“Capello praises Juventus’ decision on Spalletti, but warns: ‘it won’t be easy'”

Fabio Capello, a legend of Italian football, has no doubts: Juventus’ decision to extend Luciano Spalletti’s contract is the right one, even if qualification for the Champions League is at stake. However, he also warns that “it will not be easy” to reach Como’s position and finish in the top four of the table. The former coach’s analysis comes at a critical moment for the Bianconeri, who, after a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo, find themselves three points behind the fourth place that Como comfortably occupies, following an impressive 5-0 victory over Pisa.

In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Capello provided a thorough assessment of Juventus’ performance, highlighting crucial shortcomings that need to be addressed. “First of all, Yildiz. He scored, that’s fine, but he lacked consistency, especially in the second half of the game,” he began, emphasizing that the young player did not take on the necessary responsibility to help the team in difficult moments. Despite a solid performance from Conceição, Juventus’ attack, which focused more on the right side, failed to convert opportunities into victory.

The situation regarding Juventus’ attack is even more concerning, with Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik only being introduced in the final minutes, while Lois Openda and Jonathan David remained on the bench for the entire match. “The false nine is a current trend. However, the first two are returning from long injuries, and the other two are not being considered by the coach at this moment,” analyzed Capello.

Juventus is set to offer a contract extension to Spalletti before the end of the season, regardless of qualification for the Champions League. Capello commented: “It is undoubtedly more complicated. One cannot deny that Luciano has brought something to Juventus, despite some unfortunate results, and that is why the club has decided to continue with him without waiting for the end of the season.” He also emphasized that not finishing in the top four could limit market options and impact the overall atmosphere of the club.

Currently, Juventus is tied with Roma on 54 points, but is three points behind Como. Meanwhile, Atalanta is also in the race for the top four, despite occupying seventh place with 50 points. Capello provided an analysis of Como, stating that “they are riding a wave of enthusiasm. They win, play well, and score easily. Fabregas is very good, but sometimes he complicates things a bit with overly elaborate ideas.”

He concluded with a remark about the difficulties Juventus is facing: “It won’t be easy to catch them, especially since they have the advantage in direct encounters, and that +3 is practically a +4. Roma is not in great form, and against Lecce, it became evident that they are still feeling the effects of their elimination from the Europa League. They are also struggling with absences, particularly of quality players like Soulé and Dybala. However, they still managed to take all three points and remain in the fight for a Champions League spot. Atalanta also won and is chasing from a little further back. There are many games ahead; it’s early to make predictions, but everyone has the obligation to believe.”