Tudor insists: ‘Anything is possible’ for Juventus with the right preparation | OneFootball

Igor Tudor believes that Juventus ‘can achieve anything’ with the right approach and preparation, and insists that he is not feeling the pressure of playing for Champions League qualification ahead of the crucial Serie A match against Bologna on Sunday evening.

Fourth-placed Juventus will face off against the fifth-placed Bologna on Sunday night, with just one point separating the two teams with four games of the 2024-25 campaign left to play.

Roma and Lazio are both also in contention and sit just two points behind Juventus, and eighth-placed Fiorentina three points off the top four, which means that the race for Champions League qualification is still wide open.

Tudor gives Bologna-Juventus preview

ROME, ITALY – APRIL 06: Igor Tudor, Head Coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on April 06, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Tudor began his pre-match press conference with an update on his unavailable players, revealing that he will be without six key first teamers against Bologna.

“There will be no Yildiz, Koopmeiners, Gatti, Cabal or Bremer. Unfortunately, Vlahovic will not be there either. He tried today, but he won’t be there,” Tudor said on Saturday, reported via TMW.

“We’re missing a few players, but I’m sure we’ll play a good game,”

Kenan Yildiz, who has been given a two-game suspension, will not be able to play against Bologna, but will be watching on from the stands on what will be his 20th birthday. Tudor warns that this is no time for celebration, though.

TURIN, ITALY – MARCH 09: Match Referee Simone Sozza shows a yellow card to Kenan Yildiz of Juventus during the Serie A match between Juventus and Atalanta at the Allianz Stadium on March 09, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“Nobody is celebrating tomorrow, because we have to play. Yildiz’s birthday has nothing to do with it. He had a great week of work, he’ll come to watch the game, he cares.”

Tudor on Juventus mentality and requirements for the end of season

Reporters asked Tudor what he makes of Juventus’s struggles in ‘big matches’ so far in 2024-25, but he feels that he cannot be held responsible for things that took place before he took over from Thiago Motta.

“Those are situations that concern the past. I can’t comment on the mental state of the team before I was here,” Tudor said.

“Roma-Juventus was an important match, done well, with personality. The games are all important, as it was against Monza.

“The team has shown that they are ready. There are just a few of these finals, as everyone calls them, and we’re ready. They are important. One at a time, as we always say. We’ve prepared for Bologna, for their football, their characteristics. Let’s see who comes out on top.”

TURIN, ITALY – DECEMBER 07: Samuel Mbangula of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammates during the Serie A match between Juventus and Bologna at Allianz Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Tudor was also asked whether having a smaller squad at his disposal helps those who are available, knowing that they will have a key role to play in the run-in.

He replied: “I hope so. I gave a speech today leaning in that direction, in terms of creating, motivating, mental state, from a competitive point of view, it’s something special. Even those who don’t play are important.

“As I always say, the coach indicates the way of playing, the players are the ones who step out and must have a strong goal in front of them.

“When the team prepares in the way I like it, they can achieve anything, regardless of the opponent, strong or not. My hope is that this team will be able to do something special.”

Tudor on Bologna and pressure of Champions League qualification

MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 11: The UEFA Champions League trophy is cleaned as it is displayed on a plinth at the side of the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and Feyenoord at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on March 11, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Asked if the pressure of playing for Champions League qualification will have an affect on Juventus’s performance, Tudor said: “I don’t think it changes. Sometimes it helps you, sometimes it gives you more pressure. It’s easier when you just focus on the task ahead. It’s better not to think about the Champions League or the run-in, just think about having a good game.

“It’s difficult to change in a month. We work daily on having the right values. People are made to understand, the younger ones, what it means.”

The Juventus head coach went on to give his assessment of Bologna from a sporting point of view.

“Bologna have been working together for years in terms of their football and choice of players. They’re a team that is difficult to face with their running, grit, desire in duels and everything that modern football represents. If you don’t go as quickly as the opponent, your quality doesn’t shine through. Bologna has understood this sort of thing for years.

“In modern football, physicality cancels out quality so much. And I repeat: Quality is always important, but without (physicality), it doesn’t exist. Bologna have a lot of this here: With the characteristics of their players, they can play that type of football.”