Two ways of being coaches. Two ways of being men. Two ways of being Tuscan. Luciano Spalletti and Massimiliano Allegri are not exactly polar opposites, but they are close. And it is precisely their common territorial origin that prevents this from being so different, yet so Tuscan.
And yes, because the temperament, the character, the pride is the same for both, even though the Juventus coach tends to be more blatant in his reactions, while his Azzurri colleague only lashes out when he just can't take it anymore and even when he does, he does not abandon the fatalism that accompanies him perennially off the pitch.
On the pitch, however, it is a different story, and while it is true that Allegri also pays attention to every detail, Luciano Spalletti has a real obsession. You would hardly hear him complain about the final result if his team did not play the game he had prepared during the week.
Even after the 1-0 defeat at the San Siro against Inter, the Florentine coach - from Certaldo - made it clear that he was much more disappointed with the performance than with the loss.
Allegri's hometown is Livorno. His way of experiencing the game, decidedly more exhibitionist than a Spalletti who prefers to keep his hands in his pockets and when he takes them out it is to give directions to his players in the hope that no one notices. It was a completely different story from the Juventus coach's display in the final minutes of the game against Udinese (1-0), when everyone realised that he was angry.
For some time now, the relationship between the two has not been what it once was.
'A quarrel between Tuscans,' Allegri said in the mixed zone at the end of the match Juve lost in Naples on September 11, 2021 and ended with a less than edifying discussion between the two.
"You should be ashamed of yourself!", the Livorno native's shouted to Spalletti, guilty, in his view, of trying to condition the refereeing with his complaints.
"What are you talking about? Against you I have always lost. For once when I win and come to greet you, you lecture me?'', was the Florentine's reply, who has been preferring his corporate jacket and overalls for some time now.
Next Friday, however, there will be much more at stake than a gladitorial rivalry between Tuscans. A victory for Juventus would open up the championship, while if the Azzurri come out on top, Spalletti's men would deliver a real punch to their title contenders.
It's hard to imagine the match going any other way than what everyone expects, with Napoli grinding out play with the ball at their feet and Juve will be ready to break away and hurt the Serie A leaders on the counter-attack.
This time, however, even Spalletti will be content to win. These three points are too important to be ruined by his own tactical obsessions and not savour the taste of them to the full.
