Juventus have been warned by club legend Alessandro Del Piero that Igor Tudor's sacking will not solve the problems at the club. The former Italy international has explained that the issues inside the club are more complex than what the decision-makers believe and that it is not a coaching problem which has led to their dismal start to the campaign.
What led to Tudor's sacking?
A 1-0 loss to Lazio in Serie A on Sunday saw the Juventus board fire head coach Tudor. The Bianconeri have rarely produced magical moments and seldom showcased dominance in the league. The Serie A campaign kick-started on a bright note, as they defeated Parma, Genoa and heavyweights Inter. However, the game against Cristian Chivu's side was in fact the last fixture that saw them emerge triumphant. Since then, they have been held to five successive draws and three consecutive losses.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportClub legend Del Piero addresses Juventus' issue
After Tudor was relieved of his duties, former player and club legend Del Piero sneaked into the fray. He defended the Croatian and highlighted that coaching was not the root problem. Rather, the club has certain complex issues to address. He said: "I don't think the word confusion is the most appropriate for Igor. I know him well as a player and a boy, I even spoke to him in Madrid: it's not a question of confusion. Juve doesn't have a coaching problem but a more complex one, regarding how the team has come together in this start to the season and the results. The team has shown it is alive, it hasn't played poorly and perhaps the draw was fairer . They also did well in Madrid, the problem was in Como. I don't think this team could win the championship with another coach. It's a broader issue. They still don't have a starting eleven: not because Tudor doesn't want to have them or because he wants to make everyone lively, but because beyond 2-3 players like Yildiz and Thuram, the others have struggled to perform consistently. You can't always blame the coach alone. Looking at the strongest teams in Italy and Europe, more or less all of them have a starting eleven chosen."
Tudor was not concerned about getting sacked
The seven-game winless run ahead of the Lazio game might have created buzz in Italy about Tudor's position under scrutiny. However, the Croatian was never interested in such rumours and pressure. In fact, before the Lazio game, he made some bold comments when questioned about his future. He said: "Honestly, I don’t have this fear, not at all. I enjoy it, even in difficulties. I’m aware of what’s around me. It’s all clear to me. When you see things clearly, you have a strength that you wouldn’t have had in other moments. I think about how to motivate players, make them rest, and find solutions."
The issue raised by Del Piero was touched upon by Tudor after the Lazio game. He said to the reporters: "I think we prepared for the match in the right way, but we’re still missing something. There’s no need to dramatise the situation, we’re all responsible for this difficult period."
AFPWho are Juventus considering as Tudor's replacement?
This is the second time that Juventus have changed their head coach before November in a season. The last time it happened was way back in 1969, when the Bianconeri replaced Luis Carniglia with Ercole Rabitti. The Old Lady have fixtures in quick succession. On Wednesday, they will be up against Udinese at home, before taking on Cremonese in an away match on Saturday. However, they would need to finalise a new head coach soon. As per a report in Juventus are aiming to get former Italy national team manager Luciano Spalletti on board. Initial contact has been established between the parties, with the project and financial conditions being discussed. In case the deal doesn't see daylight, Juventus will be expected to turn to Roberto Mancini, who was once looked upon as a favourite to replace Thiago Motta last year.