Spalletti previews Juventus vs. Udinese: ‘Would have preferred to have Vlahovic available’

Luciano Spalletti admits that he would have ‘preferred to have Dusan Vlahovic available’ for Tuesday evening’s Coppa Italia clash with Udinese, but is adamant that his team have to find a way to win in the cup, and that they need to do so by playing ‘beautiful’ football. 

Juventus get their Coppa Italia campaign underway on Tuesday evening with a visit from Udinese in the Round of 16. The winner of this tie will go on to face either Atalanta or Genoa in the quarter-final in February. 

Before getting his pre-match press conference underway on Monday afternoon, Spalletti began with a few words of tribute to the late tennis great Nicola Pietrangeli, who has died at the age of 92. 

“I’d like to start by saying a farewell to Nicola Pietrangeli, who was a great champion. He taught us all how to win and that’s it’s because of him that our level of tennis is at the top today. I grew up watching tennis and I wanted to remember him.” 

Then, turning his focus back to the Coppa Italia, Spalletti admitted that he will have to make some changes following the injury to Dusan Vlahovic. The Serbian is expected to be unavailable for several months as a result of the adductor injury he suffered against Cagliari on Saturday. 

“We have to expect a few changes because we’ve struggled physically and mentally over the last few days. The whole group is working as best as possible and everyone deserves a spot.” 

And on Vlahovic specifically, Spalletti said: “As far as precise timings are concerned, you have to talk to the doctors, they’re the ones who know these things. As far as I’m concerned, he will be out of action for two to three months. 

“The football is a ball that bounces and spins, chances come and go. Now it’s a matter of grasping them and showing how to use them. Everything is possible, but I would have preferred to have (Vlahovic) available because he’s a big part of this team.” 

Spalletti claimed that Juventus supporters have a ‘fine palate’ and believes that the expectation in Turin is not only to win, but to win by playing ‘beautiful’ football. 

“Obviously we have to win important games, but you have to be successful and play well, maybe even beautifully. Supporters have a fine palate here. Winning is not enough, you also have to play well. We will try to do both, but in the meantime, we’re starting to win games. 

“For us, at the moment, they’re all big tests. We want to give the supporters a better spectacle and bring good results. I don’t know who we’d face in the next round, I’m only thinking about this one.” 

Spalletti was full of praise for academy graduate Fabio Miretti, who earned his first start of the season against Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League last Tuesday and has also appeared in Juve’s last two Serie A matches. 

“He’s a footballer who can do a lot of things. He’s an exceptional professional, a serious guy,” Spalletti said. 

“He’s a man, not a boy. He has great timing, knowing when to take an extra touch, when to get it out of your feet and has the personality to go and create the unexpected. Good players know how to do the unexpected, and he knows how to do it. 

“It was good to try him in a different role to the one he played out on loan. He saw the ball from different perspectives and it served him well. I think his role is as a midfielder, but the fact that he knows how to adapt certainly helps the team.” 

And on Edon Zhegrova, who has struggled for chances at Juventus, but could be in line for an opportunity in the cup, Spalletti said: “Zhegrova is coming off a long injury, but he’s a footballer, a lit fuse. When he starts, he could explode at any moment. He has that flair, you don’t know what he could do at any given moment. 

“Joao Mario is technical, he knows how to play, he’s good with the ball and at finding his teammates. I want to get to know him more in-depth, but sooner or later I will give him a place.”