Brambilla: How Juventus prepared for Udinese game following Tudor’s sacking

Juventus interim coach Massimo Brambilla says he decided the starting line-up for a game against Udinese with staff members after Igor Tudor was sacked and feels Kenan Yildiz must be left ‘free’ to find the space he needs in attack.

Brambilla led Juventus to a 3-1 win over Udinese on Wednesday in the first match since Igor Tudor’s dismissal.

The Croatian tactician was sacked on Monday after a 1-0 defeat against Lazio, and Brambilla, the Juventus NextGen coach, worked with the senior team on the same day.

“I took charge of a training session, and I spent two days with the team. On Monday morning, I worked with the U23, and then I came here in the afternoon,” Brambilla told DAZN.

“I had to understand the physical shape of the players, then I spoke to the remaining staff, and we picked this formation. We put down a strategy we had to adopt, and the early goal surely helped us. The team showed strength in the reaction to the goal they conceded, which could have been dangerous for us.”

Juventus took an early lead in the first half thanks to a Dusan Vlahovic goal from the spot, but Nicolò Zaniolo levelled the score right before the break.

“I tried to convey trust and reassure the lads. They are strong and experienced players,” Brambilla explained.

“They know what they have to do. I think they deserved to win with a great performance today. That equaliser could have ruined the game, but we entered the field with courage in the second half.”

Federico Gatti and Kenan Yildiz scored one goal each in the second half to give Juventus all three points. The Turkey international also converted a spot kick.

“Kenan is a talented player, and every talented player must be left free to find the space they want,” noted Brambilla.

“I trained him for a period in the U23 [NextGen], and I think the ideal position for him is starting on the left to cut inside and move behind to the centre-forward. He finds the space by himself; he’s an extraordinary player and a great lad.”

This is the third consecutive season that Juventus have sacked their coach. So, what was the mood in the dressing room?

“This team was going through a difficult period, where they didn’t get results, and the morale surely wasn’t good,” said Brambilla.

“But I repeat, these are strong lads, with experience. I told them to focus on the game and do things well on the pitch because they have quality, and they only had to take it out.

“Surely, there’s great satisfaction in the dressing room. I’m happy to see happiness in the lads’ eyes,” concluded Brambilla.

“We prepared for this game in two days. The work we did was similar to the one in the NextGen; what changed was the whole context in which we lived tonight, an atmosphere that was not one of enthusiasm, but when the fans warmed up, it was a nice emotion for me.”

Juventus are expected to appoint Luciano Spalletti as their new coach in the coming hours.