Juventus Coach Downplays Comparisons Between Yildiz and Del Piero
Juventus coach Igor Tudor praises Kenan Yildiz's mentality and talent, urging media not to put pressure on the young player ahead of the Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.
“We played against the strongest team in Serie A in terms of squad potential and we won without playing at our best...”
Juventus coach Igor Tudor is keeping his players focused ahead of their Champions League opener against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. After a thrilling 4-3 win over Inter Milan in Serie A, Tudor wants his team to stay grounded and aware that the Champions League is a tougher competition.
“We played against the strongest team in Serie A and won without playing at our best,” Tudor said, emphasizing the need for improvement. “That should make us reflect on our real value and what we could have done better.” He also praised his team, saying, “I'm lucky because I coach a team of serious, focused guys.”
Tudor acknowledged Dortmund's strength, noting they've had a strong start to the Bundesliga season with two wins and a draw. “They are a great team, not only in Germany but also on the European stage,” he said. Juventus is looking forward to the match, but Tudor's priority is to take it one game at a time. “We can't wait to start this wonderful competition,” he said. “How far can we go? We're not thinking about that right now.”
“We played against the strongest team in Serie A in terms of squad potential and we won without playing at our best. That should make us reflect on our real value and what we could have done better,” Tudor told reporters on Monday.
🗣️ Coach Tudor and Manuel Locatelli preview our #UCL opener against Borussia Dortmund.
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) September 15, 2025
🧵 Follow the live #JuveBVB press conference below: ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/7j7nF6EiIr
“Champions League is a different tournament, it’s beautiful and fascinating. In my experience as a coach, players forget about tiredness in the Champions League. Everyone’s goal is to play. It’s a privilege.”
Borussia Dortmund, the 2024 Champions League runners-up, have had a strong start to the Bundesliga season with 2 wins and 1 draw.
Here's a breakdown of their performance:
- Current Standing: 2nd place in the Bundesliga table with 7 points
- Matches Played: 3
- Wins: 2
- Draws: 1
- Losses: 0
- Goals Scored: 8
- Goals Conceded: 3
Their recent match results showcase their impressive form, with notable contributions from key players like Serhou Guirassy, who has been scoring crucial goals. Dortmund's upcoming fixture is against Juventus in the Champions League on September 16, 2025.
“They are a great team, not only in Germany but also on the European stage,” Tudor said.
“We can’t wait to start this wonderful competition. How far can we go? We’re not thinking about that right now.”
Last training session before our Champions League Opener! 💪
— JuventusFC 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@juventusfcen) September 15, 2025
Watch the full video on YouTube. 📺 ⤵️
Juventus coach Igor Tudor is non-committal about starting 20-year-old Kenan Yildiz in the Champions League opener against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. Yildiz's impressive performance in the Derby d'Italia against Inter Milan, where he scored a stunning goal, has generated buzz around his potential starting spot. Tudor, however, remains cautious, saying “we'll see” when asked about Yildiz's chances of starting.
Tudor also downplayed comparisons between Yildiz and Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero, advising against putting such pressure on the young player. “You make the comparisons, but he doesn't think about Del Piero at all. He plays football, and you make these comparisons. You have to leave the boy to live his life and grow without talking about him every day. He's doing well,” Tudor said.
Yildiz has been a regular starter for Juventus under Tudor, featuring in six out of seven matches, including the win over Inter, and scoring four goals with four assists. His performance against Dortmund will be eagerly anticipated by fans, especially with the match being broadcast live on Tabii Spor.
“Let him enjoy his football and grow in peace,” the coach said.
Tudor also paid tribute to the quality of his players.
“I’m lucky because I coach a team of serious, focused guys,” he said.
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