Timber wood
Former Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner believes Luciano Spalletti is the right person to guide the club back into the Champions League. The Bianconeri failed to qualify for UEFA’s premier competition after finishing sixth in Serie A last season, two points off the top four.
Juve drew with rivals Torino on the final day, while they only won one of their final five games of the campaign (D3 L1). Juve finished outside the top four in Serie A for the second time in the last four seasons (also 2022-23, seventh), after 11 consecutive campaigns finishing fourth or higher. Spalletti, meanwhile, had not finished a Serie A campaign as a manager below fourth place since 2008-09 with Roma (sixth). Lichtsteiner played alongside the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Gianliugi Buffon during his time in Turin, and he believes Juve must produce similar leaders under Spalletti if they are to get back to the top of Italian football. “From afar it’s very difficult to assess the situation or give advice, but Juventus have Luciano Spalletti, who is more than capable, an excellent coach, one of the best,” Lichtsteiner said following the Bianconeri’s 0-0 friendly draw with Basel, who he now coaches, on Saturday. “I’m sure he’ll put everything right and bring Juventus back to the Champions League next year. I have a lot of confidence in him.
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“It’s difficult to make a comparison. Obviously, with Pirlo, Buffon and [Alessandro] Del Piero there were hugely important pillars, which perhaps you don’t see today. “Those players are no longer there, and in my view, Juventus will have to rebuild that kind of leadership too.
“When you wear this shirt you have to win. That’s the pressure at Juventus.”
Juve will also face the likes of Chelsea and Inter in pre-season friendlies as they build towards the 2026-27 campaign. The Bianconeri face Frosinone on August 23 in their first competitive game of the season.
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