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Juventus face strong competition from Inter Milan and Napoli, while AS Roma have re-established themselves as serious contenders and Como continue to exceed expectations in Serie A.
Both Roma and Como finished ahead of Juventus to secure top four places last season and have continued to impress this term. Their progress highlights the challenge facing the Bianconeri, who strengthened their squad during the summer hoping to enjoy a more successful campaign.
However, Juventus have struggled to deliver consistent results, leaving Luciano Spalletti under increasing pressure. Reports suggest he could lose his job if the team fail to win their next two league matches.
Although Juventus want to help their manager keep his position, changing coaches would not automatically resolve their problems. Concerns remain about whether the squad has sufficient quality to compete with their main rivals.
Juventus lack the quality of their rivals
Pundit Franco Ceravolo believes Juventus’ struggles cannot be blamed entirely on Spalletti. Despite their summer recruitment, he considers the squad inferior to those of several competing clubs.
Speaking via Tuttojuve, Ceravolo discussed the pressure managers face when results disappoint and explained why Juventus may have deeper problems than their coaching situation.
He said: “I spent sixteen years in Turin and know the environment quite well. In football, especially when results aren’t forthcoming, there’s always talk of the coach and his possible replacement. Spalletti is a great coach, but you also have to be objective: I believe Juventus’ squad is inferior to that of some of the teams mentioned above. The coach prepares for matches, works hard, and tries to convey his ideas, but ultimately the results determine the decisions. When results don’t arrive, the responsibility often ultimately falls on the person leading the team. However, if we look at the squad, Juventus doesn’t have the same squad as Roma and other competitors.”
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Pressure builds ahead of crucial matches
Spalletti must improve results quickly to ease concerns about his future. However, Juventus also need to assess whether their current players can deliver the consistency required to challenge for major honours.
The next two league fixtures could determine the manager’s immediate future, but strengthening the squad may also be necessary if Juventus hope to close the gap on Roma and their other rivals.