Luciano Spalletti has firmly denied reports suggesting he was ready to resign as Juventus manager if the club failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, insisting that “it never crossed my mind.”
The Juventus coach addressed the speculation during his pre-match press conference ahead of the highly anticipated Derby della Mole against Torino FC at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on Sunday evening.
Juventus Facing Huge Pressure in Top Four Race
Juventus head into the final stretch of the Serie A season under immense pressure following a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to ACF Fiorentina. The setback allowed both AS Roma and AC Milan to move ahead in the race for Champions League qualification.
Even a victory against Torino may not be enough for Juventus to secure a top-four finish if Roma and Milan also win their respective matches.
The pressure surrounding the club led to widespread reports in Italy claiming Spalletti could walk away from the job should Juventus miss out on Europe’s elite competition.
Spalletti Rejects Resignation Claims
The Juventus boss strongly rejected those rumours and clarified his position regarding the club’s future.
“It never crossed my mind,” Spalletti told reporters.
“First there was all the talk about the new contract, then immediately after that they turn to resignations. If anything crossed my mind after a result like that, it was putting myself at the disposal of the club should it want to make a change, but I never asked to speak with anyone.”
Spalletti explained that he remains fully involved in Juventus’ long-term planning alongside the club hierarchy despite the recent disappointment.
“We meet with the club every week, at this moment even more often, because we are planning the future. The journey must be consistent, whatever happens,” he added.
Juventus Planning Beyond Champions League Qualification
The Italian manager also dismissed rumours of tensions with Juventus CEO Damien Comolli and stressed that the club’s project extends beyond short-term results.
“My future doesn’t depend on anything. Planning means the courage to look beyond the result,” Spalletti said.
“There is always a project behind it, laying the foundations for the future, and that doesn’t change because of one or two points difference.”
According to Spalletti, Juventus remain focused on building a squad capable of competing for major honours regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League this season.
“We want to create the possibility to challenge for something important, whether we are in the Champions League or not after this match,” he explained.
Derby della Mole Becomes Defining Moment
Sunday’s clash against Torino has now become one of Juventus’ most important matches of the season. After losing momentum in recent weeks, the Bianconeri must respond with a strong performance to keep their European hopes alive.
“What I expect to see is a performance worthy of this club,” Spalletti concluded.
A failure to secure Champions League football could have major sporting and financial implications for Juventus, making the Torino derby a defining moment in the club’s season.