Juve slump, two in the dock. And Spalletti rehashes the dose

Juventus’ 5-2 defeat in Istanbul against Galatasaray provoked reactions that were anything but positive, among the Bianconeri fans, especially on social media, with two elements of the Bianconeri lineup particularly criticized, defenders Juan Cabal and Lloyd Kelly. For both of them, in fact, it was an evening to forget, in a second half in which the Bianconeri conceded as many as four goals after the first forty-five minutes had ended with the Old Lady ahead 2-1, thanks to Koopmeiners’ brace.

Cabal, who entered at the beginning of the second half in Cambiaso’s place, played just twenty-two minutes: in less than ten laps of the lancets (at 59′ and 67′) he received two yellow cards, thus leaving his teammates in ten for half time. Kelly, on the other hand, was the negative protagonist in at least two of the home team’s goals, Sanchez’s goal at 60′ (with the Englishman anticipated inside the small area), and Lang’s goal at 75′ (hesitation on Thuram’s back pass and the ball given to Osimhen for the assist to the Dutchman).

The team’s goal was a good one.

On social media, the tone is red-hot: there are several, in fact, fans blaming the two defenders directly for the collapse, sharing harsh comments about their performance. In post-match statements, moreover, coach Luciano Spalletti is clear about both: “The expulsion created us great difficulty – he told Sky Sport microphones, talking about Cabal -. I had taken off Cambiaso because he was cautioned, but then we put our own into it not realizing the dangerousness of what we were doing”.

Francesco Lucivero

On Kelly’s mistake, decisive for the momentary 4-2, Spalletti later added: “In normal situations we always try to play ball on the ground, but that was not the ideal situation. He had to throw the ball away, it’s clear, it’s not true that you always have to play it on the ground because in a situation like that, with ten men, you have to lighten up”.

The ball was not a good one.

And yet, alongside the criticism, another line also emerges’another line. Indeed, part of the fans pointed out how Bremer’s injury in the end of the first half took away an important reference from Juventus, destabilizing the entire defensive structure. Nevertheless, Spalletti&#8217s words are harsh: “We have taken not one but three steps backward” he thundered.