Spalletti defensive when questioned on Kenan Yildiz and Juventus choices

Luciano Spalletti defended his decisions around Kenan Yildiz during the 2-1 defeat to Napoli, including taking him off. ‘I introduced a player who Juventus paid €45m for.’

The Bianconeri were forced into some changes when Dusan Vlahovic underwent surgery this week for a torn muscle, and the Serbian will be out of action for at least three months.

Rather than start Lois Openda or Jonathan David instead, they moved Kenan Yildiz into a centre-forward role, supported by Francisco Conceicao and Weston McKennie.

“The idea was to get the forwards playing between the three Napoli defenders, then having an extra midfielder to deal with their pressing man for man,” explained Spalletti in his press conference.

“Yildiz used as a centre-forward always had someone on his back and couldn’t express himself in his usual way, while we were also not good enough at putting him in the right conditions to deliver.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Napoli 2-1 Juventus

Kenan Yildiz scored the only Juventus goal of the game, so the decision to substitute him at the 76th minute raised eyebrows.

When pressed on this matter, Spalletti responded defensively.

“A week ago, you were asking me when I would give Kenan Yildiz a rest. Today I introduced Openda, a player who Juventus paid €45-50m for. He has to play too.

“Yildiz scored and can give us a great deal, but if the team needs those sudden moments of magic and intuitions, then he too needs to increase his contribution.”

Spalletti acknowledged that Juventus played better once Jonathan David was introduced at half-time and Yildiz moved into his more traditional wide left position.

“It did go better with David, but we allowed ourselves to be too unbalanced and left the defence exposed. Edon Zhegrova is devastating in the final third, but he had pain in training this week and it will take time to get him back into shape.”

He recognised that Juventus are struggling to score goals and insists there’s more to it than just the strikers.

“We have to sort out the movements all over the field, not just in the final pass or in front of goal.”