Juventus: Is Igor Tudor any different from Thiago Motta?

08/10/2025 16:14:00 PANDATV

The 0-0 draw with AC Milan was Juventus' fifth straight match across all competitions (three in Serie A, two in the Champions League) without a win or loss. The boos ringing out at Allianz after the match signal a warning: the fans' patience has run out, and the ghost of an old crisis is returning.

This is not an unfamiliar feeling. It brings back the nightmare from the first half of last season when Juventus, under coach Thiago Motta, were trapped in a continuous series of draws, setting a regrettable record unlikely to be surpassed: 13 draws in the first 20 games. Although the circumstances of the last five draws differ—from frantic score chases to stalemates—they all share a troubling trait: Juventus always fell short by one goal to decide the match.

Coach Igor Tudor once injected a breath of fresh excitement. The explosive and courageous 4-3 victory over Inter Milan in the Derby d'Italia sparked great hope that a powerful and spirited Juventus had returned. However, just weeks later, that hope quickly disappeared. Five draws in a row have caused people to question: is Tudor truly different from Thiago Motta, who failed to build a distinct identity and winning spirit for the team before being fired and replaced by Tudor himself?

Ineffective attack, Juve falls into a draw crisis again

The biggest problem for Juventus right now lies in their attack, a "weapon arsenal" worth over 100 million euros, yet currently "out of ammo." All three of their expensive strikers are experiencing a worrying goal drought. New signing Jonathan David has been silent since scoring in his debut against Parma on August 24th. Dusan Vlahovic has not added to his tally since his brace against Dortmund on September 16th. Most concerning is Lois Openda, another newcomer, who has yet to score since joining Juve at the end of the summer transfer window.

Tudor has been constantly adjusting, trying every possible combination—from starting David to pairing Vlahovic and Openda in the second half against Milan. Yet the outcome remains unchanged: his strikers cannot find the net. It seems Tudor’s "democratic" rotation policy has backfired. The continual changes have created heavy psychological pressure, where every forward feels, "If I don't score, I'll be benched next match." This vicious cycle has caused all three attackers to lose their killer instinct simultaneously.

Igor Tudor must utilize the two-week FIFA break to solve the attacking dilemma. Otherwise, Juventus risks sliding down the same path of failure they faced last season.

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