Spalletti: Juventus Still Behind Inter and Napoli Despite 5-0 Win

Match recap

Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti believes his side is still below Inter and Napoli, even after a commanding 5-0 win over Cremonese in Serie A round 20.

He praised the performance and control, but stressed that the gap to the leaders remains real and must be closed with consistency and focus. "We controlled the game with intensity and organization, but Inter and Napoli are playing at a higher level," he observed.

In the match, a controversial VAR decision overturned Cremonese’s penalty, while a later Juventus penalty sparked debate and helped seal the scoreline. Spalletti added, "From my point of view, neither of the two penalties should have stood." He echoed analysts who felt the calls were dubious.

The coach continued: "We dominated the match, showed discipline and attacking intent against a well‑drilled opponent. Davide Nicola knows Italian football well and what his team must do, so they are organized and ready to compete."

The victory lifted Juventus to 39 points in third place, level with Napoli who have a game in hand, four points behind leaders Inter, who also have a match in hand remaining. Cremonese stayed on 22 points in 13th.

Spalletti also commented on the broader title fight, praising Inter and Napoli’s attacking football and the leadership shown by their coaches’ ideas, while noting that Juventus must raise their level to contend with those standards.

"We dominated much of the match and showed the necessary aggression in front of a well‑organized opponent," he said. "We need to improve quickly to reach the level of the top two; the effort from our players was clear, but there’s more to come."

Keeping the wider context in mind, the coach reflected on the clash with Inter and Napoli, saying he had watched their game and admired their quality, character, and tactical ideas. He reiterated that reaching that standard will require sustained improvement from his squad.

In summary, Juventus extend their points tally and remain in the conversation for a top finish, but the distance to the league leaders remains the major hurdle to overcome.

Punchline time: If this season were a movie, Juventus would be the hero who discovers they left the map at home—great plan, bad direction. Punchline two: Inter and Napoli are running the league like a relay race, and Juventus are still looking for their baton. It’s not for lack of enthusiasm; it’s just that the baton occasionally turns into a pasta noodle, and nobody wants to eat the coach’s strategy for dinner.