Chiellini: ‘Juventus give no reference points’ with new roles

Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini explains the unusual new roles for Kenan Yildiz and Teun Koopmeiners against Napoli. ‘The idea is to provide no reference points.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona at 19.45 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

There were reports that rocks had been thrown at the Juventus team bus on the way to the stadium, smashing some windows.

“We were accustomed to worse coming here, so we can’t complain,” shrugged Chiellini on DAZN Italia.

“It is never calm here, but within limits. It’ll be tough, I expect a lot of intensity and tempo on the field, we prefer to focus on the football.”

Koopmeiners has flourished in this new role as part of the back three, but that doesn’t mean he is following in the footsteps of Chiellini.

“He is doing well, it is of course a very different type of role compared to me, or even to Buongiorno for Napoli this evening. He brings quality that can make up for other areas, like intensity and physicality, but he is rediscovering his form and fitness, which is important.

“You might not be able to tell on television, but he guides the others, gets everyone into position, and also tries to avoid dangerous counter-attacks.”

Both Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Gatti had surgery this week, the striker out until March, so the absentee list keeps growing with Gleison Bremer, Daniele Rugani and Arek Milik.

It was thought the choice would be between Jonathan David and Lois Openda as the new centre-forward, but instead Kenan Yildiz is pushed upfront, with Weston McKennie and Francisco Conceicao in support.

“There are no reference points, the forwards play in attack and that’s all you need to know,” explained Chiellini.

“The idea was to control the game better and not give reference points to a physical side like Napoli, who won the duels man for man with Roma, bringing the game their way. They keep the strikers closer together and then attack the spaces, with Neres Lang and Hojlund, doing very well.”

Is this a snub for David and Openda, leaving them on the bench in this huge Serie A game after the Coppa Italia win over Udinese?

“I saw them look increasingly confident, David had a great game midweek and Openda was millimetres away from scoring. I always say, when there are injuries, it is bad news for the club, but potentially good news for the players to step up without the pressure of someone like Dusan behind him pushing for space,” concluded Chiellini.

It is potentially a big opportunity for Juventus to get back into the Scudetto race, at minimum leapfrogging Como to get into the top six.