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Teun Koopmeiners, the Juventus midfielder who has been recently repurposed as a left centre-back under new manager Luciano Spalletti, has confirmed he is enjoying the positional shift, saying he โfeels comfortableโ in the defensive role.
The Dutch internationalโs comments, made to DAZN and reported by TuttoMercatoWeb, came shortly after the Derby della Mole stalemate. This marked Koopmeinersโ third game since being deployed in this new defensive capacity, and he is quickly making a mark with his composure and ball-playing abilities from the back.
When asked about his responsibilities, Koopmeiners confirmed that Spalletti grants him significant licence to influence the game from deep, effectively allowing him to initiate attacks from the backline.
โThe coach told me to play behind [in defence], but also to be able to play as a midfielder,โ Koopmeiners said. โIf a defender pushes forward, it becomes very difficult for them [the opposition].โ
Koopmeiners stressed that the freedom to roam and push forward is what makes the role so enjoyable and effective, allowing him to maximise his technical skill for the team.
โI feel comfortable in this position,โ he reiterated. โAs for quality, I can help the team. I want to touch the ball a lot in the game, I can push forward, and in this role, I can do it.โ
The positive feedback suggests the Dutch star is fully embracing his tactical evolution under Spalletti, proving his versatility and providing Juventus with a new dimension in their build-up play.
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