Spalletti Lashes Out at Juan Cabal After Juventus Win Against AZ Alkmaar

Spalletti’s 91st-Minute Sideline Threat

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti threatened defender Juan Cabal with a punch on the sideline during a narrow 2-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar in the UEFA Europa League, Open reported.

AZ Alkmaar netted what appeared to be a late equalizer before the goal was subsequently disallowed for offside, preserving the Italian side’s win.

Cabal, who entered the match as a second-half substitute, was found to be completely out of position during the sequence. Spalletti confronted the Colombian defender face-to-face immediately afterward, shouting, “I’ll give you a punch, understood?” as captured by television cameras.

Spalletti Blames Lack of Defensive Communication for Breakdown

Spalletti addressed the breakdown in post-match comments covered by Sportmediaset, explaining that the primary issue stemmed from a lack of decisive defensive communication. The manager noted that players hesitated over defensive assignments, asking whether a runner belonged to them or a teammate.

“Undecided decisions are the worst of all decisions,” Spalletti told reporters, adding that making an incorrect choice on the pitch carries less cost than failing to decide at all. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that the manager has a history of intense, visceral interactions with his players when attempting to snap them out of lapses in concentration.

Standout Performances in Alkmaar

Juventus secured their goals through Teun Koopmeiners and Randal Kolo Muani.

Spalletti praised Koopmeiners for a high-level performance in his hometown against his brother’s former club, and commended Kolo Muani for relentless pressing and defensive tracking.

Spalletti Remains Satisfied with Team Trajectory Despite Roster Depletion

Despite the late scare that nearly surrendered a lead maintained for 85 minutes, Spalletti expressed overall satisfaction with the team’s trajectory. He contrasted the performance favorably with a previous outing against Napoli, pointing to sustained intensity through the first half and opening twenty minutes of the second period.

The manager emphasized that maintaining such physical output every three days amid a depleted roster remains difficult. He also acknowledged the difficulty of facing an AZ Alkmaar squad that had previously gone 17 home matches without a defeat in European competition.

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