On the eve of Juventus’ historic debut at the Club World Cup, head coach Igor Tudor shared his thoughts with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Tudor addressed the team’s mindset, recent changes, and expectations for the tournament, offering a candid look at his approach and ambitions.
Not a New Beginning, But a Continuation
“I wouldn’t call it a new beginning; it’s more of a continuation. The team is the same, except for Rugani and Kostic who have returned from loan, and it’s an advantage to keep working with players who have already absorbed so much in recent months. We’re not starting from scratch—there’s a foundation that helps a lot, and there are certainly fewer things the players don’t know. I know the boys well, both personally and professionally.”
No Uncertainty Inside the Squad
“Whether in the league or during these three weeks, I never felt any uncertainty within the team. For me, everything was always very clear. Maybe from the outside, you might have had a different impression, but I assure you I always felt good, and the boys were exceptional for their professionalism and willingness to make sacrifices. I was in a mental bubble, totally focused.”
On Club Changes
“These are decisions made by the ownership, and I don’t get involved. I do my job.”
“Juventus Always Plays to Win”
“It’s true, I was sure we would achieve our goal (the Champions League), and we did. But the Club World Cup is different—we’ve had an unusual preparation due to national team commitments, and I haven’t had the full squad. The players, however, know the objectives when you’re at this club: you always play to win.”
Elkann’s Motivational Speech
“What motivated us was President Elkann, who came to visit us at Continassa to urge us to go to the World Cup with the desire to win. He was very clear—I saw him energetic, and he reiterated strong messages, true Juve messages, and the boys appreciated it.”
The Players’ Support
“Did the team push for my confirmation? Of course, it’s normal that Andrea (Cambiaso) would say that, otherwise I’d drop him… Joking aside, it’s nice because, in the end, what matters are the players and what they think. I’m demanding as a coach, even in a world where consistency is fading and problems are often swept under the rug, I remain myself. I don’t hide things. In a week, with matches, travel, and rest, a player does two or three training sessions where he’s exhausted—that’s the bare minimum for me. You can’t avoid it. A coach now has to manage everything and try to be fair.”
An Endless Season and Growing Competition
“I see football where people play more and retire later, because they eat better, have private trainers, and many things that help extend careers. Management always depends on the coach. I can say that when you hear the Champions League anthem, there’s no more fatigue—everyone wants to play. You have to be good at always fielding your best team without overworking them. There’s a lot of enthusiasm for this World Cup—we’ve recovered Gatti and Koopmeiners, as well as Locatelli, who was injured with the national team. Now there’s more competition, and the training matches are high level.”
No Minimum Target, Just Focus
“It’s all new, so it’s hard to have an opinion—we don’t know the opponents well and the competition is still to be discovered. As we go forward, we’ll have clearer ideas, but we don’t have a minimum target. I never fixate on that; we just focus on our work and on ourselves.”
Tactics and Mentality
“We’ll have a basic system, but it will be interpreted as needed. I’m not obsessed with numbers. There will be variations—I don’t believe some formations are more modern than others. Only the style of play and player choices determine if a team is more or less attacking.”
“I like pressing—everyone does it. It’s great to push forward, but you also have to track back. You shouldn’t give up anything. Football is more demanding than ever; you can’t be superficial, you have to be open and not let labels define you.”
The Transfer Market and Building a Competitive Team
“What I said before, I still believe. With three signings, the team will be competitive. Plus, we’ll have an important player like Bremer back, who is training with us here in the United States, and Cabal as well. I’m happy with my players, and the club will do its best. I’m sure we’ll be stronger than last year.”
Respect for Al-Ain and Wydad
“They’re two teams not to be underestimated—they come from less-followed leagues, but they know how to win. It’s not easy to prepare for matches against clubs you know so little about. We’ve studied them, but there are still unknowns. That’s why we need maximum focus. In the end, it’s us against ourselves.”
