Spalletti Takes Blame as Juventus Collapse to Last-Gasp Sassuolo Defeat
Speaking to DAZN Italia following Juventus’ dramatic 3-2 defeat against Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium on September 13, 2026, head coach Luciano Spalletti addressed the chaotic final moments that decided the fixture. The veteran manager broke down how a late push for victory left his side defensively exposed.
Spalletti Confirms Tactical Imbalance After Late Winner
When asked about the frantic conclusion that saw on-loan midfielder Vasilije Adzic net a 95th-minute winner for the hosts, Spalletti pointed directly to an overzealous pursuit of all three points.
Edon Zhegrova
player“It hurts because the team could’ve won it at the end, and deserved to turn it around, but clearly we lost balance and that shouldn’t happen,” Spalletti told DAZN Italia. “With eight players going forward to attack the ball, it left huge gaps at the back. Yet we had the chances to win it 3-2 earlier, so the players thought they could win it, and I was the one who pushed them on to go and win it, but perhaps they took me a bit too literally and everyone joined in the attack at once.”
The strategic gamble left Juventus completely vulnerable on the counter-attack, culminating in Adzic striking the decisive blow with the final kick of the match. Having entered the fixture already managing a severe squad depletion featuring eight major absences, the Bianconeri paid a heavy physical and structural price for abandoning their defensive shape in stoppage time.
Zhegrova Impact Overshadowed by Defensive Lapses
Assessing the performance of substitute Edon Zhegrova, who scored twice to briefly drag Juventus back into contention despite not having netted in a competitive match since November 2024, Spalletti weighed the forward’s individual unpredictability against his structural discipline.
Juventus
club“This is the strength of Zhegrova, that he becomes unpredictable and unstoppable when he takes men on,” Spalletti stated. “He might hold the ball a bit too long and not pass it quickly enough, with Kalulu in one situation waiting for it, and he doesn’t chase his man down on the flank. However, if you are attacking and in the opposition half only, then Zhegrova is an incredible player.”
While Zhegrova provided a vital offensive spark off the bench, his defensive tracking lapses compounded wider structural issues on a night where Juventus leaked three goals after conceding only once across their opening three league fixtures. DAZN Italia provided the broadcast platform for the post-match comments.