Few people understand Juventus’s spirit and identity better than Alessio Tacchinardi. The former midfielder, speaking to La Repubblica, analysed the turbulent period the Bianconeri are currently facing and shared his candid thoughts on the team’s decline, Igor Tudor’s dismissal, and the possible future of the club.
Tacchinardi did not hold back in his criticism of the side’s current form:
“A Juventus in freefall — that’s what we’re seeing today. There’s no identity, no style of play. Watching the team against Lazio, it looked like a side fighting for sixth or even tenth place. What’s at risk here are not just points, but also money, prestige, and history. This team doesn’t need just a jolt; it needs an electric shock.”
He went on to highlight the lack of leadership and character within the squad:
“There are no real leaders, no players with strength and charisma who take responsibility. Del Piero is right — there are no men with the Juve DNA anymore. The ones who give everything, confront teammates who don’t, those who suffer when they don’t win — those figures are missing. I was in Madrid, and there I saw people happy to lose but proud of their effort. That attitude is not worthy of Juventus.”
Tacchinardi also commented on Tudor’s sacking, expressing both sympathy and realism:
“His dismissal is like a stab to the heart. Tudor brought back character, mentality, and adrenaline. But he made mistakes — too many changes, too many statements that went beyond acceptable limits. You could see he wasn’t used to handling this kind of pressure. I’m sorry for him because he’s a friend, but I don’t think there was any other solution. The risk now is damaging the entire season.”
Looking ahead, the former player believes the team’s future depends entirely on the players:
“It’s up to them now. Against Lazio, some just disappeared from the pitch. If Juventus rediscover the spirit they had at the start of the season, they can recover — but they’ll need to work hard for it.”
Finally, Tacchinardi weighed in on potential successors for Tudor:
“Spalletti has a real hunger for redemption after the disappointment with the national team. He has managed difficult situations and favours attacking, dominant football — the kind that fans in Turin love. Mancini? I’m not sure if he still has the fire inside. Palladino’s ideas are promising, but he’s never managed a crisis of this magnitude.”
