Social on tilt: Juventus fans lash out at Luciano Spalletti

The 2-1 defeat suffered against Napoli at the Stadio Maradona has not yet been digested by Juventus fans: Rasmus Højlund pierced Di Gregorio in minute 7 with a tap-in like a real rapacious player on an assist from David Neres, then the Bianconeri equalized thanks to Kenan Yildiz but Højlund punched in again with just over 10 minutes to go before the triple whistle. What did not convince the Juventus people was mainly Luciano Spalletti’s decision to replace Kenan Yildiz with Loïs Openda in minute 76, just before the Italian champions’ second goal. Bianconeri fans flooded social media with fierce criticism of Spalletti: “Unacceptable to take away our best player while we are equalizing” wrote one user.

Ernesto Villa

“Openda has never scored so far, why would he have done so yesterday? ” wondered another.
During the post-match press conference, Luciano Spalletti justified his choice this way: “One can do better, of that I am sure. One can and must: Yildiz can do more. A week ago you asked me if he should have rested. I inserted Openda, paid 45-50 million euros: he has to give more too. Yildiz has scored and can offer us so much, but if the team needs those flashes and insights, he too must increase the contribution”. Evidently, the words of the Juventus coach were not enough to extinguish the fans’ controversy, which was also joined by fierce criticism from Ezio Greggio.

“I would like to know if the Juventus ownership realizes that they have put in key managerial points of the club, incompetent and inexperienced people who have bought duds like Openda, David, Cabal and other half-dozen others who are not worthy of even being on the bench. We still have Kostic. Spalletti if he has to make changes finds himself with people running around the field, lacking fundamentals, throwing the ball away and even getting us goals. Players (so to speak) who are not only not worthy of Juve but not even of the last-place teams in Serie A. For years we have been getting dud signings of all kinds on the field that have only made business for those who got rid of them. And maybe not only to them, but not to Juve. Poor Spalletti is a great coach but he cannot play a championship, in fact 3, not only without a few Juve stars, but at most with 7 or 8 good players while he would need at least 22. The one of today, for me as a sick Juventino as I am and as all our fans are, is no longer “Juventus” neither in the managers nor in most of the players. Even tonight, John and Umberto will not rest in peace” wrote the famous comedian on X.

Wednesday at 9 p.m. Juventus will be back on the field: appointment at the Allianz Stadium for the Champions League match against Pafos Cypriots. In the team coached by Juan Carlos Carcedo also plays the’stainless David Luiz.