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Spalletti took over at Juventus in October 2025, replacing Igor Tudor, with the Bianconeri struggling for consistency in the past few seasons.

Juventus finished the 2025-2026 campaign down in sixth, missing out on the UEFA Champions League places by two points after winning just one of its past five matches, with three draws and one defeat.

This will be the first season since 2023-2024 that Juventus has not appeared in UEFA's premier club competition, although ist past two participations saw it exit in the knockout-stage play-off.

Spalletti is confident Juventus can secure a UEFA Champions League spot again in the upcoming season, but he does not expect his side to challenge for its first league title since 2019-2020.

"I found the team aware of what we were unable to achieve last season, but equally aware of our capabilities and what we can do this term," Spalletti said.

"There have been quality performances to give us that belief, but at the same time, also some performances below par. We've got to work on those defects.

"I too think about what I could've done better, and we all know that we need something different. It was a tough summer because our results affect everything, including our personal lives.

"We are on the right track, but we've got to pick up the pace, because Juventus cannot be left behind.

"We didn't achieve our result last season, but it wasn't a campaign to throw away, as we also did a lot well. We've got to keep the same level of mentality, performance and quality all the way through.

"I am convinced that if we work the right way, we can compete to qualify for the [UEFA] Champions League. We want to challenge for the top of the table, to qualify for the [UEFA] Champions League, but when it comes to talking about the Scudetto, we're quite distant from that target."

Juventus has already brought in Zeki Celik from Roma as a free agent and Jeff Ekhator from Genoa as it looks to add reinforcements to the squad.

It lost Dusan Vlahovic at the end of last season, as he came to the end of his contract, and reports suggest it is also in the market for a goalkeeper, as Juventus looks to compete in Serie A again.

"There is work to be done, but I am confident it will be done," Spalletti added. "Our desire is to fill the gaps in this squad where players are missing, and we are all in sync on the direction to take.

"I did my job with Vlahovic, which was to evaluate his technical qualities, but the economic discussion is not my purview.

"I haven't spoken to him since the season ended, but he knows my thoughts. Our directors always have the door open."