Juventus had controlled much of the match, although they came under pressure during the closing stages. AZ had gone 17 consecutive home European matches without defeat, making the result particularly significant for Spalletti.
“I’m extremely satisfied because they played a serious match against a strong team, a very strong team,” he told Sky Sport.
The Juventus coach also took issue with the way opponents had been assessed following his team's previous victory against NEC, arguing that too little credit had been given to the Dutch side.
“I have to keep reminding you about NEC, when you all laughed in our faces because we had beaten them and said they were a poor team, a seven-point team. So something needs to be reconsidered in terms of perspective, humility and giving others the value they deserve, without always having to put pressure on our own team.
“When you win a match, is it because the opposition were weak? We won a serious match, yes, but tonight we won a great match, playing great football.”
Spalletti acknowledged that Juventus had allowed AZ back into the contest by dropping their level during the closing stages, when the hosts began to exploit hesitation in their defensive shape.
“As soon as you lower your level slightly, as we have seen in the Champions League and Europa League, the others always do it. They repeat things with conviction and strength. Even a behaviour that might initially be uncertain becomes a strength through repetition.
“Their strength is precisely that they keep beating us with great intensity in situations on the pitch. We stood there waiting, we weren't coming out with the wide centre-backs. ‘Do I go, do I not go?’ We stayed halfway. Balls played behind us, goals, balls into the box, scrambles. If it had lasted another five minutes, I don't think we would have taken the result home.”
Asked whether he was pleased that Juventus had managed to withstand the pressure, Spalletti challenged the idea that simply surviving the final stages should be the objective.
“We have to score goals, not withstand pressure. The concept is completely the other way around.”
The coach was also asked about the contributions of Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani, both of whom had impressed, but insisted that the result was the product of a collective effort.
“When you play matches like this, in a stadium where they have gone 17 games without losing at home, and have won so many of those matches, it means you have come here to play with authority, strength, quality and the right kind of courage. So it isn't the merit of just one player.
“Kolo Muani, for example, had four or five balls played into him. If he can find a lay-off and then run into those spaces, he is unstoppable. We, however, never managed to clean up the second ball that would have allowed us to reorganise and attack the spaces again.
“We were forced to defend around the edge of our own area. We did that well, because it was only in the final part of the match that we adopted that attitude. The players who came on, though, can really hurt opponents in a match like this. Boga has that burst of pace, while Ekhator is a young player who needs to do the work that suits his characteristics.”
Spalletti also highlighted the defensive contributions of Lucumí and Kalulu, while praising the team's willingness to press high despite the risks involved.
“I wouldn't want to make distinctions, because some players did the dirty work. Lucumí, for example, might not have been playing in his natural position and found himself having to play the ball with his right foot many times, but he did it well.
“Kalulu is playing his tenth or fifteenth consecutive match of 90 minutes and, poor guy, towards the end he almost wanted to ask to be substituted. These are all very positive signs.
“But what really matters is that we went into their half of the pitch and accepted being one against one for long periods. That is risky, because they have a goalkeeper who knows how to play with his feet. How much have we insisted that a goalkeeper must be able to make saves? Of course he has to save, but he also has to play with his feet, because that cancels out the opposition's pressing.
“This goalkeeper came out into the field. What a ball he played to his attackers or midfielders into that free space. Coming here and accepting that challenge is what this victory means. We pushed those 20 metres into their half and accepted the challenge. Great attitude and great mentality tonight.”
Spalletti was asked what pleased him most about his Juventus side and what continued to concern him.
“I am convinced when I see players with the right attitude. What worries me is when they lack the ability to find space and the opponents play the ball behind them, causing us to concede a goal because of a decision that wasn't made.
“Decisions that aren't made are worse than wrong decisions. If you make a decision, even if it is the wrong one, it is still less serious than not making one at all. That hesitation, that reluctance to challenge the situation, is a problem.”
Despite his concerns about the closing stages, the coach was satisfied with the overall response from his squad.
“Tonight we played a very serious match, very well. I'm happy with every player. Even those on the bench experienced the game in the right way. I liked that attitude: everyone was shouting and encouraging each other as if they were out on the pitch.”