There's no sign of any improvement at Juventus, despite only being beaten 1-0 in the Spanish capital by La Liga leaders Real Madrid. It was a monumental evening for Juve shotstopper Michele Di Gregorio, who replicated his outstanding Club World Cup display against Los Blancos.
Back-to-back defeats and again looking toothless upfront, there's no indication of when the Turin titans can expect to notch up their next victory. The team show spirit at times, but failure at a top club like Juventus is unacceptable.
Thiago Motta was axed for a short run of poor results, yet Tudor is being given more time by the club to sudden get them back to winning ways. There are plenty of potential candidates to take over the reins at the European giants, but apart from re-appointing Motta these tend to be expensive acquisitions.
Tudor was selected as interim manager as being the cheaper and less demanding option. The Croatian, a one-time Juventus defender, was not first choice to lead the team this campaign. Juve club hierarchy appear to be holding out for a run of easier games rather than sack Tudor.
Chiellini makes excuses for Tudor
Juventus director Giorgio Chiellini told Sky Sport Italia: “A lot has been said and written this week that is not true. Igor is the Juventus coach and we want nothing more than for him to continue.
“People [the media] wrote about supposed bad relations, but like all families there are discussions. Sometimes you agree and sometimes you don’t, but you keep going together.
“It has been a tough fixture list and we could’ve had a few more points, but we are clear-headed in analyzing this moment. We expected to have a few more points, but that’s a long way from calling this a crisis.”
Regardless of the image that former Juventus and Italy defender Chiellini portrays, the Bianconeri are in a crisis. With the stoppage time Derby d'Italia success on 13 September was their last victory, although they only lie four points behind Serie A leaders AC Milan.
Chiellini admitted: "This is a team that needs to feel confidence and some certainty. Unfortunately in these last few games we lost some of the confidence and solidity that Igor had helped create over the summer. Once those return then the results will arrive as a consequence.”
Sunday's showdown in Rome against Maurizio Sarri's Lazio is a game that Tudor needs to win to turn a corner, otherwise there will surely be an inquest into why Juve are failing so badly.
Juve strikers keep failing
No goals from their three past games speaks values. Tudor simply cannot make up his mind after which formation upfront, or indeed the best marksmen to play.
Deadline day signing Lois Openda has yet to score in a Juve jersey, but is given very few minutes. Jonathan David is only a goal poacher, and has suffered a dry spell since netting on his Serie A debut against Parma in August. Dusan Vlahovic is proven in the Italian top tier, but he is not getting much service except from Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz.
The club obviously wish to cash in on wantaway striker Vlahovic, but if they don't play him from the start then the Serbia star's winter transfer value will plummet. It does appear that Tudor is being pressurized about playing Vlahovic.
Chiellini explained: "Tudor has our support, we [have] never pressured him into making any choices. He picks his team, but the attitude is more important than the starting XI."
Tudor is definitely treading on thin ice, regardless of the front that the club portray. Top-notch managers are available, but Juventus seemingly don't wish to splash the cash to make the club fierceously competitive.
Cracks showing at Juventus
There are problems between Tudor and a handful of his squad, including some disillusioned summer signings who are part of the bizarre substitutions. He is playing a dangerous game after taking swipes at Como manager Cesc Fabregas and even Juve general manager Damien Comolli.
Fabregas is a potential future top-class head coach, with Juventus monitoring his career, so the club will not wish to alienate the former Arsenal and France star. Tudor referred to Como as a small club and complained that Fabregas got his summer selections but he did not get the players he asked for.
After Lazio the Bianconeri tackle three games over seven days, which should decide Tudor's fate. Udinese visit the Allianz Stadium for a midweek Serie A contest (29 October), Juve travel to Cremonese in need to maximum points (1 November) followed by Champions League action against Sporting Lisbon in Turin (4 November).
Three matches that Motta's Juventus would have been expected to win, but it remains to be seen if Tudor can net a trio of triumphs on the bounce. Failure to at least bag a couple of long overdue victories will surely end with Tudor being shown the exit door.