Luciano Spalletti has shed light on why Kenan Yildiz is not starting for Juventus against Milan and how Jonathan David’s ‘relationship’ with his teammates has seen improvement.
The crucial match is set to commence at San Siro at 19:45 UK time (20:45 CEST).
This fixture represents a significant turning point for the season. A victory for the Bianconeri would see them level on points with Milan for third place, while a defeat could allow Como and Roma to close the gap in fourth.
Spalletti Addresses Juventus Selections
Reflecting on the vibrant atmosphere at a packed San Siro, Spalletti told DAZN Italia, “It’s a wonderful atmosphere, there are sentiments all over the place. It’s natural for the fans to push us on with their enthusiasm and we gladly take on that added responsibility. This evening we have to come here and prove ourselves, show what we are capable of.”
He anticipates a challenging encounter, noting Milan’s tactical approach: “This is going to be a difficult match because Milan have this approach where you seem to be in full control and comfort, but then suddenly they are breaking through from every angle. So we would need drones hovering above to see their positions in order to be ready for their style of football.”
Kenan Yildiz is again positioned on the bench, deemed not fully match-fit, while Dusan Vlahovic makes a return to the squad after recovering from a muscular issue. The season, however, is over for Juan Cabal and Arek Milik.
Spalletti elaborated on Yildiz’s situation: “Yildiz is fine, he needs a recovery process so is unable to train on the pitch, he has to train in a different way. He only returned to training with us for the final session, so out of respect for the team and also in agreement with Yildiz, it is better to start with those players who had a full week of preparation. However, he is ready to give his contribution off the bench when needed.”
Jonathan David, who recently ended his goal drought against Bologna, will lead the attack, supported by Jeremie Boga and Francisco Conceicao on the wings.
Spalletti commented on David’s development: “David is improving, especially in terms of relationships. Too often in football we talk about reading the spaces and movements, but not enough about how to fit into a group. The players all love him, he loves them, and when you have that connection between players, the ball moves faster and the game gets louder.”
There had been prior speculation regarding David’s initial rapport with his Juventus teammates, which had been humorously attributed to his preference for not putting cheese on seafood pasta.