Former Verona coach Igor Tudor believes the teams at the top of the table in Ligue 1 are stronger than those in Serie A. The Croatian tactician spoke with French newspaper L’Equipe and discussed the differences between the two leagues and also touched on his time with Juventus, who he believes were the strongest club in the world when he was playing there:
Did you follow Ligue 1 before you came?
“Honestly, very little. In Italy we look more at Spain and England. France is talked about less and that is a mistake. Because when you start really watching it, you completely change your mind. It is an exciting league, with beautiful stadiums, talented players, and if I had to describe it, I would say it is super difficult.”
“Here there is PSG, which has no equivalent in Italy, because today they are above Inter or Juve. Then there are three or four teams that, in terms of their roster, may have more quality in Italy than their French equivalents. But from 6th place to last, it is stronger here. If tomorrow Empoli played Strasbourg, Strasbourg would win by a wide margin; Reims versus Spezia, Reims wins by a wide margin. When you go to play Reims, you see three or four players you want to take with you, same thing in Strasbourg. Whereas if I’m Inter and I play Empoli or Spezia, I don’t take anyone. There is a gap that you don’t find in France.”
“The other fundamental difference is that in France there is much more pace. Because the type of players is different, here they are younger and more physical. In Italy, intensity has nothing to do with it. The English, they buy players from Lorient, not players from Italy, which means there are players here who have the qualities to integrate into the best football.”
“How to become a functioning club and get results ? I played in the strongest club in the world, Juventus : they win because they choose the right people in the right position, people who know what they are doing; a shopkeeper is the shopkeeper, the coach trains.”
