Juventus head coach Igor Tudor revealed that 10 of his players requested to be substituted during their 1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup round of 16, citing exhaustion due to tough playing conditions in Miami.
A second-half strike from Gonzalo García secured Madrid’s victory and a place in the quarterfinals, sending the Italian giants out of the expanded 32-team tournament.
Despite temperatures peaking at a relatively moderate 88°F (31°C), Tudor said his squad struggled significantly with the heat and humidity.
“The conditions were really difficult today,” Tudor told reporters. “Ten players asked to be taken off—they were completely exhausted.”
Tudor, who has rotated his squad throughout the tournament, said the match came at a cost after a long and draining season.
“There are many contributing factors. It’s the end of a long season, and the mental and physical stress is catching up with the players,” he explained. “The humidity, the heat—it all made things much harder.”
FIFA’s decision to host the first 32-team edition of the Club World Cup in the summer has drawn criticism, including from former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who spoke out last week.
While Tudor praised the overall experience in the U.S., he stressed the urgent need for rest.
“I think now it’s time to rest,” he said. “We’ll take three weeks off, and I don’t think the Club World Cup will have a negative impact on us in the long term. But the players definitely need a break so we can come back stronger.”
He added, “The players gave everything. We played all our best cards, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Still, it was a valuable experience to test ourselves against some of the best in the world.”
Meanwhile, Real Madrid welcomed Kylian Mbappé back onto the field for the first time this tournament. The French star, recovering from acute gastroenteritis, made a 23-minute appearance off the bench.
Madrid coach Xabi Alonso expressed optimism about Mbappé’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinal in New Jersey.
“Every day he’s improving,” Alonso said. “I talk to him daily, and I believe he’ll be in much better shape for the next match.”
