The future of Igor Tudor as Juventus manager remains uncertain, even if he secures the qualification of the Champions League, but the Croat said on Friday that he believes he has done a good job to get the club out of a hole and has not inferior to someone.
Tudor took over from Thiago Motta in March, with Juve from the Champions League and Coppa Italia and on the back of two heavy Series A defeats. The new manager has lost one in seven and his side is fourth in the rankings with two more games left.
“Talking about my work is difficult. For me it was a good job given all the problems we had,” Tudor told reporters prior to Sunday's home game with mid-table Udinese.
“We played two games with 10 players (after red cards). We played a number of good games, and we didn't deserve to lose it against Parma (1-0 last month). I always had a good feeling after matches.
“Then we must always be demanding and always try to win, but the team gave everything it could. When I arrived, the team was in the deepest hole.”
Tudor believes that it could have gone even better if injuries had not hindered his side.
“It is honest to say that we never had (Federico) Gatti and (Teun) Koopmeiners, rarely (Andrea) Cambiaso and (Lloyd) Kelly available,” Tudor said.
“I think it's good to say things from my point of view. I don't want to apologize, but it's fair to say it. This team, if this is complete, is strong and can fight with everyone.”
Juventus in the Serie A classification flash score
Tudor has a contract until the end of this season. The club has the option to extend the deal for another year if Juventus is eligible for the Champions League, although that will be an obligation after July 30.
The usual Italian media speculation about management changes has the leading coach of League-show Napoli, Antonio Conte, coupled with a return to Juve, where the former player of the club won three Series A titles as a manager, but Tudor has not worried.
“I live from day to day, I enjoy everything and I suffer,” Tudor said.
“I want to feel the trust of the players, and I feed on this. That is its beauty. I don't feel inferior to someone.”
Juventus is confronted with a fight to hold the fourth place, with fifth Lazio level with them on 64 points and one point behind it, while Bologna and AC Milan also look at the last spot of Champions League. Udinese are 12th on 44 points.