Marco Borriello: Juventus Need More Than a New Coach to End Their Crisis
Juventus’ prolonged struggle to return to the top of Italian football cannot be solved by a change in the dugout alone, former striker Marco Borriello has argued. The Serie A title winner believes the club’s difficulties run deeper than its choice of manager, pointing instead to the leadership, atmosphere and shared purpose that once helped make the Turin side a dominant force.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Borriello reflected on two high-profile coaches associated with Juventus: Luciano Spalletti and Antonio Conte. He praised both as exceptional football minds, but cautioned against treating Conte’s possible return as a complete answer to the club’s problems. In his view, a successful rebuild requires the right conditions across the organisation—not simply a famous name on the touchline.
Borriello Praises Conte but Rejects a Simple Coaching Fix
Borriello made clear that he holds Conte in high regard. Having experienced the former Juventus coach’s influence first-hand, he described him as a winner capable of imposing an intense mentality on his players. Conte’s demanding methods and relentless standards, Borriello suggested, can change how a squad approaches training, competition and responsibility.
That admiration, however, does not mean Borriello believes Conte alone could restore Juventus to the summit of Italian football. He argued that Spalletti should not be blamed as the central cause of the club’s difficulties and described both managers as outstanding, despite their contrasting styles. Each brings tactical and technical quality, but a coach still needs the right environment and support to turn those qualities into sustained success.
Conte, Borriello suggested, could reconnect the team with what supporters often call the Juventus DNA: discipline, resilience, hard work and an uncompromising desire to win. His famously intense approach might help establish clearer standards and sharpen the squad’s competitive edge. Yet those traits, valuable as they are, cannot guarantee trophies if other parts of the club are not aligned.
Why a Coaching Change May Not Be Enough
For fans assessing Juventus’ next steps, Borriello’s comments offer a useful distinction between a managerial appointment and a complete sporting plan. A new coach can influence tactics, selection and training culture. But recruitment, executive leadership, player confidence and the relationship between the club and its supporters also shape results over a full season.
That broader view matters when evaluating any prediction about Juventus’ future. A familiar coach may bring immediate attention and renewed energy, but lasting improvement depends on whether the squad suits his approach, whether the club can strengthen the right positions and whether players believe they are working toward a common goal. Borriello’s argument is that the pieces must fit together before Juventus can expect a return to consistent title contention.
The Leadership Presence Borriello Says Juventus Miss
When asked what Juventus lack, Borriello pointed to the presence of former president Andrea Agnelli. He described Agnelli as a leader who was visibly involved and emotionally connected to the club, someone whose warmth and availability could be felt around the organisation. Borriello’s point was not simply about who holds the top job; it was about the influence of leadership on the mood and identity of a team.
He also acknowledged the role of the club’s ownership. Borriello praised the Agnelli family’s historic attachment to Juventus and recognised John Elkann’s continued financial investment. He noted, however, that Elkann is a major businessman whose responsibilities make it unrealistic to expect him to be present at the training ground every day.
The distinction is important: financial backing and day-to-day leadership are not the same thing. Investment can provide resources, but a club also needs clear communication, visible direction and a connection between its decision-makers and the people working on the pitch. Borriello believes Juventus are missing some of the intangible force that once helped bring those elements together.
Atmosphere, Chemistry and the Juventus Title-Winning Formula
Borriello recalled the environment around Juventus during a title-winning season under Conte, when the manager, players, supporters and newly opened stadium seemed to reinforce one another. He described the combination as a kind of “magic”—not a mysterious shortcut to success, but a powerful sense of momentum and belonging that can develop when a club’s different parts move in the same direction.
In professional football, that atmosphere can have practical consequences. Players notice how decisions are made, whether the club feels united and how supporters respond during difficult moments. A confident, cohesive environment may help a team recover from setbacks, while uncertainty can make pressure harder to manage. Borriello stressed that players are perceptive: even when nobody spells out the mood, they can sense whether a club has a clear purpose.
That does not mean atmosphere can replace quality. Juventus still need strong performances, effective recruitment and sound tactical preparation. Rather, Borriello’s view is that those ingredients work best when supported by trust and a collective identity. A talented squad may struggle to reach its potential if its members do not feel connected to the project around them.
What Juventus Must Get Right Next
For Juventus, the challenge is therefore to rebuild both performance and belief. The club must decide what style of football it wants to play, identify players capable of delivering it and provide the manager with consistent support. At the same time, leadership needs to communicate a convincing long-term vision to the squad and supporters.
Any prediction of an immediate return to dominance should be treated with caution. Conte’s intensity could be an asset, while Spalletti’s qualities should not be dismissed, but neither appointment can independently resolve questions about squad balance, club culture and direction. The stronger indicator of progress may be whether Juventus develop a stable identity and show steady improvement over time.
Borriello’s assessment ultimately points to a familiar truth about elite football: success is rarely produced by one person alone. Juventus’ past achievements came from the interaction of coaching, leadership, players, supporters and the atmosphere surrounding the club. To end their prolonged crisis, the Bianconeri may need to recreate that sense of alignment—not merely find a manager capable of demanding more from the team.
