Spalletti admits Juventus players must ask themselves hard questions after Lazio humiliation

Spalletti: the players' conscience has already jeered them

Luciano Spalletti has admitted that Juventus players are being forced to confront difficult questions about themselves after the humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Lazio, saying the squad's own conscience had jeered them in the silence of the dressing room.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, the Juventus coach described how the club's daily routine of meetings, discussions and sometimes clashes is reset after each game.

"Every day produces something new, every day has meetings, discussions, even clashes at times, but that evening you wipe the slate clean, because if you don't do that, the next day things pile up in your mind and it becomes difficult to deal with," Spalletti said.

Reports from the club had suggested a crisis meeting took place after the Lazio loss. Spalletti said he had listened to the players' input and that he had liked many of the things they said.

"We hope that we wiped the slate clean, we can focus on the next game, try to give the best indications, and hope for the optimal response also based on the things that they said. The players said some things, and I liked many of them, so we want to put this into practice."

Woltemade and Kolo Muani get their chance together

For the first time, Woltemade and Randal Kolo Muani are set to start together up front, a pairing both strikers had publicly called for in recent weeks. Spalletti has decided to launch them in a new 3-5-2 formation, which could also be seen as a 3-4-1-2 with Weston McKennie given a free role.

Spalletti stressed that tactics must be built around the squad's strengths.

"The pitch always tells the truth. We've got to pay attention to the characteristics of the players and try to make the most of them. Nobody would be crazy enough to use Edon Zhegrova as a right-back, so we have to set out a system that will get the best out of their strengths."

Asked about building a team where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, he pointed to the balance required when pressing high.

"These are all matters we discuss in training and work on, because it's not a lack of courage, it's about considering the risk and benefit of certain movement that leaves space for your opponents. There are players who are more suited to helping the team and providing coverage, but give you less unpredictability."

Pressure builds on the bench

Spalletti also addressed the jeers from the home crowd after the Lazio defeat and the comments from Bremer about teammates who 'hide' in high-pressure situations. He said the squad had carried those jeers into the dressing room.

"What person do you become under pressure? Are you the one who pushes forward, goes to get the next ball and wants to dig your way out of trouble, or are you afraid and therefore cannot stay within a club like this? This is the question that you have to ask yourself."

On his own position, Spalletti was defiant when asked about the pressure on coaches.

"Beware, because I always prefer to start again rather than give up, so be careful or you'll find something to chew on. Munch, munch, munch."

Juventus face Rennes at the Allianz Stadium in Turin in the Europa League, where they are coming off a 5-0 win over NEC and a 2-1 comeback win away at Celta Vigo. The Lazio defeat in Serie A stands in sharp contrast to their European form.