Spalletti to Kolo Muani: Stay Calm and Use Your Best Skills

FolioPitch.com – 12 October 2026 | Luciano Spalletti has issued a clear directive to Randal Kolo Muani: the Juventus striker must stay calm and put his best skills into practice. As the Bianconeri prepare to face Cagliari in Serie A on Sunday evening, Spalletti Kolo Muani needs to put his best skills into practice if the Frenchman is to end his goal drought and help Juventus leapfrog their opponents into third place.

Juventus enter the match two points behind Cagliari after five matches, and a victory would see them climb above their hosts in the standings. Last season, Cagliari handed Juventus a 1-0 defeat in this fixture, a result that Spalletti hopes his side have learned from. Speaking to DAZN ahead of kick-off, the coach emphasised the importance of avoiding a repeat.

“We encountered some difficulties after that defeat and we want to be ready so that it doesn’t happen again,” Spalletti said. “This is a game we have to take by the hands. Cagliari is a tricky customer and they play good football.”

Kolo Muani, who returned to Juventus over the summer, has gone five Serie A games without a goal. Spalletti believes the striker’s struggles stem from a failure to play to his strengths. “There is a risk that he is too markable,” Spalletti explained. “He’s not the player who holds off his man and draws in opposition defenders. He likes to dribble, come in with speed, those are his best qualities. He has to stay calm and put them into practice.”

This is not the first time Spalletti has stressed that Spalletti Kolo Muani needs to put his best skills into practice. The coach’s repeated emphasis underscores his belief that the 26-year-old can rediscover his scoring touch by embracing his natural game rather than trying to be a traditional target man.

Kolo Muani’s ability to dribble at speed and glide past defenders made him a feared attacker during his earlier stint in Turin. However, since his return, he has often been static, allowing defenders to mark him out of games. Spalletti’s advice is clear: the striker must use his agility and acceleration to create space for himself and his teammates.

While Kolo Muani’s form is a concern, Spalletti also praised Nico Gonzalez, who has impressed since returning from a loan spell with Atletico Madrid. “Nico has a wickedness about him and that desire to bring home whatever he wants in football,” Spalletti said. “He determines everything that happens to him.”

Gonzalez’s aggression and determination have provided a spark for Juventus, and his partnership with Kolo Muani could be key to unlocking Cagliari’s defence. If Kolo Muani can combine his dribbling with Gonzalez’s directness, the Bianconeri will pose a significant threat.

Juventus’s season has been a mixed bag so far. They have shown flashes of brilliance but have also been guilty of inconsistency. The defeat to Cagliari last season was a low point, and Spalletti is determined to ensure his players are mentally prepared for the challenge.

“We have to take this game by the hands,” he reiterated. “Cagliari is a tricky customer and they play good football.”

The match also carries added significance for Kolo Muani, who is eager to repay the faith shown in him by the club. A goal against Cagliari would not only boost his confidence but also silence critics who have questioned his form.

Spalletti’s man-management skills will be tested as he seeks to get the best out of his striker. The coach has a reputation for improving players, and he will be hoping that his advice resonates with Kolo Muani.

For Juventus, a win is crucial to keep pace with the top teams in Serie A. A defeat would leave them further adrift and increase pressure on Spalletti and his squad.

As the teams prepare to clash, all eyes will be on Kolo Muani to see if he can heed his coach’s words. If he does, Juventus will be a far more dangerous proposition.

In conclusion, Spalletti’s message to Kolo Muani is simple: stay calm and play to your strengths. The coach’s insistence that Spalletti Kolo Muani needs to put his best skills into practice is a rallying cry for the striker to rediscover his form. With Juventus aiming to climb the table, Kolo Muani’s performance could be the difference between victory and defeat. The stage is set for the Frenchman to deliver.