Spalletti: The Real Lion Roars Even Against a Mouse After Udinese Win

Match report

Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti described his team as a lion, saying the real lion shows its strength even against a mouse after their 2-0 Coppa Italia win over Udinese in the Round of 16. Matteo Palma opened the scoring with an own goal, and Manuel Locatelli added a second from a penalty to seal the victory and a place in the quarterfinals.

After the final whistle, Spalletti stated he was very happy with the performance but reminded everyone that the team is still far from its best form.

In remarks highlighted by Football Italia, he noted that the team played well, balanced the game, and created several good chances. He added that some moments could have been handled better and stressed the need to stay ruthless. The real lion shows its strength, even against the mouse.

On the attacking duo, Spalletti said Jonathan David and Loïs Openda are central forwards who feel at home in their roles. David is technically gifted and links well with the team, while Openda thrives with depth and pace. They complement each other, and the coach is pleased with their form.

Regarding the upcoming Serie A clash with Napoli, he said it will be a great experience because he has many friends there. It’s not about how he is welcomed, but about the feelings he has toward them, which are among the strongest. The article recalls that Spalletti led Napoli to the league title in 2022-23, ending a 33-year wait.

Captioning the effort, the piece notes the victory keeps Juventus on track in the competition. Punchlines follow to keep the mood light after the grind of a cup tie.

Punchline 1: If the defense keeps this up, we’ll all need a calculator for the offsides.

Punchline 2: When the lion roars, even the stadium checks if the cat was on the bench that day.