Juventus secured a narrow 1-0 away victory over Lecce, but manager Luciano Spalletti was far from satisfied. In a rare outburst after the game, he criticized his team for failing to close out the match after an early goal, lamenting that it is impossible to replace the majority of the squad.
Dusan Vlahovic, returning from injury, scored just 12 seconds into the match—his first start since November 29. However, Juventus failed to add to their tally, with goals from Vlahovic and Pierre Kalulu both ruled out for offside.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Spalletti said: “We’ve said this many times before—scoring early but failing to see the game out is like repeating the same old mistakes. We had full control, then suddenly we relaxed, making passes that are unacceptable for a team at this level.”
The coach was visibly frustrated on the sidelines, often shouting at players for their movement and positioning. When asked if a major squad overhaul was needed, he responded: “The media seems to think we can replace 18 out of 25 players, but that’s not realistic. This is a serious project, and many players will have to stay. It’s difficult to make so many changes now. Also, Juventus has spent a lot in the last two seasons—you can’t keep reaching into your pocket.”
Spalletti also stressed that the team does not have another forward like Vlahovic, underlining the challenges in reshaping the squad.