Manuel Locatelli he sees his number on the electronic board and takes it badly. The expression on his face is certainly not happy. Indeed, she is one of those who seem to scream inside “why me?”. And this is what the player says to his coach who holds out his hand near the bench and then, given the player’s complaints, reacts with a harsh rebuke. “Go… go to the bench!” is the phrase he gives him. For the series: if you have something to tell me, we’ll talk about it later in the closed locker room and not here in front of everyone. Sparks that were not seen or heard at all on TV, except through excerpts of stories that emerged on television commentary. Sparks that the coach himself extinguished in the bud both on the green rectangle and afterwards, providing a questionable explanation for the responsibility he took in doing his job. That is, deciding for the good of the team.
Locatelli and the indigestible substitution: he asks for explanations, he is silenced
Luciano Spalletti decided to remove the midfielder who was booked shortly before the substitution (this is the reason he will also give in the press conference later). That move, however, was also born from another factor: a danger averted in the second half thanks to a stroke of luck (the post hit by Tramoni). It is after that wood (the second of the evening for the Tuscans, previously Moreo had hit it) that the coach breaks the delay and changes something on the pitch: 60th minute, Zhegrova enters (in place of Locatelli) and David (Openda comes out). He has the courage not to wait too long and changes the flow of the match with that courageous decision, which leaves Locatelli dumbfounded, until then the author of a good performance.
That’s why he’s stunned when he realizes he has to leave the field. And when Spalletti shows him the “five”, the midfielder immediately expresses perplexity and disappointment. That “go, go to the bench” puts a full stop.
Spalletti explains what his Juve team shouldn’t do: “I’m really sick, my balls are spinning”
Spalletti’s explanation in the conference: “I took him off because of the yellow card”
The moment of the substitution and Locatelli’s reaction took a back seat considering the result of the pitch which allowed Juve to replenish their ranking and break into the top four, in the Champions League zone and with the ambition (not even so hidden) of being able to have their say in the Scudetto race too. That episode which occurred in the crucial phase of the second half was the subject of questions in the press conference after the TV interviews.
“I removed Locatelli because he had been booked – the coach’s words – not for his demerit. We know that in some moments, when there are constant reversals in front because Pisa have leg and physicality, it happens that you put your leg in and arrive a little late… then you get a yellow which compromises the match. I, on the other hand, have some strong players out and Miretti came in very well”.
