Luciano Spalletti defended Jonathan David’s penalty-taking abilities after the Canadian striker missed a crucial spot-kick in Juventus’s 1-1 draw against Lecce on Saturday.
Luciano Spalletti has staunchly defended Jonathan David after the striker’s missed penalty cost Juventus a victory in their 1-1 draw with Lecce.
The Bianconeri fell behind in first-half stoppage time to a Lameck Banda strike but leveled quickly after the break through Weston McKennie.
David had a golden opportunity to secure the win from the spot in the 66th minute, but his tame effort was easily saved by Wladimiro Falcone.
Despite the dropped points at the Allianz Stadium, Spalletti insisted his side produced a strong performance and refused to blame his forward for the result.
Addressing the missed opportunity, the coach made his stance clear: “David is a penalty taker and he takes them very well.”
He further explained that while players like Locatelli and Yildiz are also options, “These decisions are made in the moment, in the emotion of the game.”
The draw leaves Juventus fifth in the Serie A standings, trailing leaders AC Milan by five points.
Spalletti urged his team to focus on their improved play rather than the final scoreline, noting that the side created numerous dangerous opportunities throughout the match.
“The result always makes the difference, of course, but there were clear steps forward in our performance,” the coach added, remains confident that continued dominance will soon translate into wins.