Following their recent defeat to Como, Juventus are taking a closer look at Igor Tudor’s work as head coach. With challenging fixtures ahead against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Lazio in Serie A, the Croatian’s position is under scrutiny. La Gazzetta dello Sport have compared his early results this season with those achieved by Thiago Motta during the same period last year.
The Motta Era
Under Thiago Motta, Juventus began the 2024–25 campaign with a strong run of form. The Italo-Brazilian manager guided the team to two emphatic league victories — 3-0 wins over both Como and Verona — followed by three consecutive goalless draws against Roma, Empoli and Napoli. They then beat Genoa 3-0 away from home, drew 1-1 with Cagliari, and also recorded two notable Champions League wins: 3-1 against PSV in Turin and 3-2 away to RB Leipzig.
In total, Motta’s Juventus achieved five wins and four draws from their first nine competitive matches — an unbeaten start that set a confident tone for the season.
The Tudor Start
This season, under Igor Tudor, Juventus’ results have been less convincing. The team began with three Serie A victories — 2-0 over Parma, 1-0 against Genoa, and a thrilling 4-3 triumph against Inter — followed by draws with Verona and Atalanta (both 1-1) and a goalless stalemate with Milan.
In the Champions League, the Bianconeri shared the spoils in two high-scoring encounters, drawing 4-4 with Borussia Dortmund and 2-2 with Villarreal. However, the unbeaten run ended with a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Como.
Across nine matches, Tudor’s record stands at three wins, five draws and one loss — a less impressive start compared to Motta’s.
Comparing the Two
While Tudor’s Juventus have shown resilience and attacking intent, especially in their dramatic win over Inter, the consistency and control that characterised Motta’s early tenure appear to be missing. Motta’s side not only remained unbeaten but also managed to keep several clean sheets and secure valuable victories in Europe.
