Juventus head coach Igor Tudor has elaborated on his detailed `psychological` work with forwards Jonathan David and Lois Openda. Concurrently, he lauded the exceptional talent of Luka Modric, his compatriot, while humorously expressing his hope that Modric has an unusually poor performance in their upcoming fixture.
These insights emerged from a press conference Tudor held on Saturday, just before Juventus`s critical Serie A encounter with Milan. The Croatian strategist confirmed his ongoing rotation policy among his attacking players, stating he has not yet designated a primary striker from the trio of David, Openda, and Dusan Vlahovic. Nevertheless, current reports indicate that Vlahovic is anticipated to start against Milan.
Tudor`s Focus on Striker Motivation and Performance
“I work with David and Openda from a psychological point of view. My aim is to extract their best performance through the choices I make for each match,” Tudor explained, highlighting his nuanced approach to player management.
The highly anticipated match will feature a significant presence in Milan`s squad: Luka Modric. Tudor has a personal connection with Modric, having played alongside him for the Croatian national team.
“I had the privilege of playing with Modric in the national team. Together, we etched our names into our country’s history. A player of his caliber, simply put, will never be seen again,” Tudor stated, offering a heartfelt tribute to Modric`s unparalleled skill.
“No other player even comes close; he is twice as good as anyone else. What he is achieving now, performing at such a high level at 40 years old, is something I have genuinely never witnessed before. I am immensely proud of him. That said, let`s just hope he plays badly tomorrow,” the Juventus coach concluded with a wry smile, balancing profound respect with a competitive spirit.
