Chiellini: ‘Spalletti a modern coach, tough Juventus decision to sack Tudor’

Juventus advisor Giorgio Chiellini confirms Luciano Spalletti is ‘a great coach with experience and a modern style of football’ after the ‘tough decision’ to sack Igor Tudor.

It kicks off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17.30 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s six Serie A games on the Liveblog.

The Bianconeri decided to fire Tudor on Monday after three consecutive defeats in all competition, and an eight-game winless streak including the failure to score in four straight matches.

“I think that Tudor should be thanked for having done important work, as last season he took us into the Champions League,” Chiellini told DAZN Italia.

“This was a decision shared within the club. We think that the team can do well.”

Spalletti is widely expected to sign on the contract to the end of the season from tomorrow, but meanwhile Next Gen boss Massimo Brambilla is the caretaker manager against Udinese.

“I think Spalletti is a great coach, with experience and a modern style of football. We have to wait, because there is no signature yet, so let us focus on trying to pick up points today,” replied Chiellini.

“I also wish to thank Brambilla, who is allowing us to go into this game with focus and look to the future.

“It was a tough decision, because it is not in the DNA of Juventus to make a change so early, and there is disappointment considering how much the coach cares about this club.

“It will be a transitional year, because we are laying the foundations for a Juve that can get back to winning ways. There are 30 games to go in Serie A and everything is still up for grabs, so I think we can begin a new era,” added Chiellini.

There are a few big changes already, as Filip Kostic gets his first start of the season, while Teun Koopmeiners is dropped to the bench with Jonathan David.

Kenan Yildiz returns from a knee issue and seems to be in a more central trequartista role behind the two strikers, who are Dusan Vlahovic and Lois Openda.

Juventus are making changes behind the scenes too, because they are expected to appoint a new director of sport soon.

“There will be a new director of sport in the next few weeks, because we are lacking that figure,” confirmed Chiellini.