Lazio v Juventus, Sarri faces Tudor: twists, farewells and fiery dugouts | OneFootball

The former Juve against the former Lazio: the clash on Sunday, October 26 at the Olimpico (8:45 pm) between Lazio and Juventus is not just a Serie A match, but a confrontation with strong symbolic value.

Lazio-Juventus, Sarri vs Tudor: twists, farewells, and “heated” benches

Maurizio Sarri and Igor Tudor, two coaches who have swapped experiences on the benches of Juve and Lazio, cross paths once again in a match that smells of revenge and tells two stories that ended amid tensions, memorable quotes, and disagreements with their respective managements.

Sarri and the sacking from Juventus: the weight of a “bitter” title

When Maurizio Sarri arrived at Juventus in the 2019/20 season, he immediately brought home the club’s ninth consecutive Scudetto. Yet, that victory was not enough to cement his relationship with the club. At the end of the season, management opted for his dismissal, motivated by an incompatibility of technical and managerial vision that paved the way for Andrea Pirlo’s arrival.

According to several reports from the time, Sarri expressed all his disappointment with a phrase that later became famous behind the scenes: “You’re letting me go, but this team is uncoachable.” A comment that, although later denied by the coach, sums up well the difficulties he faced managing a complex locker room, full of champions but—according to Sarri—lacking a real collective identity.

Even his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo was not without friction. As recalled by Gianluca Frabotta, then a young full-back for Juventus, “During a tactical drill, Sarri was showing Ronaldo the movements for set pieces. He seemed annoyed. He tore up some grass, chewed it, and said: ‘I like to understand the field, to feel where the ball will go.’” An episode that sums up two profoundly different visions of football: Sarri’s methodical and analytical approach versus the instinctive and sensory style of the Portuguese superstar.

Tudor and Lazio: resignations, the transfer market, and a clash of philosophies

Igor Tudor’s spell on the Lazio bench was even shorter and more controversial. Taking over from Sarri in March 2024, the Croatian coach left the club in June, after just three months, following irreconcilable differences with the management.

The main sticking point was the transfer market. Tudor demanded a complete overhaul of the squad—up to ten new signings—to adapt it to his idea of aggressive, physical football. The management, on the other hand, preferred a path of continuity and economic sustainability. “When he arrived, he knew perfectly well who the players were,” declared sporting director Angelo Fabiani in response to the resignation. A clear sign of a rift that went beyond the technical aspect, touching on the sphere of trust.

To further complicate matters, part of the fanbase was also disgruntled. During a match at the Olimpico, a provocative banner appeared: “As a coach, to be evaluated. As a man, Tudor is a s….” An episode that, according to many observers, sped up the coach’s decision to leave the Lazio bench.

A duel with a special flavor

So, on Sunday evening, Sarri and Tudor will face each other in a clash that goes beyond the ninety minutes. On one side, the Tuscan coach looking for redemption and stability after years of tension; on the other, the Croatian determined to prove that his ideas can work even in a high-pressure environment.

Lazio-Juventus will thus be not only a direct clash for the standings, but also a duel between two football philosophies and two interrupted journeys. A match that promises intensity, tactics, and a good dose of emotion, because—as often happens in football—encounters between former colleagues are never just a matter of results.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.