Luciano Spalletti Reveals His Tactical Choices In Juventus' Win, Especially With Koopmeiners

Written By Onyeka Daniel

It ccouldn’t have started any better for Luciano Spalletti as he started his reign as Juventus coach with a win and despite having just one training session before the game, he implemented some peculiar tweaks to his tactics in their match against Cremonese.

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While Juventus’ pre-match graphic suggested the club would line up in a 4-3-3 but it wasn’t that straightforward. At first glance, Spalletti set up his side in a 3-5-2/3-4-3, with Teun Koopmeiners making a surprising start at centre-back, which was the most notably changes.

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In his AZ Alkmaar days, the Dutchman was no stranger to playing roles all over the pitch and it appears Spalletti is trying to reinvigorate the former Atalanta man with a new role and playing on the left-hand side of the back three, Koopmeiners pushes higher up on the attack.

On the other hand, he also quickly shifted back into central defence when defending and the manager also urged his wingbacks to push forward more, which was how they got their first goal as It took just 85 seconds to get the first goal of the Spalletti era.

Lois Openda’s back-heel flick was meant to be for Dusan Vlahovic, who was surrounded by defenders, but the lucky ricochet off Jari Vandeputte found Kostic undisturbed to sweep home at the back post for the opener and set the tone for a win for the away side.

It was also the perfect way to celebrate a 33rd birthday for the goalscorer, with his first Serie A goal since March 2023 against Inter and after the game, Spalletti revealed what he expected from the tactical tweak against Cremonese and warns ‘the pressure can weigh on some players.’

He kept the 3-5-2 formation overall, but with Koopmeiners in central defence as a very deep-lying playmaker and after Kostic opener, Andrea Cambiaso added the second after the break, and they held on after a late Jamie Vardy goal. “After two minutes, everyone could tell where he was playing,” Spalletti said of Koopmeiners.

“I expected him to be in a position where he could do more damage, because we rarely managed to move it from right to left, and vice versa. The intention was for Thuram to push forward a bit, for Koopmeiners to enter into that space, so we’d have an extra man in midfield.”

“That’s because Cremonese’s only real danger man is Vardy. I saw a good performance in terms of communication and focus, because Koopmeiners was more of a defender than anyone else when it came to ensuring organisation and calling the line on the counter-attack.”

“It was necessary, because Cremonese are so dangerous with that ball over the top for the champion that is Vardy, which we saw with the goal he scored.” He further added and as for Vlahovic, he said in his post-match comments that Juventus need to get rid of some “bad habits” by sitting too deep when taking the lead.

“We already started to let them in towards half-time, then after the break, so there are obviously areas where we need to improve,” agreed Spalletti. “There are many areas that require improvement, and quickly. There is potential visible in some of these players, I trust them, but the Juventus level puts pressure on them too.”

“Talking to the club owners yesterday, they asked if I needed anything. It seems from the outside that it’s a great thing with Juventus having everything available, and it’s even more remarkable from the inside, you’ve seen nothing. That puts pressure on, it makes you realise the level, and it can weigh on some players, so they need time.”

There was still some classic Spalletti antics on the touchline when Vlahovic and Openda failed to make the most of a promising attack, prompting a furious wide-eyed reaction from the coach. He was also booked in stoppages for dissent and wandering out of his technical area.

How did it feel being back on the bench, especially at club level after his ill-fated experience as CT of the Italy side? “It is what I have always done. We need this contact with the squad, we want to give joy to those who love the team and this sport.” He continued in his interview with Sky Italia.

“You need to create a rapport with the players, that is how I have always worked, and I hope it does this time, seeing as it didn’t really work with the Nazionale,” he concluded. It is through that friendship, understanding, and those bonds that the whole team can grow together.” He concluded.

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The Bianconeri will now be hoping to have Kenan Yildiz and Lloyd Kelly back in the squad for their next games, starting with a UEFA Champions League clash against Sporting CP on Tuesday, then next weekend there is the Derby della Mole with Torino, both of them at the Allianz Stadium.

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