As Juventus prepare for a blockbuster showdown against Real Madrid in the Club World Cup Round of 16 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, head coach Igor Tudor addressed the media with a mix of realism and ambition. Facing Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid for the first time in his career, Tudor shared his thoughts on the challenge ahead, his message to the players, and the mindset required to take on the reigning European giants.
“We Want to Go Through”
Tudor opened the press conference by acknowledging the scale of the task:
“I expect a difficult match, against a prestigious team with great qualities that, in the last ten years, has shown its value in every competition. Real Madrid is always strong in these tournaments. We have prepared ourselves. We want to go through, we want to play our cards.”
Juventus, having travelled from their training base in Orlando to Miami, are fully focused on the challenge that awaits. The coach made it clear that the team is not just there to participate, but to compete and advance.
“I Saw a Real Team”
Reflecting on Real Madrid’s recent form, Tudor was full of respect for his opponents:
“I really liked Real Madrid’s last match. I saw quality, teamwork, sacrifice. I saw a real team. We are facing a tough match, we have analyzed it well, but I told my players that these are the most beautiful games to play. Everyone wants to beat Real Madrid, and we want to try as well. You have to experience it like that, with great courage. Is this the match of the tournament for us? Obviously.”
“Defeat Is Part of the Game—Now We Move Forward”
Addressing the team’s recent loss to Manchester City, Tudor stressed the importance of resilience:
“Defeat is part of the game and of life, you accept it and move forward. Tomorrow is another match, we got through the group stage, now it’s the first game of the second part of the competition. The difficulty of the challenge is clear, but we must believe in ourselves and try in every way to do our best to win and go through. Of course, there are also the opponents, but we must believe, run a lot, sacrifice ourselves, not make mistakes, and concede as little as possible. I believe in it, and when the match starts, we’ll see what happens.”
The Juventus Mindset
With the world watching, Juventus is determined to make their mark. Tudor’s rallying cry—
“Everyone wants to beat Real Madrid, and we want to try as well”
—captures the spirit of a team ready to challenge the best, fueled by courage and a desire to seize their moment on the global stage.
