Juventus: When Will Conceição Return? Serious Injury—His Condition

Another problem has arisen for Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, who is already in the eye of the storm following the decisive home loss to Lazio at Allianz Stadium. The Tuscan coach risks losing one of his starters, Francisco Conceição, for an extended period.

The Portuguese winger was injured late in the match against Lazio: a left shoulder injury sustained following a tackle. Initial reports aren’t encouraging; there’s talk of a possible dislocation. Tests in the coming hours will determine the extent of the injury; the player is likely to be sidelined for at least a month and won’t return until after the international break.

This would be a massive blow for Spalletti, who is already dealing with an endless string of injuries: up front, Kenan Yildiz and Jeff Ekhator have been out for some time, not to mention the long-term absentee Milik, while in midfield, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli won’t be back until January.

For Conceiçao, it’s also a difficult time in terms of performance. The Portuguese coach had already come under scrutiny after the Europa League match in Vigo, when he reacted angrily to being substituted. After speaking with the coaching staff, he clarified: “I didn’t argue with anyone.” Spalletti, however, warned: “He’d better be angry at himself. Otherwise, we’ll have to talk about it.”

In the post-match press conference following the loss to Lazio, Spalletti admitted that his team was “outclassed, lacking control of the game and any ideas on how to steer the match” and that they’ll need to “change their approach.” Their league record stands at 11 points in 7 games, one point fewer than last year.