Tudor concedes Juventus has fallen short
Igor Tudor believes Juventus has fallen short of its potential in Serie A this season despite being on the cusp of sealing a UEFA Champions League spot.
Juventus travels to Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo to face lowly Venezia in its final league game of the season, knowing a victory will be enough to seal a spot in Europe's elite competition.
Tudor's team is a point ahead of fifth-placed Roma, while Lazio, which is one place further back, could also clinch a top four place should results go its way.
Juventus's upturn in form has coincided with Tudor's arrival at the club. He took over from Thiago Motta in March after the team endured consecutive humbling defeats before being sacked.
The Bianconeri have a favourable record against Venezia, winning 16 of their past 20 Serie A meetings, but they have struggled away from home under Tudor's tenure.
Juventus has failed to win any of its four away league matches under Tudor. The previous Bianconeri boss to lose their first five Serie A away games was Cestmir Vycpalek, who managed five draws back in 1971.
"Numbers and calculations are not part of my way of thinking. Juve's potential is bigger than what we can see now," Tudor said.
"For me this team has done almost nothing wrong. The team gives me confidence for tomorrow. The team wants to take what is theirs. The team is there."
While this fixture holds huge significance for Juventus, it also comes with pressure for Venezia, which is fighting to stay in Italy's top flight.
It is 19th on the table, two points adrift of Empoli and Lecce, who face Hellas Verona and Lazio respectively on the final day.
But Venezia comes into the game in good form, having won two of its past three home league matches, including its most recent against seventh-placed Fiorentina.
"We'll need both (head and heart). It's an important match, and we have to concentrate on things on the pitch," Tudor added.
"I'm happy with the work I've done, and I want to take this last step to complete everything."
Tudor said midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, who suffered an achilles tendon injury last month, had trained with the team, but did not say if he was ready to play.
"Renato [Veiga] and [Weston] McKennie had problems, but they trained with us today," the coach added.
Tudor, who spent almost a decade at Juventus as a player, said he wanted to help his players do better, with the club set to compete at the FIFA Club World Cup next month.
"I want to do my best to help my players. I want to make them understand what we can do at Venezia and where we can improve," he said.