Spalletti makes David-Openda admission, says ‘Conte is right’ about Juventus

Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti feels Napoli’s Antonio Conte ‘is right’ when he says the Bianconeri have a better infrastructure and is delighted that Jonathan David and Lois Openda have ‘improved in every aspect.’

Spalletti spoke to reporters at a press conference on Friday, on the eve of a Serie A match against Lecce.

With Dusan Vlahovic out of action until March, David and Openda will compete for a starting spot in attack. The Canada international has netted three times across all competitions, Openda has found the net twice, but has started in the last two matches.

“Since we want to go and win the ball back, the striker covers a lot of ground because he also has to press the goalkeeper,” Spalletti noted via Ilbianconero.com.

“The centre-forward has to attack the goalkeeper and then drop back below the defenders’ line. Tomorrow they’ll probably both play again, not together, but both of them.

“They are different, and they complement each other. They may play a part of the match together. We work with them every day, trying to give some information about things you don’t always see in training, to complete them and believe we can still add something. I’ve found them improved in every aspect since we started working together, and I expect even better things.”

Juventus have won seven matches from the last eight across all competitions, while Lecce have two wins and three defeats in the last five Serie A games.

“I expect continuity and the same level of attention, perhaps adding something new that can give us strength. In modern football, it works like this,” Spalletti said.

“They [the footballers] are the protagonists. The match won’t be easy, I know many people at Lecce, including Di Francesco, whom I worked with at Roma. I’ve played against him, and we are friends. He is a very modern coach who has always promoted proactive football. It will be an open match as they’ll come to press us.”

Napoli coach Conte argued last week that Northern giants Inter, Milan and Juventus have better infrastructures than the Partenopei, and Spalletti agreed with his colleague.

“Conte is right. From a technical point of view, I have nothing to envy about his team,” said the Juventus boss.

“From a structural point of view, he’s right again. When I arrived at Juve, I found the wall of free kicks moving, whereas at Napoli it was static, so we are also ahead from a structural standpoint.”