Juventus thrashed NEC Nijmegen 5-0 in the Europa League at the Allianz Stadium, and Luciano Spalletti used his post-match press duties to single out debutant goalkeeper Kamil Grabara for special praise.
The Italian manager left Turin thoroughly satisfied with a performance that dismantled the Dutch visitors from start to finish, as detailed in JuveFC’s coverage of the win. Grabara kept a clean sheet on his first appearance for the club, instantly winning the trust of his coaching staff and team-mates in the process.
Speaking to Sky Sport Italia after the final whistle, Spalletti highlighted the composure and footwork that defined Grabara’s first outing in bianconero. According to the Italian coach, the goalkeeper’s ability to play calmly under pressure allowed Juventus to use him as an additional passing outlet during buildup.
Spalletti explained that in matches shaped by opposition pressing traps, a goalkeeper comfortable on the ball effectively becomes an extra man, and finding that free player inside the pitch is what opens up space further up the field. It was a specific and pointed compliment aimed squarely at how Grabara handled his first minutes in Serie A colours, arriving as part of Juventus’ reshaped goalkeeping department.
Spalletti also acknowledged that reshuffling the team’s shape carried risk, admitting his side could have stayed more compact and left less space behind the back line. With squad numbers currently thin, he said adapting the tactical approach was necessary to get the result, and that his players deserved credit for turning doubts into decisions on the pitch.
The 5-0 scoreline hands Juventus a strong platform as they push through the group stage, with further Europa League tests still to come, as outlined in JuveFC’s look at the club’s European schedule. Spalletti will now want that same tactical flexibility and clinical edge carried into the weekend’s domestic fixture.
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