Tudor: ‘Juventus cannot carry on like this’ after 4-4 chaos | OneFootball

Igor Tudor admits Juventus ‘cannot carry on like this’ after following the 4-3 win over Inter with a 4-4 draw against Borussia Dortmund. ‘There were players who were exhausted.’

It was another frankly wild match for the Old Lady, just days after the 4-3 comeback thriller to beat Inter in the Derby d’Italia here in Serie A on Saturday evening.

This was not dissimilar in the Champions League, the Bianconeri this time coming from 4-2 down at the 86th minute to score twice in stoppages with substitute Dusan Vlahovic and Lloyd Kelly.

Tudor delighted and frustrated with Juventus heart

TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammates during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at Juventus Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“I’ve already had enough of this type of match,” laughed Tudor on Sky Sport Italia.

“We are conceding too many, at least we’re scoring a lot too, but we cannot carry on like this. It was so difficult in the second half to keep the energy levels up three days after an incredibly tough match, whereas Borussia Dortmund you could tell had a really easy game at the weekend.

“There was great heart, those who came off the bench made a big difference again, as they have been doing in all four matches now. Borussia Dortmund have great individual talents in every area, we had a few problems losing intensity, but we are dangerous every time we attack.

“We conceded the goals too cheaply, they were avoidable situations. In the end, individual quality is decisive in football, like the Kenan Yildiz goal that came out of nowhere.”

Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Juventus 4-4 Borussia Dortmund

If nothing else, these two performances confirm the Tudor warrior mentality of refusing to give up even dire situations, as they were 4-2 down going into stoppages.

“I honestly think we couldn’t have done more tonight, so I’m happy with that.”

TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Igor Tudor, Head Coach of Juventus, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at Juventus Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Vlahovic came off the bench, providing two goals and an assist for the Kelly diving header, confirming his status as a super-sub even when pushed down the pecking order by Jonathan David and Lois Openda.

“I said before kick-off that when you play every three days and have five substitutions, there are no first choice players, everyone is important. Games tend to be decided in the final stages, so the substitutes become crucial,” noted Tudor.

“This is not just a cliché, all four games changed with the substitutes. The problem was that we played on Saturday that epic match against Inter, then today this, there were players who were exhausted. Kenan was white as a sheet, poor thing, Khephren was exhausted too.

“There was nothing I could do in training with such a small gap between games, but this is the schedule. At this moment, it was the maximum we could do.”

TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 16: Players of Juventus pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Juventus and Borussia Dortmund at Juventus Stadium on September 16, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Tudor pulled a few surprises in the starting XI and he assured this was largely dictated by the fitness levels after that seven-goal thriller with Inter.

“If there are four days between games, it’s easier, but with three you need to rotate. It was only right that Dusan played that game, then Openda and David arrived, they are both important players. When there are five changes, it becomes tougher for a coach, sometimes you get it right and sometimes you don’t.

“This is why I keep telling the players that they are all involved, they can all be decisive, whether they start the match or not.”

Juventus conceded seven goals in two games, but also scored eight, which is a huge difference from the struggles they had in finding the net last season.

“The team spirit and desire to work hard is the starting point you need to build on, the details are then put on top of that,” concluded Tudor.

“We were missing Cisco (Conceicao) who is an important player for this system, while Cambiaso hadn’t played for three weeks and lacked fitness. Bremer was also coming back from a long time out, so we have to evaluate all these things.”