Tottenham interim manager Igor Tudor believes his squad must decide whether to “cry or fight” as they attempt to reverse a worrying run of results and avoid dropping out of the Premier League.
Tottenham interim manager Igor Tudor believes his squad must decide whether to “cry or fight” as they attempt to reverse a worrying run of results and avoid dropping out of the Premier League.
The 47-year-old coach has endured a challenging opening period since taking charge on 14 February following the departure of Thomas Frank. Under his leadership, Spurs have suffered four straight defeats, three of them in league competition, leaving the team dangerously close to the relegation places.
Because of that slump, Tottenham sit only one point above the bottom three before their trip to face reigning champions Liverpool on Sunday. The situation has raised fears of the club’s first drop from the top division since 1977.
Tudor admitted the current circumstances present a serious test but insisted the players must choose how they respond. According to the Croatian coach, adversity can either make a team feel like victims or motivate them to take action and change their situation.
The club’s struggles were highlighted again during Tuesday’s match against Atletico Madrid, which ended in a 5–2 loss. Tottenham conceded four goals inside the opening 22 minutes, leaving them with an almost impossible task early in the contest.
Tudor was appointed partly because of the positive results he achieved in short spells with previous teams, including work at Italian club Juventus. However, his arrival has not yet led to an improvement in Tottenham’s fortunes.
Across all competitions, Spurs have now lost six matches in a row, and their most recent league victory dates back to 28 December. Despite the disappointing run, the club’s ownership group Enic said this week that decisions regarding Tudor’s immediate future will remain with the executive leadership rather than being taken externally.
The manager emphasised collective responsibility for the situation, explaining that both the players and coaching staff must focus on solving the problems together instead of dwelling on criticism surrounding the club.
Defender Micky Van de Ven described the disastrous opening period in Madrid as a “doomsday scenario." That start also resulted in goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky being substituted only 17 minutes into his debut in the UEFA Champions League.
The decision to replace the young goalkeeper attracted criticism, but Tudor defended both the move and the player. He confirmed that Kinsky will feature again this season and praised the keeper’s positive attitude in training following the difficult evening.
According to the Tottenham coach, mistakes can happen during a player’s career, but he believes Kinsky possesses the ability and resilience required to build a strong future in the game.
Tottenham must now prepare for a challenging visit to Anfield, where they have conceded 17 goals across their last four trips in all competitions. After the upcoming second leg against Atletico Madrid, Spurs will also face a crucial league encounter with fellow relegation contender Nottingham Forest.
Their attempts to recover have been further complicated by numerous injuries and absences. Key players Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha are among 13 unavailable for the Liverpool match after a clash of heads in midweek.
Midfielder Yves Bissouma is injured, and Conor Gallagher remains doubtful due to illness. Van de Ven will miss the game through suspension following a red card against Crystal Palace.
Long-term absences also include James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Mohammed Kudus. Tudor acknowledged that assembling a starting lineup has become extremely difficult but stressed that the team must accept the circumstances and focus on improving what they can control.
