Igor Tudor opened up about his plans and goals with Lazio, his memories of his time with Juventus and the state of his squad ahead of their final two months of the season.
The Croatian coach has a tall task ahead of him with nine Serie A matches remaining, needing to try and take the team up the league table and into the European spots. They currently sit ninth, 11 points behind fourth place Bologna, making a Champions League finish unlikely.
Tudor impressed in the dugout during his times with Hellas Verona and Olympique Marseille, and the hope is that he’ll now be able to kickstart a new era following the end of Maurizio Sarri’s reign in the Italian capital.
Speaking in a press conference (via TMW), Tudor first discussed his first 11 days with the Lazio squad.
They all returned without injuries, and this is important. The problem is that they arrived late, and we did little work. We worked well with the others in six or seven training sessions. The boys had the right application and desire.
The team must be the mirror of the coach, but it takes time and patience to transform this Lazio. I’ve been here a little while. I’ll try to do it quickly, but the team won’t be perfect, but we will work.
The Croatian coach was asked about his emotions ahead of his debut with the Biancocelesti.
The feelings are always positive, in sport you always think about the challenge, of being able to win. Sport is joy.
It will be beautiful, there will be many motivations, but it must be prepared in the right way from every point of view. I think about preparing the team and not about emotions.
He reflected on his time with Juventus.
I don’t believe in the fate that Juventus faces immediately. I spent seven or eight years there, in the period where a person is built. I’m grateful to Juventus. I had teammates and managers who made me become who I am now, especially due to the work culture.
Tudor was asked about his plans to shake up the defence.
There are two things that penalize this change. Lazio have been working this way for three years and then there was Sarri who is a strong coach. You have to be smart.
The formation is important but not as many people think. Maybe you start with a system, but then it becomes another pattern. The three-man defence? You’ll see it soon, we’ll see tomorrow.
He discussed the need for players to prove themselves.
It’s a delicate situation, everyone will necessarily have to play. It’s the first match, after the international break, and then there are two matches in four days. The five substitutes are important. I also have to understand the team, training is one thing, matches are another.
I have to evaluate players who can improve and who can follow your football. Then you have to win, you have to do well right away, you need to be tough and have the right quality.
The 45-year-old spoke about Ciro Immobile’s position with Italy and if they’ve discussed it.
I don’t read social media and newspapers, it would be suicide. I think about working, both when things are going well and when they are going badly. I spoke to Ciro twice on this topic too, I saw him very motivated.
I think he cares about the national team, it depends only on him in these two months. He has always scored, I think he will do it again.
I count on him a lot, he is a guy with not only footballing but also human qualities. I know him, I’m convinced that it will be an important two months.
Tudor spoke about the core players in the Lazio squad.
There is always respect for the past, but you don’t live in the past. Football is cruel. We have to win, the team counts.
He was asked about the position of Daichi Kamada.
In Germany he played both front and back, he is a complete player, he has stamina and playing quality. I think that, if I’m honest, he is better suited to this football than the previous one. He is not technically very clean, but he has other qualities that I really like.
He has the right mentality and then he scores goals, a skill that makes the difference. I also saw him looking very cheerful and eager, we’ll see on the pitch.
Finally, Tudor spoke about the state he found his new squad.
They are eager and very proud. They are not ninth place players, they want to redeem themselves.
In 10 days, they are all perfect because the new coach is there, but with time we will understand better. You see real people later, in battle, when they don’t play or have to come on.
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