Juventus demand immediate response as players face Napoli showdown

Juventus have been told their current situation is unacceptable after a run of disappointing results culminated in defeat by Genoa, with the club’s hierarchy intervening before Sunday’s crucial meeting with Napoli.

Giovanni Carnevali, Juventus’ chief executive and managing director, visited the club’s Continassa training centre to meet the players and seek explanations for the team’s decline in performances and results, according to French website Foot Mercato, citing Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Carnevali also spoke to head coach Luciano Spalletti, delivering a firm message to the squad while making clear that the coaching staff would not be held solely responsible.

“We cannot continue in this way. The situation is unacceptable, but we cannot blame the coaching staff,” he told the players.

Juventus have no current plans to dismiss Spalletti, despite the mounting pressure surrounding the team. The club’s leadership believes responsibility for the situation is shared, with the players expected to acknowledge their own part in the club’s problems.

At Spalletti’s request, the entire squad will enter a training camp at Continassa from Friday. The move is intended to help Juventus prepare as thoroughly as possible for their next match and restore discipline after the recent setback.

Juventus will host Napoli at Allianz Stadium on Sunday evening. The fixture carries added significance because the club need both a result and a convincing response to rebuild confidence and ease the tension around the team.

Players’ attitude under scrutiny

The criticism from Juventus’ management extends beyond the points lost. Officials were particularly concerned by the players’ approach during the defeat by Genoa.

The visitors appeared more committed and more willing to compete for possession, while Juventus lacked the required intensity and struggled to respond when the match became difficult. The team failed to show the reaction expected from a club of Juventus’ stature.

Spalletti has also expressed frustration over aspects of the side that he has not yet managed to establish. He acknowledged that he had been unable to communicate several basic requirements clearly enough to his players, including the importance of winning individual duels, pressing to regain possession and carrying out defensive duties.

The club now expects an immediate improvement from the squad, including Bremer and his team-mates. That response must be visible both in training and in matches, with Juventus players required to demonstrate a greater awareness of their responsibilities.

Some supporters have started calling for Antonio Conte to return as manager, believing he could restore the team’s identity and bring greater discipline to the dressing room. Those demands do not reflect the current position of the Juventus hierarchy, which does not want to make a managerial change at this stage and continues to support Spalletti.

The match against Napoli will nevertheless be a significant test for the manager and his players. Juventus have little room for further dropped points as criticism increases and doubts grow over whether they can recover their form.

Juventus face Napoli in Serie A on 01 November 2026, before playing AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on 05 November 2026.