Luciano Spalletti confirms Randal Kolo Muani and Guglielmo Vicario will start for Juventus against Frosinone. ‘There are seven or eight teams who can challenge for the top four.’
It kicks off at the Stadio Stirpe on Sunday at 17.30 UK time (18.30 CEST).
The Bianconeri had a bit of a mixed bag in pre-season, after missing out on Champions League qualification, but are still revamping the squad this late into the transfer session.
Spalletti warning for Juventus players
“I want to congratulate Frosinone on returning to Serie A and my friend Massimiliano Alvini for the work he did to achieve promotion,” said Spalletti at the start of his press conference.
“The bell has rung, the season has started, and whoever isn’t ready will feel themselves getting pushed towards the exit. Teams are always evolving, so players must be prepared to go with that flow. I also went to watch a few Serie B coaches at work, to keep myself up to date.”
There have been many new signings, including Kerim Alajbegovic, Jhon Lucumi, Jeff Ekhator and Zeki Celik, joining stalwart Kenan Yildiz.
“The squad right now is cohesive, united, but in future I’d like us to also be solid, robust, determined. In general we’ve had a good transfer market, some areas need a few cosmetic changes, others entire restoration projects,” explained Spalletti.
“We brought in a player like Alajbegovic who provides that sudden shock of energy, he sees the next move and can see it through. We’ve certainly made it more competitive all over the team.”
Juventus had been challenging for a Champions League spot until a late collapse and finished in sixth, so will participate in the Europa League.
“There are seven or eight teams who can challenge for the top four, and last season we missed out. We’ve got to prove ourselves and become a balanced team. We have improved, but only the results will show us how much we’ve improved.
“Right now you all seem to think we’ll be second or third, but it’s the usual game when you try to guess the line-up, they can’t all be in the starting XI.
“We had a good transfer strategy and are in a position to do more, while Milan made good investments, Inter and Napoli were already strong, Roma signed important players. They are all up there and have the same ambition, we all want to win many games.”
Spalletti did at least give the reporters present some guarantees for tomorrow against Frosinone.
“Vicario and Kolo Muani will start, then after that we’ll try to create a team that has balance, which gives individual players more freedom to express themselves within that framework.
“It is not system against system, but movement against movement, understanding where to create that space.”
Michele Di Gregorio is heading to Bournemouth on loan with option to buy for €14m, while Mattia Perin is ready to join Palermo in Serie B.
“We got Vicario because we consider him strong and experienced, good with his feet, and has just started training over the last week with the team. He will play, Perin will remain as long as he can be useful, while Di Gregorio is almost official now, so he’s not even in the squad.”
