Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti said at a press conference ahead of the first round Europa League match against NEC Nijmegen that accepting pressure is good medicine for learning to live, while confirming McKennie will start in the match.

Discussing his expectations for the match, Spalletti said: "Schreuder has the courage to implement his philosophy in a country with strong football traditions. He has left a distinctive tactical mark and won the championship in a highly competitive third-tier competition. We must expect they will bring a unique tactical plan in both concept and quality. We have to prepare for this; otherwise we could be very surprised. His team scores an average of two goals per game, which fully illustrates his football style. Moreover, he has strong players like Tadić, left-footed players who find ways to cut inside and shoot. We must maintain high concentration and stay ready; if we are not prepared, it could be a difficult evening."

When asked how to calmly analyze the loss to Sassuolo, Spalletti said: "We are focused, alert, and aware that we must improve. We have clearly identified what we want to do and what aspects need to be corrected. As a team, we need to be more compact to cut off some of the opponent's passing lanes, and we need to know when to press high and when to sit deep and wait for the opponent to make mistakes. This is the direction of correction I want to emphasize, though the loss was not entirely due to overall tactical problems. Nowadays, the difference lies in how you interpret situations on the pitch. Tomorrow, psychological rhythm will be the decisive factor."

On whether he feels pressure, Spalletti emphasized: "Accepting pressure is good medicine for learning to live. I understood this only a few days after arriving, because at that time I had to support my family. So, think about it—can all of this bother me now? I have sorted through too much. I deeply value my profession, so I do not care about comments after a loss, because those are things I cannot control. Deciding what matters and what to ignore is up to me, and on this matter, I choose not to give them space."

On the starting lineup, Spalletti kept it close to his chest: "I will not say anything about the lineup. I cannot help you there."

When asked if he was surprised by some criticism, he replied: "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 have experienced. You start caring about glances that pass by, so-called friendships, or difficulties others want to create for you. This is completely unacceptable. One must be honest, lively, and sincere when facing what surrounds you and the emotions you feel. You cannot be understood by everyone; you just need to do what you think is best for the club and the team."

Discussing whether the team is ready to accept pressure, Spalletti said: "Many teams are told they must win. Then, clearly, being well prepared is the only language that proves we are Juventus players. It is also the only language that explains to others that we deserve Juventus's status. We are ready."

Responding to a question about whether he expects the team to improve in terms of personality, Spalletti analyzed: "Match tempo has become too fast, with too many variables. Individual decisions from players have become too important. That is, I must anticipate situations and handle them myself. We are not pursuing a correct interpretation, but rather dealing with the situation at hand. Match tempo brings increasingly more unexpected and unpredictable variables. Sometimes, your mind simply cannot keep up. No one from outside can help us; we must react on the pitch ourselves. Understanding these things and having stumbled as we have allows you to gain useful knowledge for the future. This brings you a practical, accurate understanding of football's direction. Now, the new referee rules protect the appeal of the match, but they actually encourage confrontation, contact, and seeking physical engagement, which gets you into trouble as soon as you commit a foul near the sideline. If you cannot tolerate it, you will be sent off. Now you cannot exaggerate fouls. The match has become more fluid, and those who like to play clever tricks are somewhat caught red-handed. These rules protect the match's appeal and liberate football."

On statements from Carnevali and rumors about Conte, Spalletti replied: "Carnevali is an experienced and calm football man. He knows exactly what he needs to do and conveys this calmness to ensure the team can work in peace. This is the only way forward. I may not deserve the kind words he has given me, but I will not let him down; I will be the person he expects. Out of respect for him, I will not disappoint him. As for the fans, everyone has the right to support whoever they want, and that is as it should be. You are thinking about Conte; you have mentioned him twice. Everyone has their own aspirations, and I, Luciano Spalletti, have mine. I have a strong team with the same standards and beliefs as when we started. This is within reach. Although we had the worst start in nearly five seasons, we could have won against Sassuolo, but we just need to sort out a few things."

Spalletti remained calm about the turmoil that arose after just four matches: "That is normal. Two coaches have been changed after four matches, and I am not surprised by that, nor am I surprised by the rumors here. We must recognize that we have an urgent task. Not just to win this match, but to show that we are Juventus. This is all part of our situation. We must prove we have what it takes, that we deserve our position, and that we can stay here. As long as we are given time and space, the only place we need to invest our energy is on the pitch. I do not care what people say about me because they do not know me; they are simply targeting certain things to attack. Here we have experts, critics, and social media. Everyone can pick up their phone, say whatever they want, and project their weaknesses onto others. Think about it—how can I follow someone else's opinion? I have been through similar situations two or three times in my career."

On the situation with McKennie and Cambiaso, Spalletti was clear: "They are part of our assessment. We must pay attention to which players will be available, because we have two or three who might not be able to play the full match. I have too many reasons to need McKennie to play tomorrow. McKennie will play tomorrow. Sorry, I could not give you a definite answer on that earlier."

Finally, discussing Koopmeiners, Spalletti said: "Not for the whole season. Koopmeiners is highly rated here, and we always expect him to show the standard that we are all very familiar with. In a match, there are always individual decisions to be made. He has the responsibility to show us the important decisions he makes. We all know that, as an international player, he possesses clear and strong intentions. I have no doubt that he will show me important things in the match, not just in the match, but even in training. Because we need to see these things from Koopmeiners."

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