Ahead of Juventus’ crucial match against Wydad Casablanca, coach Igor Tudor addressed the media, sharing his thoughts on the upcoming challenge, the atmosphere within the club, and the influence of Juventus chairman John Elkann. Here’s what Tudor had to say as the Bianconeri prepare for their next test.
Facing Wydad: “We Have to Give Our Best for Ninety Minutes”
Tudor opened the press conference by discussing the unique challenge posed by Wydad Casablanca:
“It will be a different opponent, and we’re playing at a different time. We have prepared for it to the maximum, as always. It will be an important match against a quality team, and we have to give our best, going full throttle for ninety minutes.”
The coach also addressed the impact of the weather:
“The heat? We’ll have to prepare for it, but it will be the same for both teams. Then we’ll have to forget about it and focus on what we have to do. Wydad could have scored two goals against City in the first half; every match is unique. It’s impossible to make comparisons between games—each one has its own particularities.”
Team Spirit: “I Only See Enthusiasm and Great Joy in Playing Together”
Tudor was quick to praise the spirit and energy within the squad:
“I don’t see any tiredness in the team, I only see enthusiasm and great joy in playing together. They approached the match against Al-Ain the way I like, thanks to the work we’re doing. I’m happy; I’ve felt good with the team from day one and there’s a great energy around us, even in the club.”
He also emphasized the club’s ambition:
“I hope we can achieve great things together, because the history of this club is about achieving great things.”
The Elkann Effect: “He Is a Constant, Positive, and Important Presence”
A key moment in the press conference was Tudor’s praise for John Elkann, Juventus’ chairman:
“Is John Elkann close to us? He is a constant, positive, and important presence. If I may say so, he makes his presence felt in the right way, with the right words. I really liked how he spoke to the players in Turin. There’s a lot of energy from him, the players felt it and took it as further motivation. After the game, he was happy with the performance and the energy he saw on the pitch.”
Living in the Present: “I Don’t Think About the Finish Line”
Looking ahead, Tudor remained grounded and focused on the present:
“Qualifying early would be nice, of course, but you can’t plan anything. You have to think match by match. Surprises in the tournament? Certainly, there are some. We have to make sure we’re not one of the negative surprises, and that’s my job and the players’ job.”
He concluded with a message about staying focused:
“Are we more optimistic than when we started? It’s too early; we’ve only played one game. I don’t look at these things, I don’t think about the finish line, I think about what we have to do, training session by training session. We have to live in the present, learn from the past, and build the future today.”
