Jhon Lucumi has impressed since joining Juventus, but the defender endured a difficult outing against Lazio in the Bianconeri’s 3-0 defeat. His performance came under scrutiny, particularly his role in the visitors’ second goal, when he was criticised for failing to make the right defensive decision.
Juventus had hoped to build on their midweek victory in Spain and secure another positive result at home. However, the match against Lazio exposed their weaknesses, with the visitors looking sharper and more effective throughout the contest.
Lucumi criticised after Juventus defeat
Juventus remain one of Europe’s leading clubs, but they have struggled to maintain their standards in recent years. Supporters expected a stronger campaign this time around, making the heavy defeat against Lazio particularly disappointing.
The Bianconeri entered the match with confidence after their European success, but they failed to reproduce that performance. Lazio took advantage of their defensive problems and looked fresher than the home side, who struggled to contain their opponents.
Lucumi was among those who came under criticism following the result. Although he has generally performed well since arriving at Juventus, his defending during Lazio’s second goal raised questions about his positioning and decision-making.
Paolo Di Canio was particularly unhappy with the defender’s actions during the move. Speaking via Tuttomercatoweb, he explained where he believed Lucumi went wrong.
(Photo by Chris Ricco/Getty Images)
Di Canio explains Lucumi’s mistake
“He had to make the decision there. Defenders can’t position themselves like ice hockey goalies. He should have taken two steps forward; we’re talking about distance. Bremer had an opponent, he had no one. He made the mistake. But if Celik wasn’t sure he had someone to double the lead, he should have left the winger at that point to signal to his teammates.”
Di Canio’s criticism focused on Lucumi’s positioning and his failure to step forward at the right moment. He also pointed to the responsibilities of the other defenders, suggesting that communication and decision-making were important factors in the incident.
For Juventus, the defeat highlighted the need to improve defensively if they want to compete consistently at the highest level. Lucumi will hope to respond positively after a difficult performance, while the team must address the mistakes that allowed Lazio to secure such a convincing victory.