Juventus is scheduled to play Real Madrid today in a friendly tournament match. Yesterday, the team trained in Orlando under heavy rain. Federico Gatti did not participate in the session due to a fever. Despite this, the number 4 defender is competing with Daniele Rugani for a place in the central defense against Real Madrid. Coach Tudor will assess Gatti`s condition today before making a final decision. In midfield, there is a positional doubt on the right flank, contested by McKennie and Alberto Costa. The American seems to be the preferred choice over the Portuguese player. The rest of the lineup appears decided, with Conceicao and Yildiz positioned to support striker Kolo Muani.
Igor Tudor addressed the press yesterday, emphasizing the scale of the challenge against Real Madrid. He acknowledged their esteemed status and quality, stating, “I expect a difficult match against a renowned team with great quality, one that has proven its worth across all competitions over the past decade. Real Madrid is consistently strong in these tournaments. We are prepared and determined to advance, to play our game.” Tudor also commented positively on Real Madrid`s recent performance, noting “quality, teamwork, and sacrifice – a true team.” However, the Croatian coach also strongly encouraged his own players: “It will be a tough game, and we`ve analyzed it thoroughly. But I told my players that these are the most beautiful matches to be involved in. Everyone wants to beat Real Madrid, and we aim to do the same. We must approach it with this mindset, and with significant courage.”
According to Coach Tudor, Juventus has already moved past their recent defeat against Manchester City. He stated, “Defeat is a part of the game and life; you accept it and move forward. Tomorrow is a new match; we advanced from the group phase, and now we face the first tie in the next stage of the competition.” Juventus is eager to perform strongly and achieve a memorable result, fully aware of Real Madrid`s capabilities. The team has meticulously prepared for the encounter. Tudor particularly stressed the need for meticulous attention to detail against Real Madrid: “The difficulty of this challenge is obvious, but we must believe and make every effort to perform at our absolute best to win and advance. Of course, the opponent is also a factor, but we need to believe, run intensely, make sacrifices, avoid errors, and concede the bare minimum. I believe we can do it; we`ll see what happens once the match begins.”
