Comolli: 'Juventus must re-learn how to win as a club'
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 01: Gonzalo Garcia #30 of Real Madrid CF scores his team's first goal past Michele Di Gregorio #29 of Juventus FC during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Real Madrid CF and Juventus FC at Hard Rock Stadium on July 01, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Juventus director general Damien Comolli felt 'both frustration and a learning process' at the Club World Cup exit to Real Madrid, insisting 'we need as a club to re-learn how to win.'
The Bianconeri won the first two games in the USA competition, against Al-Ain and Wydad, but were swept aside 5-2 by Manchester City to finish runners-up in their group.
That meant a tougher draw in the Round of 16 and they were eliminated with a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid in Miami this evening.
Juventus frustrated at Club World Cup run
“I see it as a bit frustration and a bit of a learning process,” Comolli told Sport Mediaset.
"There is frustration because we were hoping to go further and the team in the first half especially showed that they had the quality to go further. Maybe we were unlucky to be up against Real Madrid and if the draw had been easier against other teams, that would've been better.
"At the same time, it was a great learning process, I am learning a lot about how to work with the coaching staff and how the players are functioning as a team. Now we have to step back from the competition, I think OK we've learned a lot, but at the moment the feeling is frustration."
Comolli only took over from sacked Cristiano Giuntoli right on the eve of the Club World Cup, so has been extremely busy not just on this tournament, but also the transfer market opening up.
"We analyzed the team with data before coming into the tournament and this is a team of very strong players. Those players need to understand how good they are, and those players need to understand that they can win. We need as a club to re-learn how to win.
"I think that's going to be my goal and the coach's goal for the next few months. We are not talking about individual cases, what we want is to make the team stronger in the next transfer window, in every transfer window. Then those players, those who arrive and those who are already here, need to understand they have the capability to win.
“I am 100 percent convinced about this.”
Check the Football Italia Player Ratings for Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus
Dusan Vlahovic spent the entire game on the bench, along with Timothy Weah and Samuel Mbangula, who have all been transfer-listed, but Comolli refused to be drawn on a message for these players.
"It is not the time to talk about individual cases. We are trying to digest the frustration and disappointment of losing today. Our obsession on a daily basis is to get better, to improve the team, improve the players who are here in three weeks' time when we start pre-season and to improve with more quality players."
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