Juventus: What mission for Igor Tudor?

Juventus is turning a new page. Igor Tudor, a well-known figure among the Bianconeri, officially takes the reins of the team with a clear objective: to qualify the Old Lady for the next Champions League.

A former Juve player for seven seasons and a member of Andrea Pirlo's staff in 2020, the Croatian coach returns to familiar territory. But this time, the challenge is of a whole different scale. Known for his role as a "firefighter," he has already saved Udinese and Verona from relegation and led Lazio to the Europa League after succeeding Maurizio Sarri. Now, he must revive a struggling Juventus and secure a top 4 spot in Serie A.

A locker room under pressure, a first test against Vieira

The atmosphere at Continassa has significantly improved following the departure of Thiago Motta, a sign of the tensions that had built up in recent weeks. Tudor wasted no time in tightening the ranks, placing the entire team in a training camp at the club's hotel before the match against Genoa. Outside the establishment, several hundred tifosi chanted their desire to see "11 lions" on the pitch.

A message received loud and clear by Tudor, who waved to the crowd from his window. His first Serie A test will be against another football legend: Patrick Vieira, coach of Genoa. A confrontation between two tacticians with a direct and intense style.

What formation to revive the Old Lady?

Tudor has already made his mark in training. His preferred formation will be a 3-4-2-1, with a central role for Dušan Vlahović, back in the starting eleven. Locatelli and Thuram will take charge of the midfield, while Koopmeiners and Yildiz will be tasked with energizing the attack. In defense, a few doubts still linger, notably on the right flank where Weah and Nico Gonzalez are vying for a starting spot.

Juventus hasn't scored in two matches and must urgently regain their offensive efficiency. Tudor has proven he knows how to finish seasons strong: in the last nine games with Lazio last year, he collected 18 points, a record only surpassed by Gian Piero Gasperini (19 points). Historically, Juve is the favorite against Genoa. In 113 Serie A confrontations, the Bianconeri have won 68 times against only 22 for the Ligurian club. But beware: numbers alone are not enough to win. Tudor must now prove he is the man for the job.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr