Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti stated in his pre-match press conference ahead of the first leg of the Europa League against NEC Nijmegen that accepting pressure is good medicine for learning how to live, and confirmed that McKennie will play in the match.

Speaking about his expectations for the match, Spalletti said: "Schreuder has the courage to apply his philosophy in a country where football is already advanced. He left clear tactical ideology and won the championship in a highly competitive third-tier league. We must expect them to present a unique game plan in both concept and quality. We must be prepared for this; if we're not, we could be very surprised. His team scores an average of two goals per match, which fully reflects his football style. Furthermore, he has strong players like Tadić under him, who play with their weaker foot precisely to try to cut inside and shoot. We must remain very focused and always ready, because if we're not, it could be a difficult night."

When asked how he would calmly analyze the loss to Sassuolo, Spalletti said: "We are focused, clear-minded, and we know we must improve. We have clearly defined what we want to do and which areas need improvement. From a team perspective, we need a more compact formation to cut off some of the opponent's passing lanes, and we need to know when to press high and when to drop back and wait for the opponent to make a mistake. This is the direction of improvement I want to illustrate, although the loss was not entirely due to overall tactics. Currently, the difference lies in how you interpret situations on the field. Tomorrow, psychological rhythm will be a determining factor."

Regarding whether he feels pressure, Spalletti emphasized: "Accepting pressure is good medicine for learning how to live. I understood this within days of arriving because I had to support my family. So, do you think all of this could still bother me now? I have already sorted out too many things. I deeply respect my profession, so I don't care about comments after a loss, because that's beyond my control. It's up to me to decide what deserves attention and what doesn't, and in this case, I choose not to give them any space."

Regarding the starting lineup, Spalletti remained tight-lipped: "I won't say anything about the lineup. I can't help you."

When asked if he was surprised by some criticism, he answered: "When you forget who you are, you will forget those words. If you start listening to what others say about you, you will lose your identity and forget everything you've experienced. You will start to worry about the glances that cross your gaze, what is called friendship, or the difficulties others want to create for you. This is completely unacceptable. One must be genuine, alive, and sincere in facing the things around them and the emotions they feel. You cannot be understood by everyone; you only need to do what you think is good for the club and team."

Speaking about whether the team is ready to accept pressure, Spalletti said: "Many teams are told that they must win. Then, clearly, preparation is the only language that proves we are Juventus players. It's also the only way to explain to everyone that we deserve to be at Juventus' level. We are ready."

Responding to whether he expects improvement in the team's character, Spalletti analyzed: "The pace of play has become too fast, with too many variables. Individual player decisions become too important. That's how it is; I must anticipate situations and handle them myself. We are not pursuing the correct interpretation, but rather dealing with situations that happen immediately. The pace of play brings increasingly surprising and unpredictable variables. Sometimes, your brain can't keep up with it. There is no one outside who can help us; we must react ourselves on the field. Knowing this, and having stumbled and fallen as we have, can give you useful insight for the future. This will give you a real and accurate understanding of where football is headed. The new rules now protect the spectacle, but this actually encourages confrontation, collisions, and seeking physical contact, which gets you into personal trouble once you commit a foul near the sideline. If you can't handle it, you'll be pushed off the field. Now you can't exaggerate fouls. The game becomes more fluid, and those who like to play clever tricks are somewhat caught off guard... These rules protect the spectacle and free up football."

Regarding Carnevali's comments and rumors about Conte, Spalletti answered: "Carnevali is a football expert, experienced and stable. He knows exactly what he needs to do and should convey this calm to ensure the team can work peacefully. This is the only way forward. I may not deserve the modest praise he gave me, but I won't disappoint him; I will be the person he expects me to be. Out of respect for him, I won't disappoint him. As for the fans? Everyone has the right to support whoever they want, and that's as it should be. You think all about Conte, you mention him twice... Everyone has their own aspirations, and I, Luciano Spalletti, also have mine. I have a strong team, with the same standards and beliefs as when we started. This is within reach. Although we have had one of the worst league starts in nearly five seasons, we could have beaten Sassuolo, but we just need to sort out a few things."

Regarding the controversy that emerged after just four league rounds, Spalletti appeared calm: "That's normal. Two coaches were changed after four rounds; I'm not surprised, and I'm not surprised by the gossip here either. We must realize that we have an urgent task. Not just to win this match, but we must show that we are Juventus. This is all part of our situation. We must prove that we have done it, that we deserve this position, and that we can stay here. As long as we are given time and space, the only place we need to focus is on the field. I'm not interested in those who talk about me because they don't know me; they just target certain things and want to attack. There are professionals here, snipers, and social media. Everyone can pick up their phone and say whatever they want, venting their weaknesses on others. Think about it, how could I adjust to other people's opinions? I have experienced similar situations two or three times in my career."

Regarding the situation with McKennie and Cambiaso, Spalletti clearly stated: "They are part of our evaluation. We need to watch the players who will play because we have two or three players who might not be able to play the full match. I have too many reasons for needing McKennie to play tomorrow. McKennie will play tomorrow. I apologize for not being able to give a definite answer earlier."

Finally, speaking about Koopmeiners, Spalletti said: "Not for the entire season. Koopmeiners is highly valued here, and we always hope to see him show the level we already know he has. In a match, there are always some individual decisions that need to be made. He has a responsibility to show us the important decisions he makes. We all know that, as an international player, he has this clear and strong intention. I don't doubt that he will show me important things in the match, no, not just in the match, but already in training. Because we need to see these things from Koopmeiners."

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