Juventus may not have delivered a dominant performance, but for newly appointed head coach Igor Tudor, securing a 1-0 victory over Genoa on Saturday was all that mattered. The win at the Allianz Stadium helped steady the ship after recent heavy defeats to Atalanta and Fiorentina, providing a positive start to Tudor’s tenure.
Tudor, who was appointed on Sunday to replace the sacked Thiago Motta, emphasized the significance of the result while acknowledging that much work remains. “The first thing that should be noted is that we played against a serious team like Genoa. It was a deserved win,” Tudor told reporters. “It was important to start with a victory, for everyone. Many players had a good game, this is positive. I noticed that there is a lot of room for improvement, and this will make us start the week well. We have to work hard.”
The Croatian’s appointment was met with enthusiasm from the Juventus faithful, who chanted his name before kick-off, delighted to see a former club player take the reins. “I heard the chants of the fans, and it was emotional,” Tudor admitted. “But the victory is more beautiful than these emotions. This was important for the fans. It was nice, but I was focused because it was important to start in the right way.”
Kenan Yildiz provided the decisive moment in the 25th minute, netting a brilliant solo goal to secure all three points for the Bianconeri. Juventus now sit just one point behind fourth-placed Bologna as they continue their push for Champions League qualification.
Reflecting on his goal and the managerial change, Yildiz expressed both gratitude and optimism. “It was a good goal, one of my best. Hopefully, I can score normal goals too. We are happy now, we’re a good squad and worked hard,” Yildiz told DAZN. “I thank Motta; we did all we could with him. The new coach brought fresh energy.”
With a crucial first win under his belt, Tudor now faces the challenge of refining his squad and ensuring Juventus remains competitive in the race for a top-four finish.
