Spalletti questions Juventus mindset
Luciano Spalletti believes Juventus's inability to match Cagliari's determination cost it three points in its Serie A clash on Sunday.
Despite firing off 21 shots to Cagliari's three and retaining 78.1 percent of possession, the Bianconeri lost 1-0 to Luca Mazzitelli's 65th-minute volley.
It was Juve's second league defeat under Spalletti since his appointment in November.
Juve has lost five of its 14 away games this season in all competitions, one more than it lost in the entirety of last season (four in 24 away games in 2024-2025).
Kenan Yildiz went close to equalising when his deflected shot struck the woodwork for the visitor, which forced Elia Caprile into five saves in the defeat.
Spalletti has urged his side to be more clinical and determined going forward, but he also felt his players must do better to execute their roles.
"Cagliari deserved it, because they fought for every ball, closed up and tried to go on the counter," Spalletti said.
"We were unable to be determined enough in preparing those situations. There are games that go like this, we move on.
"The substitutes got swept up in the frantic nature of the game. Zhegrova and Conceicao dropped back to get the ball in midfield rather than stay up there, so they got too far away from the 'hot' areas of the pitch.
"Kalulu and Kelly then started pushing up the flanks, but no, they were defenders and needed to be defending.
"We can complain about that, players need to stay in their roles, but in general we played our game, suffocated every attempt at a counter-attack. It was destined to go like this, there’s no point crying over spilt milk.
"We needed to be more determined and make more of our chances, but also the free kick where they scored was so unnecessary and they used that opportunity. Maybe next time luck will turn our way, but it's nothing unusual."
Juve is 10 points behind Serie A leader Inter, which beat Udinese 1-0 on Sunday, while Roma could also move three points clear of the Bianconeri if it beats Torino on Monday.
Spalletti's side will turn its attention to a Champions League match against Benfica next, before a huge league meeting against Napoli on the weekend.
