Spalletti’s Grace Period at Juventus Is Over as Fans Dream of Conte’s Return

An inexplicable defeat to Sassuolo. Carnevali: I’m not one of those who change coaches, but… The club demands an immediate turnaround.

The latest league defeat has left a very bitter taste in the black-and-white camp. Against Sassuolo, the ugliest version of Juventus was on display, and at Continassa the anger is enormous after that lifeless match.

The absences in midfield certainly matter, but those who disgraced the team against Sassuolo are coach Spalletti’s loyalists — the ones who should have made fewer individual mistakes, precisely because they are more experienced than the others. The Tuscan coach has taken responsibility while not hiding his dissatisfaction with some unexpected errors.

We are talking about players like Bremer, who struggled in his first match as captain, Kalulu two gears down, or even Lucumi. Kolo Muani gives no signals; Woltemade gives them, but not in the required direction.

The club expects something else from the coach who in April renewed his contract until 2028. Spalletti’s accounts are in the red: his points average since last November is low — lower than colleagues Chivu, Fabregas and Gasperini. “I’m not one of those who change coaches, but the Reggio Emilia defeat must be a lesson,” said the black-and-white general director, Giovanni Carnevali.

That statement means he is not at risk for now, but he would be very much at risk if he does not quickly erase the confusion and the way of thinking of his players. In the black-and-white camp, meanwhile, the “party” of those dreaming of Antonio Conte’s return is growing — Conte is currently a free agent. Spalletti is on trial: the bonuses for him ended with the defeat in Reggio Emilia.