REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 13: Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti looks on before the Serie A match between Sassuolo USA and Juventus at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on September 13, 2026 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
Luciano Spalletti defends his Juventus options after the 1-1 draw with Cagliari, criticizes Yerry Mina and reveals what happened to Fabio Pisacane’s red card. ‘They are good at wasting time.’
The Bianconeri dominated possession in Sardinia but had little to show for it as they trailed 1-0 at the break with just one shot on target.
Daniel Maldini found the back of the net for his fourth successive Serie A match, but as the second half wore on, Juve finally began to test Elia Caprile, especially with substitute Edon Jegrova.
In 81St Kerim Alajbegovic equalized the score with Randal Kolo Muani’s header from the left cross at the back post and became the first goal of the season.
Indeed, there was to be another soon after, but this time the former Tottenham Hotspur forward hit his volley just off the underside of the bar.
Spalletti defends Juventus options
There was tension at the final whistle as the two coaches went to shake hands as Spalletti and Fabio Pisacane’s red card turned into an unusual brawl.
“Nothing happened. I told him that they play good football and are good at wasting time, he said what do you mean, you want to waste time and they sent us both off. It was not a big thing, everything was quite normal,” Spalletti insisted on DAZN Italia.
Kolo Muani admitted he felt “better” when Nick Woltemade came on as he dropped bodies into the box and gave him more freedom to evade defenders.
“In the first half I moved McKennie to the left and we put Nico Gonzalez in the center so that Woltemade would be there later,” Spalletti said when asked if he would use two strikers.
“Don’t forget Nico Gonzalez is a support striker, he’s the best header of the ball we’ve got in the team, so the system has been the same since I moved McKennie. Kolo Muani was a centre-forward with Nico Gonzalez in support, but they were free to switch positions.
“If Colon is allowed to move like he did today, which I really liked, it will be difficult to score. We also had a chance to score, but it hit Nico Gonzalez’s knee and went over the bar.
“The main thing is to have the right determination and mental strength. I’m not looking at the result tonight, I’m looking at the fact that I’m almost 70 years old and I want to finish my career on a strong note. I want to perform well, I’m not thinking about the result because it was a good performance and you have to tell the lads that.
“If they keep playing like this, I’m sure we’ll win more games.”
For all the possession, there was just one shot on target in the first half and Juve have struggled to score in Serie A this season.
“Kolo Muani did well to score in that jam, it’s difficult moments for us to bring home, but he did well to create that space, he’s physically strong and knows how to be decisive,” Spalletti said.
“We just have to improve our finishing because I want to congratulate my players for their performance, but I also want to be a little bit nervous because we have to win these games.”
Does Spalletti feel his players lack the character and fire he has?
“This team has potential, we are trying to analyze and give a little extra for what is missing, but that is normal.”
Cagliari defender Yerry Mina continued his campaign of tormenting his opponents and there was reportedly more tension in the tunnel at half-time between Spalletti and the Colombia international.
“That’s exactly what happened last season, he leads us with a strong player attitude…” Spalletti smiled more than sarcastically.
“Certain attitudes have to be guarded against, but then you play and the one who brings home the points and events has more power. You have to be obsessed with winning, if it wanders in the past, you don’t have to accept the victory, we have to look for it and make it happen.”
The result means that Juventus have won just one of their last four league games and are behind Cagliari in Serie A.