Spalletti: Milan play with relentless intensity, forcing you to run a multi-cylinder engine

At 02:45 Beijing time on September 7, Juventus will host Milan in the third round of Serie A. Before the match, Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti attended a press conference. This article covers the first part of the press conference.

Good afternoon, coach. Tomorrow, Milan will come to Allianz Stadium to challenge us. Like us, they have won both of their opening two league matches. I would like you to analyze and preview tomorrow's match. What are your expectations for this opponent, and what kind of response do you hope to see from your players tomorrow?

First of all, tomorrow's opponent has a head coach with very clear tactical ideas, and he has successfully built an extremely strong team. Although they have only played two league matches so far, their tactical principles and style are already very mature and highly recognizable. This coach is highly respected within the industry. We have known him since his time coaching Sporting CP, when he showed everyone the very high quality and substance of his team, and he did the same previously at Braga. They are a team that seeks fast and efficient progression, what you usually describe as a very vertical and aggressive team.

This is a team that plays in a relentless manner. They are always open, direct and fast in transitions and counterattacks. This forces you to operate a 'multi-cylinder engine' with the same capacity as theirs on the pitch; otherwise, in tomorrow's duels and battles over where the ball falls, you are very likely to arrive late because you cannot match their rhythm. They are a team that presses you aggressively one-on-one and constantly creates small-area and individual battles across the pitch.

However, if you can read the match early and make proper movements without the ball in advance, this intense physicality can actually become a weapon that we use against them. This is why the opponent's aggression can be exploited tactically; it should not become a problem for us or make us afraid. This will certainly be a great and exciting match because it is Juventus against Milan. Without doubt, we will do everything possible to control the rhythm of the game and show our strong desire and determination to win this major battle.

Hello, coach. Apart from injuries and the list of unavailable players—which I believe you will explain specifically later—I want to ask this: under normal circumstances, when a team brings in many new players, it usually takes quite a long time for them to integrate and build understanding, right? However, due to this sudden injury crisis, you have effectively been forced to accelerate the integration process for these newcomers. Based on the current situation, there could be as many as six new signings in tomorrow's starting eleven. What specific difficulties will you face in terms of tactical integration and developing chemistry when so many new faces enter the starting lineup at once?

Okay. Vicario, Lucumi, Celik, Douglas Luiz, Nico Gonzalez and Kolo Muani are indeed all new faces compared with last season. I originally thought I would be the one choosing the starting lineup tomorrow, but given the current injury situation, I almost feel as if I have been pushed along passively. The lineup has more or less been 'determined' by the injury situation.

Okay, let's take a step back. The squad has indeed welcomed many new faces. So what is the main difficulty here? Or, considering that so many injuries have reduced the options and adjustment space on the bench, is the lack of squad depth a more serious problem than integrating the new players?

Indeed, we are facing difficulties because they objectively exist. We have as many as seven injured players, but these injuries are all very accidental because the problems and injury types of these seven players are all different. Even so, the lineup we send out tomorrow will still allow us to compete freely and fight for victory. What happens in the long term will need to be observed throughout the season, but as far as tomorrow is concerned, we have every confidence that we can produce a high-quality performance worthy of Juventus.

Based on what we have already shown, I would say that we have taken a very correct and very good first step as a team and collective. Why do I say that? Because I have seen the entire squad trying hard to turn what we usually talk about and instill in training into actual actions on the pitch. This is crucial and even fundamental for continuously improving team cohesion and making the whole group increasingly resemble a fighting unit, because no success can be achieved without collective strength.

Going forward in the match, it is obvious that we must be good at creating passing spaces and escaping marking through movements without the ball, because the opponent's pressing tomorrow will be extremely fierce, and they have already clearly shown this tactical approach. We must fight for every meter of space that seems to 'not exist' under defensive pressure, because the opponent will stay close to you like a shadow. In attack, every meter we advance vertically has far greater tactical value than aimless horizontal circulation in our own half.

Therefore, our focus tomorrow will be to find and reverse every possible difficult situation that may arise, and with fearless courage, firmly turn the opportunities in our hands into an advantage. In short, the detailed decisions we make during the match will directly determine the direction and final result of tomorrow's game.

Good afternoon, coach. I do not know whether you have heard or seen some of the comments and views previously expressed by Chivu about tomorrow's match. I want to ask: in your opinion, is the Juventus-Milan clash purely a direct confrontation between title contenders or teams competing for the top four? Do you hope to make this match a true direct battle through tomorrow's performance? Also, how do you view his comments? Do you see them as pre-match provocation, banter, or something else?

No, no. I just want to say that I think Chivu was simply expressing his true thoughts with great sincerity. He was very straightforward, and I personally like and appreciate people who are honest and sincere. Therefore, I do not think his words should become any additional problem for us; instead, they should be transformed into positive motivation. It is an excellent extra source of energy that will inspire us to put in more effort and 100% focus than usual, especially since the attraction of this major match is already strong enough.

Since the outside world has given this match such a definition, it has become even more important. It also pushes us to give everything we have and try to close the gap between ourselves and the stronger top teams currently in the league. In short, I do not have anything special to emphasize or verbally respond to regarding comments from anyone outside.