Spalletti caught on camera confronting Juventus defender during AZ Alkmaar win

Luciano Spalletti was filmed losing his temper with Juventus defender Juan Cabal during the closing stages of their 2-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.

Juventus secured a hard-fought win away from home at the AFAS Stadium on Thursday in the fourth round of the competition’s league phase, but their late defensive lapses left Spalletti visibly frustrated.

The Italian manager reacted angrily after Cabal’s positioning error gave AZ Alkmaar an opportunity to threaten the Juventus goal. The move eventually ended with the hosts finding the net, although the goal was ruled out for offside.

According to French website Foot Mercato, citing Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport, Spalletti approached the Colombia defender in anger and shouted: “I’ll hit you!”

Cameras showed the 67-year-old coach making animated gestures and strongly reprimanding Cabal. The player listened to his manager, and the exchange did not develop into a more serious confrontation.

Cabal’s mistake was not the only incident to provoke Spalletti during the final stages. Lloyd Kelly had earlier lost possession in a dangerous area, allowing AZ Alkmaar to reduce the deficit through Mexx Meerdink and making the closing minutes considerably more tense for the visitors.

Despite the pressure, Juventus held on to claim all three points and strengthen their hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Europa League.

Spalletti did not address the incident involving Cabal directly when speaking at his post-match news conference. Instead, he criticised his players for losing concentration and failing to react quickly enough in defensive situations.

“What does not convince me about Juventus? I am convinced when I see complete commitment from the players,” he said.

The manager also stressed that his players must make decisions without hesitation, particularly when defending under pressure.

“Decisions that you do not make are worse than the wrong decisions; because when you make a decision, even if it is a bad one and you make a mistake, its cost is lower than the cost of making no decision at all,” he added.

Juventus’ victory came despite their failure to maintain complete control in the closing stages. Their earlier advantage was put at risk after Meerdink’s goal, but they ultimately preserved their lead and completed the win in the Netherlands.