Juventus Midfielder Praises Igor Tudor Instant Impact | OneFootball

Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli hailed Igor Tudor’s early impact in the dugout and thanked former boss Thiago Motta. Locatelli helped the Bianconeri squeeze past Genoa on the Croat’s touchline debut last night and bounce back from two catastrophic results in Serie A.

Kenan Yildiz’s strike midway through the first half saw Juventus beat the Griffins 1-0 at the Allianz Stadium. It was a must-win clash for the record-time Italian champions after Atalanta and Fiorentina humbled them in consecutive league games before the international break.

Conceding seven unanswered goals in those defeats made Juventus sack Motta during the two-week hiatus from club football. They have subsequently appointed Tudor as an interim boss until the end of the season, hoping to close a one-point gap to fourth-placed Bologna.

“We have to concentrate and look ahead. The former coach should be thanked because he gave his all, but now a new chapter begins and we must be ready to give everything,” Locatelli told the club’s website after the match.

“Tudor brought energy and asked us to give everything for the shirt, and we must respond with hard work,” the Juventus midfielder continued. “We are a strong group with very talented youngsters who have to learn what it means to wear this shirt. I believe that, with the right commitment, we can achieve great results.”

After a triumphant start in Turin, Tudor will face a more formidable challenge in his second game in charge of Juventus, with Roma hosting the Bianconeri at the Stadio Olimpico next weekend.