Spalletti: ‘Boga’s new role surprising, Cambiaso versatility helps Juventus’
Luciano Spalletti was ‘surprised’ by Jeremie Boga’s new role for Juventus against Udinese and insists Andrea Cambiaso needs to ‘wander all over the pitch’ to be effective.
The Bianconeri were coming off a 4-0 win over Pisa and knew that they could take advantage of the fixture list to close the gap on fourth place.
It was a tough slog at the Bluenergy Stadium, but Boga proved decisive with his third goal in as many Serie A games, this time turning in the Kenan Yildiz assist.
Francisco Conceicao had also put the ball in the net, though it was disallowed because Teun Koopmeiners was offside and interfering with play.
Spalletti impressed with Juventus approach
“The team did really well, maintaining that level of determination to close the game as soon as possible. We had also scored a second, but that’s fine, because we were up against a very strong opponent,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
Kenan Yildiz initially started as a False 9, but as usual he seemed to enjoy himself far more when moved over to the left flank and Boga was more central.
“I had never put Boga there, I always played him on the left, but he surprised me with the way he moved as a striker today,” confessed the coach.
“Yildiz I’ve said before doesn’t entirely enjoy being a centre-forward because he doesn’t yet have the art of dealing with a defender who is constantly on his tail. Starting from there I think creates problems for him.”
Kosta Runjaic confessed that Udinese struggled with the long balls from Manuel Locatelli over the top, which is where the goal came from.
“The lads did well to put those balls over the top, because if you let Udinese defend inside their own half, you’re not getting through that blockade,” noted Spalletti.
“So rather than allow them to be comfortable in those physical situations, we preferred to put them on the back foot by forcing them to run back.”
Andrea Cambiaso is another player whose versatility can be both a benefit and a problem for Juventus, as he often struggles to find the right position, but the coach insists this only has positives.
“If he doesn’t wander around all over the pitch, then I won’t pick him,” replied Spalletti to criticism from the Sky Sport Italia studio.
“These aren’t spaces, they are half-spaces, and you need players who can find them and drag others out of position. Being able to find those spaces where they open up is a quality that benefits the team.”
This was also the second consecutive clean sheet for the Bianconeri, so what improved in their defending?
“When we see more of the ball, then we defend better. Possession isn’t just a superficial exercise, it is used to create chances, and that doesn’t mean taking unnecessary risks. You consolidate the dominance of the game, and then choose the moments when should take those risks. We were perfect in that today, not allowing Udinese many counter-attacks that we had to chase back,” replied Spalletti.
“This reflects the mentality, as tonight we played with the mentality of a strong team.”
This result means Juventus leapfrog Roma and Como into fourth place for one night, and could well stay there, depending on the result of tomorrow’s showdown between those two teams.