Massimiliano Allegri and Luciano Spalletti will reunite at the Stadio Maradona tonight, but the two coaches are not on good terms since last season’s Napoli–Juventus.
The Partenopei beat Juventus 2-1 at the Stadio Maradona last season, on September 11, 2021, securing their third victory in a row at home against the Bianconeri.
After the game, Allegri accused Spalletti of putting pressure on the referee and the Napoli coach didn’t look impressed during his post-match presser.
“Did I cause trouble with the referee? This is incredible, show me when I did it. Neither did I. I just wanted to greet him [Allegri]. I ran behind him inside the dressing room,” he said.
“We had no problems during the game, I told him nothing. I always lost [against Allegri]. f***. I win once and he acts superior.”
Allegri praised Spalletti and Napoli during his pre-match press conference on Thursday and recalled last year’s clash.
“I respect Spalletti so much, he is so funny that sometimes we clash as we did last season,” he said.
“I am also a coach, but I do this job by chance, I should have something else. Luciano is so, so good, he’s the best when it comes to teaching football.”
They are still not on good terms as Spalletti said yesterday that Allegri and Juventus ‘cannot hide’ after their big investments over the summer.
Spalletti and Allegri didn’t meet in the Girone di Ritorno in 2021-22 because the Napoli coach had COVID when the Partenopei travelled to Turin for their away game against Juventus on January 6, 2022.
This means that tonight’s match at the Stadio Maradona is the first meeting between the two coaches since they clashed last season.