Luciano Spalletti walked into a boiling stadium with one training session behind him and left it having delivered almost every reassuring sign Juve fans craved — calm leadership, tactical clarity, and a side that hunted in waves.
A 2–1 win at stubborn Cremonese isn’t just three points; it was a debut with the kind of detail that suggests this appointment might actually mean something.
What he got right
Bold front two: Dusan Vlahovic and Loïs Openda started together and gave Juve a constant focal point in the box, combining presence with menace.
Midfield restored: Manuel Locatelli was handed the keys and looked like the player who can drive games rather than merely tidy them up.
Creative repositioning: Teun Koopmeiners was given a role that actually lets him contribute — a left-sided center back slot that was unorthodox but effective, a classic Spalletti gamble that paid off.
Spalletti didn’t tinker for tinkering’s sake. He set a clear identity: press when possible, probe persistently, and refuse to sit on a lead. Juve scored early, kept pushing for the second goal, and refused to let the match stagnate — exactly the temperament you expect from a club with this history.
The little doubts that remain
Squad puzzle pieces: Kenan Yildiz was absent. Where does he fit back into a team now settling into a new shape?
Personality flashpoints: Can Locatelli and Spalletti coexist without friction when pressure rises again?
Temperament risks: Spalletti’s past included visible outbursts — will he keep his cool long-term?
Defensive wake-up calls: Federico Gatti’s tussle with Jamie Vardy left questions about concentration and recovery under speed.
None of these are fatal, but they’re reminders that a single debut can only answer so much.
Early Verdict
This was more than a lucky start. It was a manager imposing a voice and a plan in 90 minutes, coaxing better versions of familiar players and trusting unconventional solutions.
Let Spalletti coach; he’s handed Juve a framework and a mood they haven’t enjoyed in a long time. If the positives hold, this debut will feel like the first page of a properly ambitious season.
