Spalletti: ‘People trying to create chaos at Juventus, nothing concrete for Chiesa’

Luciano Spalletti accuses fans of other clubs of trying to ‘create chaos’ at Juventus over that Jonathan David penalty, while there is ‘nothing concrete’ in Federico Chiesa rumours.

It kicks off at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Lecce vs. Roma on the Liveblog.

The Bianconeri were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by Lecce at the weekend, where Jonathan David was lambasted in the media for his weak Panenka attempt penalty.

Nonetheless, the Canadian keeps his spot in the starting XI, though Francisco Conceicao and Lloyd Kelly haven’t made the trip due to muscular issues.

So, has Spalletti decided who will step up if Juve receive a penalty this evening?

“I always decide who takes the penalty, you mustn’t listen to those who write on their phones that Spalletti doesn’t decide who takes penalties, because they support other teams and want to create chaos,” the coach told DAZN Italia.

“We always write on a piece of paper in the locker room who is meant to step up. At the weekend, it was written Locatelli and Yildiz. But then players have their own minds and personalities, they decide between themselves what to do, you can’t just run onto the pitch and take the ball out of their hands.

“That is especially because the ball was given to him, he has scored 21-22 of the 26-27 penalties in his career. It’s not like they gave it to a member of the kit staff. This is a striker, he can take penalties. If he couldn’t be trusted with a penalty, then I wouldn’t even consider picking him in the squad.

“So he got a penalty wrong, now we must try to win this game at all costs, but it’s all normal, all under control. We’ve always had a hierarchy of penalties, so don’t listen to those who have never experienced being on a football pitch, who never dealt with that situation. They say things because they support Milan, or Roma, they want to create chaos.

“We will create confusion if we want to, not if others impose it on us.”

The January transfer window is now open and therefore the questions drift towards the market.

What does Spalletti make of the idea Juventus will try to bring Chiesa back from Liverpool?

“I am pleased you are giving me this news, seeing as we haven’t even had a meeting yet on the transfer market, but it’s the first I’ve heard of it. For the moment, it’s just thrown out there, but absolutely nothing concrete behind it,” replied the coach.