The week following the Sky Sports interview passed in a blur of intensified training and tactical preparation that made their Roma preparation look casual by comparison. Coach Marotta had brought in video analysts from the first team, former Serie A players as guest instructors, and even a sports psychologist to help the squad manage the pressure that came with their elevated profile.
[Advanced Training Protocol Activated. Elite Development Phase Initiated. Warning: Expectations now exceed normal youth development standards.]
"Juventus isn't just another youth team," Antonio Conte addressed the squad in Tuesday's tactical session, his presence adding gravitas that made every player sit straighter. "They're a machine designed to produce first-team players. Their last three academy graduates are now worth over fifty million euros combined."
The video screen displayed Juventus' recent matches, their movement patterns so fluid they seemed choreographed. Every player knew multiple positions, every attack developed through at least four different phases, every defensive transition was executed with military precision.
"Their left-winger, Federico Chiesa, trained with the first team this summer," Conte continued, highlighting specific movements. "Their central midfielder, Nicolo Barella, has already been called up for Italy Under-19s. These aren't academy players learning their trade—they're professionals who haven't signed contracts yet."
Luca absorbed the information while studying the footage with enhanced tactical awareness. Juventus played with a sophistication that went beyond individual talent—they demonstrated collective intelligence that only came from years of training together under elite coaching.
"Moretti," Conte's attention focused on him specifically. "Their right-back, Matteo Darmian, will have studied your Roma performance extensively. He knows your preferred moves, your likely reactions to different defensive approaches. How do you evolve?"
The question had become central to Luca's development—constant adaptation to stay ahead of opponents who were specifically preparing to neutralize his impact.
"Create new problems for him to solve, Coach. Show him something that wasn't in the footage."
"Exactly. But remember—evolution doesn't mean abandoning what works. It means adding layers of complexity that keep opponents guessing."
The training sessions that followed were unlike anything Luca had experienced in his football development. Individual work with former Serie A wingers who taught him advanced techniques for creating separation in tight spaces. Tactical sessions that introduced concepts like positional interchange and false movements designed to drag defenders out of their optimal positions.
Most significantly, Elena had arranged for him to train with former Italy international winger Antonio Candreva, whose career had been built on intelligent movement rather than pure athleticism.
"Professional football isn't about beating your man with pace," Candreva explained during a one-on-one session Thursday afternoon. "It's about making him make decisions, then punishing whatever choice he makes."
The lesson was demonstrated through a series of exercises where Luca practiced different approaches to the same defensive scenario. Sometimes he went directly at the defender, sometimes he checked his run to create space for teammates, sometimes he made movements designed purely to draw attention and create opportunities elsewhere.
"The key is unpredictability within structure," Candreva continued as they worked through increasingly complex scenarios. "Your teammates must know where you'll be, but your opponents should never be certain what you'll do when you get there."
By Friday's final training session, Luca felt like a different player than the one who'd faced Roma just a week earlier. His technical ability remained the same, but his tactical understanding had evolved dramatically. He was thinking three moves ahead, seeing patterns that had been invisible at academy level, making decisions based on professional-level game intelligence.
[Tactical Evolution Complete. New Abilities Unlocked: Advanced Positioning, Defensive Manipulation, Creative Solution Generation. Status: Elite Youth Prospect.]
The team meeting Friday evening was business-like, professional, lacking the nervous energy that had characterized their Roma preparation. These players now understood what professional competition demanded, and they were confident in their ability to meet those demands.
"Juventus expects to dominate," Coach Marotta addressed the squad in the hotel conference room. "Their coach has told Italian media that Saturday's match will demonstrate the gulf between traditional powers and ambitious projects."
The insult was deliberate, designed to motivate through anger rather than fear. But Luca noticed that his teammates' reactions weren't emotional—they were calculating, processing the slight as tactical information rather than personal offense.
"Let them underestimate us," Alessandro said from the front row, his voice carrying the quiet confidence that had replaced his earlier arrogance. "We've proven we can compete at this level. Tomorrow we prove we can win at it."
Saturday morning arrived with crisp October weather that made the grass sparkle under Turin's autumn sun. The Juventus training center was everything their reputation suggested—immaculate facilities, perfect playing surfaces, an atmosphere of quiet excellence that whispered of serious investment in youth development.
In the visiting changing room, eighteen Napoli players went through pre-match routines that had become ritualized over their brief but intense professional experience. The nervous energy of their Roma debut had been replaced by focused determination that came from proven success.
"Gentlemen," Marotta's pre-match address was brief, confident. "They think they know us based on last week's footage. Show them that evolution happens faster than analysis can track."
The tunnel was longer than Roma's, designed to build anticipation while providing time for psychological preparation. As both teams lined up, Luca could hear the crowd noise building—maybe 8,000 spectators, including scouts from multiple Serie A clubs who'd come specifically to evaluate the next generation of Italian talent.
Walking onto the pitch, Luca felt the weight of every choice that had brought him to this moment. The boy who'd died in a Naples alley had never imagined competing at this level. The young man taking this field had earned his place through transformation that went beyond football skills to encompass fundamental changes in character and purpose.
[Professional Match #2 Initiated. All Systems Optimized. Current Status: Elite Prospect Ready for Advanced Competition.]
The warm-up proceeded with professional efficiency, both teams moving through familiar routines while studying their opponents' movements and organizational patterns. Juventus looked exactly as advertised—technically superior, tactically sophisticated, mentally prepared for victory.
But Napoli looked different too. Their movements carried the confidence of players who'd already proven themselves under pressure, their communication was more sophisticated, their tactical understanding more complete.
As the referee called both captains for the pre-match protocol, Luca caught Elena's eye from the technical area. Her nod was subtle but meaningful—everything they'd worked for over the past months would be tested in the next ninety minutes.