Spalletti wants Juventus to be 'solid and unpredictable' against Celta Vigo
Quick summary
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti outlines his tactical approach ahead of facing Celta Vigo, emphasizing the need to be both defensively solid and unpredictably creative.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceLuciano Spalletti warns Juventus must ‘find solidity’ in the Europa League against Celta Vigo and show ambition in Europe. ‘We need to be a little more unpredictable.’
It kicks off at the Estadio Balaidos in Vigo on Thursday at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
The Bianconeri opened their Europa League campaign with a 5-0 demolition of NEC , but convincing performances have otherwise been hard to come by so far this season.
In his pre-match press conference, the coach hinted that there will be significant squad rotation for this trip to Spain.
Spalletti wants a solid Juventus FROSINONE, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Luciano Spalletti head coach of FC Juventus gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on August 23, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images) “This competition gives us the possibility of expanding our knowledge of the group, because we need to play some new faces and allow others to recuperate for the next match,” said Spalletti.
“We go into this competition the same way we do any tournament, as we must always battle to get as far as possible. There are teams in this competition that could easily have been in the Champions League and narrowly missed out, but are built for that level.”
TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 17: Nick Woltemade of Juventus scores his team’s third goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Juventus and N.E.C. Nijmegen at Juventus Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Celta Vigo started their Europa League experience with a surprising 1-0 defeat away to Omonia Nicosia, where they conceded the only goal in the 88 th minute.
“Claudio Giraldez is a very good coach and he sets his team out in an interesting way, so we need to be at the right level that is fitting for our club,” continued Spalletti.
“There is no fear, nor pressure upon us. Giraldez has shown he can field a team with quality and experience, so we cannot afford moments where we seem weak.”
HONG KONG, CHINA – AUGUST 5: Head coach Luciano Spalletti of Juventus FC talks to media during post match press conference after the preseason friendly between Chelsea and Juventus at the Kai Tak Stadium on August 5, 2026 in Hong Kong, China. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images) There are bound to be numerous changes to the starting XI, with Federico Gatti and Nick Woltemade among those expected to step in.
“It is fundamental that we change because we have a strong squad, we do not have 11 starters and 11 reserves. Gatti deserves a chance to play and a player like Nick can be very useful tomorrow.”
TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 17: Kamil Grabara and Nick Woltemade of Juventus acknowledge the fans after the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Juventus and N.E.C. Nijmegen at Juventus Stadium on September 17, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) Spalletti has won the Scudetto with Napoli in his coaching career, but is not known for much success in cup competitions.
“I miss that, but there are many different things I am interested in doing. We all must play to win every game and go all the way, but naturally that doesn’t mean creating chaos. We’ve got to deal with the different strain of various tournaments.
“We must be able to overcome the moments of the match, and if you don’t have balance, that becomes extra difficult. We need to become a solid team,” added Spalletti.
“That also comes from a strong mentality, so we are working towards solidity.”
TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 20: Luciano Spalletti, Manager of Juventus, looks on before the Serie A match between Juventus and Atalanta BC at Allianz Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) The Juventus coach was pushed on whether he will start with three or four in defence for tomorrow’s match with Celta Vigo.
“They allow you to get a grip on your reference point if you want to go and press them, but when they have the ball, we will be forced to act in a certain way.
“When we have the ball, we’ll try not to give them such clear reference points, so we’re a little more unpredictable.”
Italian football is continuing to struggle, with two heavy defeats in the Champions League last night for Inter and Napoli.
“These things can happen, I feel it is a bit exaggerated what has been written after the result of a single match. I am convinced that teams like Inter and Napoli will find the counter-measures to secure qualification.”
REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Luciano Spalletti Head Coach of Juventus reacts during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo and Juventus at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on September 13, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) Spalletti has been handed a one-match touchline ban in Serie A for his altercation with Cagliari coach Fabio Pisacane, but denies reports he made physical threats.
“I accept it, because that’s what they decided, but I did nothing at all. Nothing, nothing, nothing. Anyone who talked about me saying I’d slap someone was lying.”
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What happened
Luciano Spalletti has set out his tactical priorities for Juventus's upcoming match against Celta Vigo, calling for a balance between defensive solidity and unpredictability in attack. The comments, delivered in a pre-match press conference, suggest Spalletti is preparing a flexible game plan to handle a potentially tricky European opponent. He likely discussed squad availability and rotation options as Juventus navigate a demanding fixture schedule.
Chance analysis
Spalletti's framing of 'solid and unpredictable' points to a coach trying to impose structure without sacrificing creativity — a hallmark of his managerial identity. With Juventus facing Celta Vigo in a European fixture, the tactical brief signals that Juventus will not simply sit back, but will also look to vary their patterns to keep the Spanish side guessing. The press conference likely offers clues about team selection and approach that will be closely followed by fans tracking Juventus's European campaign.
Spalletti's pre-match comments suggest Juventus will aim for a balanced, flexible approach against Celta Vigo, with potential clues about lineup and tactical shape.