Igor Tudor answered the SOS call from Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli in March to become the interim manager. His objective from a nine-game deal was straightforward, to earn Champions League soccer next season with a top four finish.
The Croatian, given the nod over former Italy manager Roberto Mancini, has suffered only one poor result when the Bianconeri were stunned 1-0 in Parma.
With four league games remaining, the next two contents are make-or-break for Juve’s season and indeed Tudor’s future with the Turin titans.
Bologna today, who sit a single point ahead of Juventus, and fifth-placed Lazio next Sunday, are both opponents in the mix to qualify for the Champions League.
Tudor, who played in defense for Juve and was sacked by the club as assistant head coach to Andrea Pirlo, has a contract worth €500,000 (US$565,000) until 30 June.
Securing a Champions League berth will trigger talks between the Juve hierarchy and Tudor. Fail and he may not be in the dugout for the initial phase of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup finals. The highly lucrative tournament takes place from 14 June to 13 July.
Despite Tudor's pressing tactics there's been no eye-catching performances, and today he faces his sternest challenge in his third spell at Juventus.
He has pivotal players missing. Federico Conceicao is expected to show his silky skills in the two-match absence of suspended Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz who turned 20 yesterday.
Tudor talks about winning
The Croatian explained in his pre-match press conference: “Everyone will have to make their contribution in these final four games, starting with the match against Bologna. Everyone will have to think only of the good of the team.
“The squad are motivated and ready to face an important match against Bologna. We have worked hard on a daily basis to prepare for this match.
“No injured players will be returning for the match against the Emilian side. [Teun] Koopmeiners is still out, even [Dusan] Vlahovic is not yet 100%. I had hoped to at least call him [Vlahovic] up to the squad, but he didn’t feel up to it.
“Of course, [Kenan] Yildiz won't be there. We will miss Kenan’s qualities, but whoever plays in his place will be up to the challenge and will be important for us.
“Bologna’s characteristics are those of an extremely physical team, difficult to face because they never give up, and in modern football physicality cancels out so much quality.
“You cannot play for a draw. In my career I have never played for a draw, and I am sure that my boys will also play to win, they will not make any calculations.”