“It’s great to face Guardiola; he’s the best coach in the world. We always step onto the field to win against Manchester City. I’ve never played for a draw,” declared Igor Tudor, looking ahead to the upcoming clash against City (9 PM Italian time, 3 PM in Orlando). Juventus, already qualified for the round of 16 alongside the English side, only needs a draw to secure first place in Group G, thanks to their superior goal difference from the first two matches against Al Ain and Wydad. The Juve coach emphasized, “Qualifying for the next round was a small objective we achieved, and that feels good. But now, we won’t make any calculations; we’ll continue taking it one game at a time.”
(Video Caption: Social reactions to Juve-Wydad: “Yildiz is Ballon d`Or material,” “Tudor, a true leader.”)
New Juve Approach
Given the tight schedule, Orlando`s intense heat, and their secure spot in the round of 16, Tudor plans to rotate half the squad. Kostic, Koopmeiners, Locatelli, Nico Gonzalez, and Vlahovic are all set to start. The Bianconeri coach stated, “It’s appropriate to make some changes, and we will certainly do so. I agree with Guardiola; it’s impossible to push as hard as you’d like in this heat. Indeed, Pep has already changed his starting eleven twice.”
From Yildiz to Kostic: Player Assessments
The Club World Cup is further strengthening the bond between the Croatian coach and his players. Igor isn`t one to hand out praise freely, but he seems increasingly connected to his team. “Yildiz is playing well, but he`s not the only one; naturally, those who score goals like him catch the eye more,” Tudor added. “Kenan`s strength lies in his love for football; he pushes from the first minute to the last in training and never holds back – that`s a rare and wonderful quality. Khephren Thuram also played a great game against Wydad, and Costa is solid. Conceicao had some calf discomfort and will be on the bench against City.”
Tudor extended compliments to everyone, including Savona: “Nicolò needs a bit more weight and strength, but he can grow, and we`re working on it. However, Savona also possesses many qualities: he`s professional, humble, quick, and understands what`s happening on the field. These are important values, increasingly rare. And what a pleasant surprise Kostic has been: he has excellent stamina, I really like him.” The Serbian winger, back from his loan spell at Fenerbahçe, will be one of the new faces against City, deployed on the left instead of Cambiaso.
And David… Transfer Market Speculation
While Juventus progresses in the Club World Cup, the transfer market remains active. General Manager Damien Comolli continues to travel between the United States and Italy, managing numerous negotiations, including for Jonathan David, the striker released by Lille and reportedly close to joining the Bianconeri. When asked about “David to Juventus?”, Tudor concisely replied, “Right now, we need to focus on the World Cup and Manchester City.”
(Video Caption: Juve training session ahead of City clash: Conceicao misses the session.)
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