04 November 2026
The Men's First Team coach Luciano Spalletti and midfielder Teun Koopmeiners spoke at a press conference on the eve of the UEFA Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar.
The Bianconeri manager previewed the match and discussed possible team selections, whilst the Dutch midfielder also touched upon coming up against his brother Peer.
LUCIANO SPALLETTI
"We’re expecting a tough match against a side with a very distinct identity. Their manager knows the club’s history very well, and several players have come through the youth ranks. They’re a side that always tries to play the ball on the ground, with a modern style of play, a strong striker and two wingers capable of taking on their men. They build up play with three players and can defend with four or five, with Peer Koopmeiners often dictating these changes.
"We’ll need to be a team with clear ideas and implement them with determination and consistency throughout the match, just as we did against Napoli. In that match, we made our mark on the pitch, and we’ll need to do the same tomorrow. There will be a few changes: [Pape Matar] Sarr will start, as will [Andrea] Cambiaso, whilst Douglas Luiz needs a breather. Either Bremer or [Jhon] Lucumí will also be rested initially. Up front, we’ll field three forwards, all mobile players with different attributes. [Kerim] Alajbegovic is a 19-year-old in whom Juventus have invested for the present and, above all, for the future. He has shown he can take on important responsibilities and tomorrow he will play a significant part in the match, whether from the start or as a substitute.
"[Randal] Kolo Muani is an extraordinary person, I’m always on his side and he could start the match. Teun Koopmeiners proved against Napoli that he is a top player, holding his own against players of the very highest calibre. The club’s confidence in me gives me strength, I feel I have people close to me who hold me in high regard and with whom I’m sharing this journey. It’s behaviour, however, that makes the difference – not just words. As for our objectives, we mustn’t have to choose between the league and the Europa League. It would be wrong to pick a main priority at this stage. We must take each match as it comes, confident that we have the quality to play openly against any opponent.”
TEUN KOOPMEINERS
"Facing my brother Peer will be really special. When we were little, we played loads of matches together and we’ve already come up against each other in two friendlies, but tomorrow will be different because it’s an official match. It’ll be quite a thrill, especially if we manage to win. He’s very competitive, even though he’ll always be my brother. Who’s better tactically? I don’t know – he was certainly better at school, but we’ll see on the pitch tomorrow. It’ll be a special evening for our family too. My mum isn’t as nervous as my dad and my grandma, she can’t wait to watch the match and has already predicted a 2–2 draw. I know AZ Alkmaar very well and I’ve explained to my teammates that we’ll be up against a side that always wants to play, presses high up the pitch straight away and brings great intensity to every situation.
"It’s a club that has been upholding a clear philosophy for many years, based on energy, the quality of play and the ability to control the ball even under pressure. We’ll have to be very careful. As for me, I’ve played in various positions throughout my career. I’m comfortable in defence too, but I’m a midfielder and Spalletti has told me so. Whenever the manager needs me, I’m ready to play in any position. If I were to score tomorrow, I’d celebrate with respect for the opposition, although that will depend on the score at the time. Together with Peer, we’ve also written a children’s book that tells our story, from our experiences in the academies to the adventures we had as children. We want to share these memories with younger readers, and the book will be ready next week."
