Juventus under pressure ahead of NEC match, Spalletti under fire

Juventus is under enormous pressure after only four matches played for the upcoming Europa League match against NEC on Thursday evening, while the Italian press already emphasizes the opponent's threatening attack. Coach Luciano Spalletti must keep both the media's expectations and NEC's dangerous playing style under control.

Sander Janssen, journalist for VI, wrote that Juventus' season is only four matches old, but the pressure is already full for the Europa League match against NEC on Thursday evening. His report emphasizes that the press early raised questions about the pressure, a possible successor and a hint of the lineup against NEC.

After four rounds, Juventus has collected seven points, but the club lost last Sunday 3-2 to Sassuolo after a chaotic defence in extra time. The defeat underscores the urgency to win every week, as the club itself emphasizes.

Media turn the knives on Juventus

The Italian press has increased the pressure on coach Luciano Spalletti early this week. Il Corriere dello Sport front‑paged Wednesday morning with a headline that highlighted the tension for Spalletti, and journalists are already asking about a possible successor.

A part of the fan base mentions Antonio Conte as a dream successor. Conte, who has been without a club since his departure from Napoli, was at Juventus from 2011 to 2014 and won three league titles.

It was not until Wednesday afternoon that Spalletti and defender Pierre Kalulu showed up for the press conference ahead of Juventus‑NEC. The room, intended for dozens of journalists, was only modestly filled.

Kalulu answered the first questions, which barely concerned the opponent. He stated: ‘This team plays very attacking and we must be aware of their danger, that’s what we have trained for.’

The contrast between the constant pressure from the media and the need to prepare for NEC’s attacking play shows that Juventus must balance both external expectations and tactical challenges before the match on Thursday evening begins.