Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini expresses pride in the team’s heroic effort following their Champions League exit to Galatasaray
In a move intended to shield manager Luciano Spalletti, Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini took to the cameras following the club’s dramatic Champions League exit at the hands of Galatasaray.
Despite the aggregate loss, the mood was surprisingly defiant. Chiellini admitted the squad was “exhausted and disappointed,” but he insisted that the pride he felt for the players outweighed the sting of elimination. For a club that has been under heavy fire for a perceived lack of grit, tonight was a massive response to the critics.
The mountain Juventus had to climb was already steep after a 5-2 first-leg disaster in Istanbul, but it became a vertical cliff just three minutes into the second half.
For the second game in a row against the Turkish side, Juventus found themselves down to ten men. Lloyd Kelly was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for an accidental but reckless challenge. Chiellini, the master of the dark arts during his playing days, said that it was perhaps “fortunate” that Kelly was in that situation and not himself, hinting at his own history with the referees.
Remarkably, the red card didn’t break Juve; it galvanized them.
Trailing after Manuel Locatelli’s first-half penalty, the ten men of Turin produced a staggering comeback. Goals from Federico Gatti and Weston McKennie leveled the aggregate score at 5-5, sending the Allianz Stadium into a frenzy and forcing the match into extra time.
The home fans, who have been critical of the team’s recent form, rose to their feet at the end of 90 minutes to recognize what Chiellini called an incredible effort.
The dream of a historic remontada was almost realized in extra time when substitute Edon Zhegrova was handed a golden opportunity to win it. However, his miss proved to be the final turning point.
Zhegrova’s miss will haunt me for a very long time. pic.twitter.com/uToo2Pwavd
— SIDNEY (@sidneydiogu) February 25, 2026
With Juventus tiring and the numerical disadvantage finally taking its toll, Galatasaray’s star power took over. A clinical finish from the prolific Victor Osimhen and a late breakaway goal from Baris Alper Yilmaz finally extinguished the Italian side’s hopes, sending the Turkish champions through to the Round of 16.
Chiellini was quick to defend Spalletti’s tenure, noting that the team has only really got one and a half games wrong since the coach arrived. He argued that the recent run of poor results, just one draw in their last five competitive games, doesn’t reflect the progress being made behind the scenes.
The goal that seals Galatasaray qualification & make Osimhen the highest scoring foreigner at Galatasaray in the Champions League.
History maker 🔥🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/YxnwLRBWJN
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) February 25, 2026
According to the former captain, this performance must serve as a starting point for the final stretch of the season rather than a post-mortem for a failed campaign.
The director also addressed the controversial nature of the red card and the team’s general lack of fortune with incidents lately. While he refused to explicitly protest the VAR decision, his presence alone was a statement, reminiscent of his previous appearance to protest a red card against Inter. Chiellini emphasized that the growth process is often messy and involves obstacles, but the team’s fighting spirit tonight proved they are still fully behind their manager’s vision.
Looking ahead, the focus shifts immediately to domestic duties as Juventus prepares for a high-stakes trip to face AS Roma this weekend. With 12 games left in the season and plenty of points still to play for, the club is banking on this European heartbreak becoming the catalyst for a strong league finish.
