TURIN, ITALY – Juventus is entering a critical stretch of games with the future of manager Luciano Spalletti and director Damien Comolli potentially hanging in the balance, according to reports. The club faces Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday and Roma in Serie A on Sunday, matches that could significantly impact their season and the positions of key personnel.
The pressure comes after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Como on February 21, 2026, leaving Juventus four points outside of a Champions League qualification spot currently held by Roma and Napoli in the Serie A standings. This setback follows a heavy 5-2 loss to Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off last week, compounding the concerns surrounding the team’s performance.
Owner John Elkann is expected to assess both Comolli and Spalletti’s roles, particularly if the Bianconeri fail to secure Champions League football for next season. La Gazzetta dello Sport first reported the news, highlighting the importance of the upcoming fixtures.
Spalletti, who took over at Juventus in October 2025 after being sacked as Italy coach in June of the same year, has a contract that expires in June. Even as both Spalletti and club directors have publicly expressed a desire to continue their partnership, a failure to finish in the top four could alter those plans. Spalletti’s managerial career has been extensive, including spells at Roma, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Inter Milan, and Napoli, where he led the team to the Serie A title in the 2022-23 season. His career details are available on Wikipedia.
Comolli was appointed as Juventus’ General Manager last summer and subsequently promoted to CEO in November. His position will also be under review as Elkann evaluates the club’s overall direction.
The situation is further complicated by Spalletti’s assessment following the loss to Como, where he lamented the team’s tendency to concede goals from the first shot on target. He also pointed to a lack of self-belief and increasing pressure on the players as contributing factors to their recent struggles. “We concede a goal from the first shot, there’s a lack of self-esteem,” Spalletti said, as reported by Sportmediaset. “For 13 times we have conceded a goal from the first shot in the goal, so after Notice some difficulties…”.
Spalletti noted a shift in the team’s mentality since a period of strong form, stating that the loss of enthusiasm and increased pressure are hindering their ability to win matches. He emphasized that the team is often its own worst enemy, struggling to react effectively after falling behind.
The upcoming match against Galatasaray presents a significant challenge, as Juventus will need to overcome a three-goal deficit to advance in the Champions League. A failure to do so would further intensify the scrutiny on Spalletti and Comolli. The Serie A clash against Roma is equally crucial, as a win would close the gap on their rivals and boost their chances of securing a Champions League spot.
Juventus’ owner, John Elkann, maintains a good working relationship with Spalletti and is in regular contact with the coach, suggesting a willingness to give him the opportunity to turn things around. However, the decisive nature of the next two games means that the stakes are incredibly high for both the manager and the director.
The Bianconeri’s struggles highlight the competitive nature of Serie A and the Champions League, where even minor setbacks can have significant consequences. The club will be hoping for a positive response from their players in the coming week as they look to salvage their season and secure their future.
Next up for Juventus is the crucial Champions League second leg against Galatasaray on Wednesday, February 25th. Following that, they will travel to Rome to face off against Roma on Sunday, February 29th. These matches will undoubtedly be pivotal in determining the future of the club and its leadership.
