The Bianconeri team did not go beyond 1-1 against Lazio in the Champions Challenge: a huge problem has emerged with the Tudor management
Juventus, non solo il pari con la Lazio: c’è Tudor c’è un problema enorme (Ansa Foto) – SerieAnews
It all happens at the last breath. One more time. Juventus and Lazio play for their sporting lives in a match that smells of Champions, and when the Bianconeri were already savoring three very heavy points, here comes the twist: Vecino freezes everyone in the 96th minute and signs the 1-1.
A cold shower for Tudor, which threatens to jeopardize an already shaky run-up to fourth place. But if the final episode hurts, it is the context that worries. Because the Juventus that concedes goals in recovery is the same one that, increasingly, finds itself a man down. And so perhaps it is time to pause for a moment and ask: What is really going on?
Juve, problema di “disciplina” con Tudor
Since Igor Tudor has been on the Juventus bench, the numbers tell a very different story from what Thiago Motta had accustomed us to. The most striking statistic? The red cards. In just seven games, the Bianconeri have collected two: Yildiz against Monza, Kalulu with Lazio.
Juve, problema di “disciplina” con Tudor (Lapresse) – SerieAnews
These are not tactical fouls or double cautions, but direct expulsions, for violent conduct. And the trend does not improve if we broaden the field to yellow cards: it went from an average of 1.72 per game under Motta to 2.42 under Tudor. A 40 percent increase, which cannot be just a coincidence.
Perhaps it is the setting of the game, perhaps a different emotional management of the game, or perhaps – simply – a sign that something at the mental level is not turning as it should.
Punti persi e leadership mancata: un problema più profondo?
But the cards are only a symptom. The real problem, perhaps, is deeper and concerns the mental toughness of the team. Vecino’s goal is only the latest in a long series: this season, from a lead situation, Juve has lost as many as 23 points. Only Venezia and Como have done worse in the entire Serie A.
On the other side is Milan, which has recovered 22 points from losing situations. These numbers speak for themselves: Juventus is struggling to manage, to suffer, to close games. It’s not enough to get ahead, you need to hold up the pressure.
And there it all comes out: the lack of experience in some key roles, the absence of real leadership on the field, and that growing nervousness that leads to avoidable fouls, unnecessary protest, and gratuitous reds. Tudor has called for character and identity, but the team still seems far from responding presently.
And at this point, the real question is not just how to get to the Champions League, but whether this Juventus is really ready, today, to play at a high level. Or whether an even deeper change of course is needed.
The feeling is that motivational speeches are no longer enough. Choices are needed, a clear plan is needed. And perhaps, even before that, we need to figure out who can really hold the weight of that jersey when the clock marks 90′ and everything still hangs in the balance.
This article Juventus, not just the draw with Lazio: there’s Tudor there’s a huge problem appeared in its original version first on SerieANews.
