Conceição punches bench and argues with staff after substitution in Juventus win
Francisco Conceição punched the bench and exchanged words with a member of Luciano Spalletti's technical staff after being replaced at the 64th minute of Juventus's 2-1 Europa League win at Celta Vigo. He later said he had only gone to the dressing room to change his shirt.
The substitution
Francisco Conceição was taken off at the 64th minute of Juventus's Europa League match at Celta Vigo on Thursday, 15 October, with Nico Gonzalez coming on in his place. Several outlets report that he struck the bench repeatedly with his fists as he left the pitch. He then had a heated exchange with a member of Spalletti's technical staff before heading straight for the dressing room. He returned to the bench a few minutes later and sat with his teammates to watch the end of the game.
- Conceição is replaced by Nico Gonzalez and punches the bench before a row with a staff member
- Conceição returns to the bench after a short spell in the dressing room
- Kolo Muani scores the winner and Juventus win 2-1
Conceição's account
After the match, Conceição told Sky Sport that he had not argued with anyone on the staff and had held no conversation with them. He described going into the dressing room only to change his shirt, then coming back out, and he said the truth needed to come out. Fanpage and La Repubblica also report him saying he had gone to the bathroom while away, and Fanpage quotes him putting the absence at two to four minutes. He said the more important subject was the second half and the three points his side had won.
Spalletti's response
Spalletti addressed the episode at the end of the game and said the winger would do better to direct his anger at himself.
It is better for him to be angry with himself. Otherwise we will have to talk about it.
The coach added that if Conceição had something to say, he would have to explain what he had done, and the two would settle it. Fanpage reports him saying his assistants had told him nothing had happened, while also giving the substitution as the 70th minute, a figure other outlets do not repeat.
Match context
Juventus were level at 1-1 when Conceição was replaced, and Kolo Muani scored a winner in the second minute of stoppage time, at 90+2, to complete the comeback. Adnkronos describes it as the club's second win in as many European matches. The forward had a below-par evening, and he had also been withdrawn at halftime in the previous league round at Cagliari after a weak first half. La Stampa notes that several second-line players struggled in the experimental side Spalletti picked for Vigo, and that Conceição was expected to be a reference point for them.
What comes next
Juventus next face Lazio, and La Stampa considers it likely that Conceição will begin that match on the bench. Spalletti's comments were reported as coming ahead of a fixture about two days away, according to Fanpage. Outlets report that the winger's own remarks and the coach's warning will both be watched closely in the squad over the coming days.
