to the Champions League, and in the meantime, think and plan ahead to achieve next season’s targets,” Mauro said. 

“The players are the ones who go out onto the pitch and put in a performance, but there’s no doubt that the coach has played a fundamental role. At Juventus, you can’t just get away with winning four games, you really have to ‘arrive’. Spalletti did it very well, but he has to persevere because he hasn’t done anything yet. 

“Watching Juve play now is undoubtedly a pleasure, given their results and the way they achieve them. He’s deserved to win, even when he’s drawn or lost. It’s a great satisfaction for everyone.” 

With their 4-1 victory away against Parma on Sunday, Juventus have now leapfrogged Roma into fourth place in the Serie A standings. 

“Obviously, the standings are important. But Juve have to think like we did 30 years ago. What was done at Juventus on a Sunday was immediately forgotten because the most important game is always the next one. It might seem trivial, but it really does matter. If you stop to think about all the good things you’ve done, you’re not going anywhere. 

“I think Juve and Spalletti are doing that, and the quiet style of Comolli and Chiellini, who have left the management of the team to Spalletti and his team, also seems a wise move to me, it’s very Juventus. 

“Now they have a sporting director there, maybe the only thing they’re missing is a bit of ‘Italianness’. As for the rest, Juve have the right pieces in the right places and just have to play and win.” 

Mauro also gave his opinion on who he thinks will finish in the Serie A top four this season. 

“Whoever plays best and wins deserves it and will get to the Champions League. If the players maintain this quality of play, nobody can take qualification away from them. 

“They can’t let their guard down, of course, because Napoli could bounce back and Roma will fight until the very end: They have great staff and strengthened in the January transfer window. 

“But, if Juve maintain the high standard of play they’ve shown over the last five or six games, they will finish in the top four. I don’t know who will miss out, because I don’t feel like I can discount Roma: Everyone has to be careful. Milan are also on a similar level to these teams.

Lastly, Mauro gave his current opinion on Juventus star Kenan Yildiz, who is set to put pen to paper on a long-term contract extension in the near future. 

The Turkish talent came off at half-time in Juve’s recent win over Parma, but what happened in his absence is another encouraging sign for Spalletti and his team, Mauro says. 

“If there’s one thing that the Parma game showed, it’s that we were all wrong to say that Juve have big problems if Yildiz isn’t playing well. He played poorly in the first half, came off at half-time, but Juventus still played well and scored four goals. 

“Yes, Parma weren’t great, partly because Juve were very good and compact, but Spalletti’s gameplan put the team in a position to do well without Yildiz as well. Of course, it’s still better to have him.”