Luciano Spalletti has questioned the interpretation of the rule that led to Jhon Lucumi’s goal against Rennes being disallowed, after Juventus initially celebrated what they believed was a late winner.
The defender thought he had secured a deserved victory for the Bianconeri, who appeared to have scored a decisive goal late in the match. Juventus had enjoyed late success in their previous European fixture, and the prospect of another dramatic finish raised hopes among the players and supporters.
However, Lucumi’s celebrations were short-lived, as he appeared to be in an offside position when the ball was played. Following a review, the goal was disallowed, forcing Juventus to settle for a draw instead of claiming victory.
UEFA uses advanced technology to assess offside decisions, and the available replays appeared to show that the Juventus defender was in an offside position when he scored. Nevertheless, Spalletti questioned whether the decision was justified, particularly given his belief that Lucumi had not interfered with the Rennes defender.
Spalletti questions the VAR decision
The Juventus manager was left frustrated by the ruling and admitted that he wanted to investigate the interpretation of the law further. Although he acknowledged the referee’s overall performance, he expressed disappointment with the decision that denied his team a potential winner.
Speaking after the match, Spalletti explained his reaction to the incident. As quoted by Football Italia, he said:
“I didn’t understand it, and I’m going to look into it.
“When I saw it in the dressing room, I was surprised and disappointed. The Rennes player could have cleared that ball and Lucumí didn’t impede him. I thought I knew this rule, but after tonight I have a lot of doubts. The referee was very good, but a little less good on this incident.”
Juventus must take their chances earlier
The disallowed goal will leave Juventus reflecting on an opportunity to secure three points. However, the incident also highlights the importance of creating and converting chances throughout a match rather than relying on late goals to decide the outcome.
The Bianconeri must now focus on their next fixture and aim to produce more consistent attacking performances. Scoring earlier and making better use of their opportunities would help reduce the pressure of chasing results in the closing stages.