It's an eternal start again for Juventus. With each new project, the same promises, the same hopes, and ultimately the same disillusionments. The 2-0 defeat on Como's pitch revived images already too well known in the club's recent history: an amorphous team, without a clear game plan, and a coach suddenly placed at the center of criticism. Goals from Kempf and Nico Paz not only inflicted the first defeat of the season under Tudor, they also symbolized a new moral collapse. After seven days of Serie A, Juventus has only 12 points and leaves the Champions League zone, far from the summits occupied by Inter, Roma and Naples. The Piedmontese club, which aspired to return to the forefront, seems once again prisoner of its demons with inconsistent performances, lackluster play and managers forced to evaluate, prematurely, the fate of their coach.
For Igor Tudor, this defeat could mark a turning point. Although this is his third since taking office, this one has a very different scope. Juventus has not won since September 13 (4-3 against Inter) and remains on a worrying series of six games without a victory in all competitions. Internal tensions don't help matters: the relationship between Tudor and general manager Damien Comolli, described as “cold”, is the subject of numerous rumors in Turin, as highlighted Calciomercato And La Gazzetta dello Sport. Management questions the management of recruits, notably David and Openda, and the glaring lack of creativity in midfield. The team seems to have lost its identity and its aggressiveness, elements which had characterized the first weeks of the Tudor era. The Croatian coach, known for his temperament, now seems exhausted, almost resigned, as evidenced by his self-effacing attitude on the bench against Como, letting his assistant Javorcic and even Perin take over to galvanize the group.
A future suspended between Madrid and Rome
The match against Como revealed all the structural flaws of the current Juventus. Tudor had tried a tactical gamble by abandoning its three-way defense for an unprecedented 4-3-3, but the result was catastrophic. Kalulu, placed on the right, was feverish on the first goal, while the middle trio (Koopmeiners, Locatelli, Thuram) lacked balance and creativity. In front, David and Yildiz were invisible, isolated in a diagram without a binder. Kempf's goal in the fourth minute shattered all confidence, and Juventus never seemed capable of reacting collectively. Conceicao's few individual flashes were quickly stifled by Como's defensive discipline. When Nico Paz scored the second goal in the 79th minute, the face of the Bianconeri was that of a team without soul, without pride, almost resigned to its fate. A terrible image for a club which still wants to be a symbol of ambition and rigor.
Juventus' problems are not limited to the pitch. The summer transfer window sowed confusion in an already weakened squad. The summer was marked by the Vlahovic soap opera: announced on departure, the Serbian striker ultimately stayed, complicating offensive planning and internal hierarchies. At the same time, the club has increased its recruitment in the offensive sector with David, Openda, Conceicao, while neglecting a midfielder who is struggling to keep up the pace. As a result, it is a squad rich in attackers but devoid of relays between the lines. Tudor tried to experiment, without ever finding the right formula. His team suffers from a lack of cohesion and balance, and his game plan, based on intensity and verticality, comes up against the reality of a fragmented workforce. Recent choices, such as the sidelining of Openda in Como or the persistence of Koopmeiners despite his disappointing performances, reflect a deeper malaise, both tactical and psychological.
The schedule leaves no respite for Igor Tudor. On Wednesday, Juventus faces Real Madrid in the Champions League, before a crucial trip to Rome to challenge Lazio. Two very high-risk meetings, which could seal the fate of the Croatian coach. An immediate reaction is essential: a new defeat could precipitate a radical decision by management. In Madrid, it will take an exploit to rekindle the flame and in Rome, it will above all be a question of saving his position: “Am I worried? Whether he wins or loses, the coach must always be worried, in the strict sense. Everything always worries me, it's the life of a coach: victory, defeat, draw, you have to be worried. What can we improve? We'll discuss it in the locker room“, declared Tudor this Sunday. The general impression is that of Juventus losing its bearings, tired, trapped in a cycle of unfulfilled promises. If Tudor fails to restore a clear identity to his team, the club will not hesitate to consider a change mid-season – a scenario already well known in Turin which has almost become a modern tradition. For now, his future hangs on a tightrope, between the need for immediate results and the pressure of a locker room looking for certainty.
