Tudor doesn’t fear being sacked and hints at more attacking Juventus

Igor Tudor insists he doesn’t fear being sacked by Juventus but considers ‘giving up’ defensive solidity to add more attacking players.

Juventus visit Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome tomorrow, and Tudor previewed the game at a pre-match press conference on Saturday.

The Bianconeri haven’t won a game since September 13 and have lost the last two matches against Como and Real Madrid.

“The team is motivated and has a desire to do well, knowing the opponents’ quality. We’ve had two training sessions, and tomorrow we want to have a great game,” Tudor said at a press conference.

Generally, new signings have not been given much playing time at Juventus. Is there any issue with them?

“There are no problems, nothing specific,” said Tudor.

“We have the players with their quality, then each coach makes their choices, depending on the game too. Some time is always needed to settle in, but they are all guys who are committed and give their best.”

Does he see any similarity between his former teammate Alessandro Del Piero and Kenan Yildiz?

“Comparisons are always tricky. Del Piero has made history. Kenan is practically in his first season as a protagonist,” Tudor replied.

“Perhaps, he’s the most important player in the team. He plays every game until the end. It’s not even easy because, as he keeps growing, other teams understand the threats he poses, so they give him more attention. He always plays, he burns energy, and of course, his performances are not always the same. It takes time to adapt to this rhythm. Don’t forget he also played 90 minutes in each of the two games with the national team. He has to rest sometimes; he has a bit of pain in his knee, but these are normal things, which are part of the path.”

As Juventus have gone seven consecutive games without winning, several Italian media outlets have suggested that Tudor will be sacked in the coming weeks if he’s unable to improve results.

“Honestly, I don’t have this fear, not at all. I enjoy it, even in difficulties. I’m aware of what’s around me. It’s all clear to me,” he said.

“When you see things clearly, you have a strength that you wouldn’t have had in other moments. I think about how to motivate players, make them rest, and find solutions. That’s what I think about. As for the future, I am not concerned, aside from tomorrow’s game.

“I’m okay. I don’t think about myself. I try to find the best solutions. The feeling after Madrid is positive, despite the defeat. The team is there, and also the desire to do and give what we have, trying to win games. Tomorrow we face a high-level team, so we must be ready.”

Juventus have not scored in the last three games, and Tudor has often rotated in attack. Should he consider giving regular playing time to some specific strikers?

“David has played three games in a row, but probably yes, perhaps we need to play more attacking players, giving up defensive solidity,” he replied.

“Perhaps two strikers, perhaps Kenan [Yildiz] and Cisco [Conceiçao] altogether. We can think about any sort of thing. I must see if I can give up on something for the team’s good. Every coach wants solidity at the back, but at the same time, there’s also attacking balance. Perhaps, playing with a certain number of players is not enough to be dangerous. So we must find this balance, perhaps giving up something in defence and having more balance in attack. It’s a question I must ask myself.”

Tudor was also asked whether Juventus lack leaders in the team.

“It’s clear that the personality of the new generation of players is entirely different from the past,” he argued.

“When you find a player who brings real personality, is like having gold in the team. It’s rare in the new generations, it’s true, but it must be stimulated. I’ve been talking about it for seven months, and I talk about it in every training session. Sometimes you can improve, sometimes not. It’s about how you were born.

“Manuel [Locatelli] has personality and is always there. There’s always Perin to exchange some words, I think Thuram will become as such in the future. Kenan is a leader in the way he behaves and in quality. Dusan too. Jonathan David can say something; he does things the right way.

“Every new generation thinks more about themselves than others. I have three kids, as a parent, I look at them, their friends. Honestly, I see less empathy and more selfishness, and this is a problem in the world, generally.”

Edon Zhegrova hasn’t played much since moving to Turin. Is it just a fitness issue?

“He comes from a year without games. He joined the national team, but then he stopped after a heavy training session, missing the following game,” Tudor noted.

“He has this [groin] issue; when he pushes a bit more, it comes back, so we must be cautious and make him train the right way, even in the last 20 or 30 minutes. He has quality in his feet, but I don’t know when I can start a game and play it until the end. Right now it’s impossible.”