Locatelli ‘angry’ at yellow card for diving and insists Juventus need ‘nastiness’

TURIN, ITALY – MAY 03: Manuel Locatelli of Juventus FC in motion towards Kieron Tom Bowie of Hellas Verona FC throughout the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Hellas Verona FC at Allianz Stadium on Might 3, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photograph by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Pictures)

Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli says that he’s ‘indignant’ on the yellow card he acquired for simulation over the weekend, and says that Juventus want extra ‘nastiness’ and to be extra medical in entrance of objective if they’re to return to the Champions League subsequent season.

Locatelli on Juventus 1-1 Verona, name for ruthlessness and yellow card for diving

Juventus stay locked in a battle with Roma and Como for a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League. The Bianconeri occupy fourth spot on 65 factors, Roma path by one level and Como path by three heading into the ultimate three matches of the 2025-26 season.

The hole between Juventus and Roma narrowed over the weekend, following a 1-1 draw between the Bianconeri and Hellas Verona and a 4-0 victory for the Giallorossi towards Fiorentina on Monday evening.

While there is just one level separating Juventus and Roma, Locatelli says there’s consolation to be taken from the truth that the race remains to be in Juve’s management. He urges his teammates to be extra ruthless heading into the ultimate stretch, although.

“I believe we lack a little bit of aggressive nastiness in sure moments,” Locatelli advised reporters on the launch occasion of Juve’s Energy of Tales podcast sequence.

“We’ve got to attempt to rating when video games are nonetheless open. Being medical in entrance of objective helps us. The coach advised us, we want a pinch of additional nastiness.

The Bianconeri skipper insists that he’s not distracted by the ‘stress’ that some recommend is burdening the gamers heading into the ultimate few matches of the season.

“As I’ve at all times stated, it’s a well-known idea in soccer, we’re used to this form of stress. The necessary factor is that all of it nonetheless will depend on us. We’ve got to play these subsequent few video games with maturity. We’re attempting, however we lack that wickedness.”

Locatelli doesn’t deny the truth that Juve weren’t at their greatest throughout their 1-1 draw with Verona, although: “As I’ve stated, it nonetheless will depend on us. We are able to’t be pleased with the sport we performed towards Verona.”

Locatelli additionally took a second to criticise the choice to indicate him a yellow card for simulation throughout the Verona draw.

When requested how pissed off he was, he replied: “Very. I acquired indignant. I don’t normally speak about referees, I don’t like that, however he can’t give me a yellow there. I used to be nervous, which is why I made a mistake, however I don’t dive. You may’t dive with VAR, there’s no level in giving me the yellow card.”

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