Grosso: ‘Juventus merit recognition’ for overwhelming Sassuolo
SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Fabio Grosso, Head Coach of US Sassuolo Calcio, and Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Juventus, capture a moment before the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Fabio Grosso concedes that ‘Juventus merit recognition’ for their commanding display against his Sassuolo side, though it’s ‘a component of the development phase’ for a team that has just earned promotion. The Neroverdi entered this match limited in options, as Domenico Berardi, Cristian Volpato, Filippo Romagna, Daniel Boloca, and Edoardo Pieragnolo were sidelined due to injuries, in addition to Woyo Coulibaly participating in the Africa Cup of Nations. Kristian Thorstvedt was forced to leave the match prematurely due to a shoulder injury. SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Kristian Thorstvedt of US Sassuolo Calcio receives medical assistance for his shoulder during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) They faced misfortune with the opening goal, as Tarek Muharemovic’s deflection guided Pierre Kalulu’s cross past Arijanet Muric, who seemed to be anticipated by Juventus, who exploited his positioning off the line to leave the goal exposed. Nevertheless, Juve held the advantage with many opportunities, solidifying their lead in the second half with Fabio Miretti and Jonathan David capitalizing on defensive lapses. Grosso acknowledges Juventus’ prowess SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Fabio Grosso, Head Coach of US Sassuolo Calcio, responds during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) “We had envisioned a different approach than what transpired, but Juventus deserve recognition for that,” Grosso stated to DAZN Italia. “We come away with a loss, but it’s part of the growth phase; we will recharge and take lessons from this. “We are content with how the season has unfolded thus far, although we are certainly not happy with tonight’s performance. Juve deserve credit for taking command, as in such encounters, you must elevate your play and hope the opposition is not firing on all cylinders.” SASSUOLO, ITALY – JANUARY 06: Tarik Muharemovic of US Sassuolo Calcio inadvertently scores an own goal, leading to Juventus’ first goal during the Serie A match between US Sassuolo Calcio and Juventus FC at Mapei Stadium Citta del Tricolore on January 06, 2026 in Sassuolo, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Sassuolo remains relatively secure in mid-table but has not registered a home victory in over a month, which is becoming a concern. They have also only managed three draws in their last five Serie A encounters. “We must learn from challenges and stay competitive, even when the game is not going our way, because one incident can change the entire match,” Grosso added. The next fixture is set for Saturday evening, where they will face Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma, another team vying for Champions League spots.
Published: 2026-01-06 23:01:00
source: football-italia.net
