Former Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio says he “still trusts” Luciano Spalletti to lead the club, despite growing calls from some supporters for Antonio Conte to return.
Spalletti replaced Igor Tudor as Juventus head coach in October 2025, but the club missed out on Champions League qualification last season after finishing sixth in Serie A.
The 67-year-old has won 24 of his 44 matches in charge, drawing 12 and losing eight. Four of those victories have come in Juventus’ opening six games this season, alongside one draw and one defeat.
Juventus currently sit seventh in Serie A after five matches. Spalletti’s team have also recorded three clean sheets, the joint-highest total in the division alongside Lazio, Roma and Cagliari.
Although Juventus are only three points behind early leaders Roma, some fans have urged the club to bring back Conte. He left his position as Napoli boss this summer after previously managing Juventus between 2011 and 2014.
Conte guided Juventus to three Serie A titles during that spell and won 102 of his 151 matches in charge. His record also included 34 draws and 15 defeats, giving him a win percentage of 67.6%.
Marchisio, who played under Conte at Juventus, believes the club should allow Spalletti more time rather than immediately consider another managerial change.
“The nostalgia for Antonio, of whom I’m also very fond, has and always will be there,” Marchisio told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“It was like that during Allegri’s time and also for the years that followed. Conte is Conte. But we need continuity, and so I still trust Spalletti.”
Marchisio acknowledged that injuries had affected Juventus’ early progress, particularly the absence of Kenan Yildiz, but said the team could not use those problems to justify poor results.
“The injuries, especially the one to [Kenan] Yildiz, have hurt a lot, but Juve should never look for excuses,” he said.
He expects Juventus to challenge nearer the top of Serie A from the middle of the season onwards and has also set his sights on a strong Europa League campaign.
“I expect that they will return to fighting for the top positions from Christmas onwards. I also hope to be one of the main sides in the Europa League,” Marchisio said.
He added that Juventus should approach every competition with the ambition of winning it, including the cup, rather than treating success in that tournament as automatic.
“Juventus should aim to win every competition and the cup shouldn’t be taken for granted either. We haven’t lifted a trophy for 30 years in Europe. That should be enough, shouldn’t it?”