Conte and Spalletti refuse to speak before Juventus vs. Napoli

Juventus will host Napoli in a highly-anticipated Serie A clash on Sunday evening, but in a strange twist of events, both head coaches, Luciano Spalletti and Antonio Conte, have refused to conduct their customary pre-match press conferences ahead of kick-off. 

Spalletti and Conte silence before Juventus vs. Napoli

Not only is the Juventus vs. Napoli a matter of third vs. fifth in an incredibly competitive top five, it is also a double reunion: Conte being a former Juventus player and title-winning head coach, and Spalletti being a Scudetto winner with Napoli. 

Despite this high-profile clash, Conte has decided to put all his focus on training after the 1-1 draw against Copenhagen in the Champions League earlier this week. He has decided against speaking to the media on this occasion. 

Spalletti, meanwhile, had been scheduled to speak to the media at around 16.00 local time (15.00 GMT) on Friday, but that press conference was cancelled roughly two hours before it was due to begin. 

This is not the first time that Conte or Spalletti have avoided press conferences this season, but as per La Gazzetta dello Sport, this occasion feels particularly unusual.