Former Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini agrees with Carlo Ancelotti that the penalty kick given to Napoli against Real Madrid was ‘absurd’ but insists defenders ‘must adapt to new rules.’
Ancelotti’s Real Madrid secured a 3-2 win at the Stadio Maradona on Tuesday night, but there was controversy in the second half when Napoli equalised from the spot with a penalty kick converted by Piotr Zielinski.
It was given after a VAR check although the ball appeared to hit Nacho’s shin before his hand.
After the game, Ancelotti complained about the referee’s decision, and Chiellini agreed with his compatriot.
“As a defender, I can say it’s an absurd decision, it’s clear that he touched the ball with his leg first,” the ex-Juventus centre-back, now at LAFC, told Sky Sport Italia.
“The defensive style has changed compared to when I started playing football. Now we must accept that any minimum touch inside the box can lead to a penalty kick. We have to adapt to these new rules.”
As reported by Il Corriere dello Sport, Chiellini’s comments infuriated Napoli fans on social media. Many blamed the ex-Juventus defender, but others went too far and insulted the ex-Juventus captain.
Chiellini, 39, was speaking from Los Angeles. His contract at LAFC expires at the end of the year, on December 31, 2023.
Of course he does!