Luciano Spalletti just came out and said Juventus is "quite distant" from being Scudetto contenders, a tough pill to swallow for Bianconeri fans. This isn't some offhand comment, either. The club has been reeling, missing out on Champions League qualification and slogging through a summer of long negotiations for players like Randal Kolo Muani and Emiliano Martinez. The frustration is real, and Spalletti isn't sugarcoating a thing as they gear up for their pre-season friendly against FC Basel on Saturday.
"Working on Those Defects" and a Glimmer of Hope
Spalletti found his team "aware of what we were unable to achieve last season," but he also sees their capabilities for this term. He's talking about "quality performances" that give them belief, mixed with "performances below par." That's the stuff they have to work on. He even admitted he's thinking about what he "could've done better," and how everyone knows "we need something different." It's been a brutal summer, and Spalletti points out that results mess with everything, "including our personal lives." But there's a spark: securing Zeki Celik as a free agent was a win, especially since he looked ready to re-sign with Roma. Spalletti said that move "showed the club is strong," and you know they needed that.The Leadership Void and a Difficult Path Forward
It's no secret that a lack of leadership and mental toughness has plagued Juve. Spalletti himself, and several coaches before him, have griped about it. He's trying to lead by example, saying he has "to do better than in the past," proving his words with actions. The squad clearly needs to be "reinforced and, in some cases, completed." Everyone knows it, but the World Cup could make timing difficult for bringing players in. Consistency has been a huge issue for the Old Lady, with Spalletti taking over mid-season after Igor Tudor, who replaced a fired Thiago Motta. Still, Spalletti sees a path to compete for Champions League qualification, a goal he's "convinced" they can achieve. But when it comes to the Scudetto, that's where he drops the hammer: "we're quite distant from that target." And poor Khephren Thuram's future is still tied to his knee, as he's "improving on the difficulties he had last season," but it's "a process." So, as Juventus kicks off their friendly against FC Basel, everyone's watching for signs of that "deep work" Spalletti talks about. It's not about the Scudetto right now, it's about building a team that can actually contend for Champions League spots. They gotta pick up the pace, because as Spalletti says, Juventus cannot be left behind.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.