Di Francesco says Lecce are fully motivated for Juventus clash despite Roma fans' messages
Quick summary
Lecce coach Eusebio Di Francesco said Roma fans have messaged him before his side's match against Juventus, but insisted Lecce already see the game as vital in their own survival fight. He also highlighted Juventus' strength under Luciano Spalletti and the need for Lecce to disrupt their control.
Full article
Attributed to Football ItaliaEusebio Di Francesco confirms Roma fans have sent him messages hoping to see his Lecce side beat Juventus: ‘They don’t even need to ask me…’
Lecce are preparing to host Juventus at the Stadio Via Del Mare on Saturday.
It’s a crucial fixture for both sides as the Giallorossi have a four-point lead over 18th-placed Cremonese, while Juventus have an advantage of just one point over fifth-placed Roma.
Di Francesco, a former Roma coach, has admitted that some of his friends and Roma fans in the capital have been texting him in recent days, hoping to boost Lecce’s motivation against the Old Lady.
Di Francesco: ‘Fundamental’ for Lecce to beat Juventus “[They’ve texted] As always, but they first have to look to themselves,” Di Francesco told Sky Sport , smiling.
“They don’t even need to ask me because, for us, it is fundamental to take the three points home.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Eusebio Di Francesco, Head Coach of US Lecce, gestures to his players during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Lecce at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Lecce are unbeaten in their last three league matches and grabbed a crucial win against already-relegated Pisa in the latest round.
“It’s been a positive week, as it often happens after a victory,” continued Di Francesco.
“Having scored from open play might have given us something extra, but Juventus are so strong. They drew against Verona because there are no games with a guaranteed outcome, but they have important numbers, especially under Spalletti.
“Juventus build up from the back. I know Spalletti well. I’ve been following him, and I know what he does. They’ll try to dominate proceedings, and we’ll have to be good at taking control instead.”
Juventus are fighting for a Champions League place and are unbeaten in their last 10 games across all competitions.
However, they get to the Lecce match after consecutive draws against Milan and Hellas Verona, which have reduced their advantage over Roma to just one point.
Read more – Spalletti makes Vlahovic admission, warns Juventus about ‘mistake’ to avoid
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What happened
Eusebio Di Francesco confirmed he has received messages from Roma supporters hoping Lecce can take points off Juventus in Saturday's Serie A meeting. The coach stressed that Lecce do not need extra motivation because the match is crucial in their own battle to stay clear of the relegation zone. He described Juventus as a strong side with clear build-up patterns under Luciano Spalletti, while noting Lecce come into the game on a positive run. The result also matters at the top end, with Juventus only one point ahead of Roma in the race for Champions League qualification.
Chance analysis
This is mainly a motivation and tactical-context story rather than a hard team-news update. Di Francesco's comments reinforce that Lecce should approach the match with full intensity, but they do not materially change squad strength or availability assumptions. For football analysis, the more relevant takeaway is his expectation that Juventus will try to dominate possession and build from the back.
Likely minor increase in perceived Lecce competitiveness and match intensity, but no major change to baseline team strength.
Treat this as soft motivational and tactical context, not a high-impact personnel update.