Whether current head coach Igor Tudor remains at the Turin titans remains to be seen, with the daunting task of trips to Como and Real Madrid after the international break.
Five draws on the bounce is hardly the kind of results expected from Juventus, whose winning mentality has always been part of their DNA. Too many draws, on top of the squad seemingly downing tools, saw Thiago Motta given the bullet after nine months into Project Motta in Turin.
Under pressure Tudor, whose tactics and relentless substitutes seem wayward, admitted: “A team has to have an identity, but things happen that force changes one way or another, so a team can’t always look the same because there are always variables.
“A coach knows their players better than anybody. I spend every day thinking about how to get more out of my players.
“It’s normal for a lot to be said about Juventus, it’s one of the beauties of football that everybody has an opinion.”
The concerted opinion from fans and pundits is that Tudor is out of his depth. He was introduced as a firefighter last March as interim manager with nine league games to tackle, and managed by the skin of his teeth to secure fourth place to seal lucrative Champions League soccer this term.
Having been promoted to permanent manager, as the cheaper and less demanding option, was an underwhelming appointment for such an elite club.
Today’s clash at Como, followed by a visit to Madrid could be key fixtures for the future of the Bianconeri head coach.
Candidates to become Juventus boss
There are a handful of potential candidates waiting in the wings, although former Italy boss Roberto Mancini is being linked with the vacant Nottingham Forest role.
Tudor is under the cosh for Juve’s stuttering form and inability to win, and the dull scoreless draw against Max Allegri’s AC Milan did nothing to give fans faith in their head coach.
Further inept performances after the international break will leave Tudor under the micoscope with the Juve hierarchy. There is no disguising the fact that Juventus will not tolerate failure.
Juventus urgently need to chalk up a victory in both the Champions League and Serie A.
Tudor's tactics bring short-term success
Tudor’s head coach record at Juve, sticking with his rigid 3-4-2-1 tactical approach, has reeled off a dozen wins from 24 games (including pre-season friendlies).
The renowned troubleshooter, rather than a long-term manager, has meant being inflexible about his tactics. He has always favored three defenders, two wing-backs, a double pivot, two number 10s and a lone target man.
While Motta’s style of play was all about possession and not losing games, a more aggressive and direct approach has been introduced by Tudor but he still has a leaky defense.
The biggest positive has been that Tudor’s tactics mean wing-backs are offered energy down the flanks, which has improved both Portugal’s Francisco Conceicao and Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz.
Although his refusal to have a two-pronged attack, apart from when he throws on a pair of strikers as late substitutes has done Juve’s highest earner Dusan Vlahovic no favors.
European giants eager on Juve aces
The squad that Tudor inherited is now built around Yildiz and at times Vlahovic, two players that both Barcelona and Bayern Munich are keen to lure next summer.
Barcelona have been hit by financial restraints, but news from the Spanish media that Raphinha could leave the Catalan club for the cash-rich Saudi Arabia Pro League would pave the way to acquire both Yildiz and Vlahovic during the summer transfer window.
Yildiz, yet to sign a new agreement with Juventus, is not going to be cheap but the funds from a Raphinha should cover that. However, Arsenal and Chelsea are showing serious interest in the 20-year-old Juventus Next Gen graduate, with a January bid most likely.
With Polish veteran forward Robert Lewandowski due to leave Barcelona at the end of the season, the club have Vlahovic on their radar as his ideal ready-made replacement.
Barcelona monitor Vlahovic
The Serbia star becomes a free agent when his Juventus contract expires in June, with Barcelona's sporting director Deco in constant contact with Vlahovic's agent Darko Ristic since August.
Vlahovic was linked with a move to the Catalan club when Xavi was manager, but his hefty salary demands were an obstacle and may still not be viable for Barcelona.
With Vlahovic currently rotated into the Juventus team, this term becoming a supersub rather than a regular starter, he is only interested in making a move where he gets regular minutes. Bayern cannot rule out utilizing him as a substitute, which is a huge stumbling block.
Barcelona, who have been following both Yildiz and Vlahovic for a considerable time, has now emerged as a strong candidate for the pair to make a summer switch to tackle La Liga.