Tottenham are on an 11-game winless run in the Premier League and sit just one point above the relegation zone, but will turn their attention to the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Igor Tudor already finds himself under pressure (Image: Dennis Agyeman/Getty Images)
Igor Tudor has admitted that avoiding relegation is Tottenham’s top priority this season ahead of their Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid. Spurs traveled to Spain for the first leg of their last-16 tie against Atleti, but face a dangerous situation in the Premier League.
Tudor’s side sit in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone, with a dismal 11 games without a win. This is the worst performance since 1975. Tudor is still the only team in the league without a win in 2026, and his arrival to replace Thomas Frank has yet to have the desired effect.
He has lost all three games so far – against Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace – and is already facing speculation over his departure. Spurs finished 17th last season under manager Ange Postecoglou, but qualified for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
They finished in the top eight of the Champions League group stage and progressed straight into the last 16, where they will face a tough test against Diego Simeone’s seasoned side on Tuesday night.
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Asked how important the Atlético match was, Tudor replied: “Of course it’s very important. It’s important. As I said, after the game we always have to focus on ourselves. We have to improve. So this could be an opportunity.”
“In these kinds of matches, you can use a completely different mentality. So this might help us see what kind of problems we have. I believe these kinds of matches can help us switch in the right direction, but we can always focus on ourselves and grow as a team and make things better. That’s the point.”
Asked if the match was a “free shot” for the Premier League to find the best approach, Tudor agreed. “As I said earlier, I want you to keep an eye on us in this Champions League as we play a team with a story, experience and quality,” he said.
Tottenham Hotspur are in crisis and face their first relegation since 1977 (Image: Getty Images)
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“As you said, we need to do our best in that we need to develop, because our first goal is the Premier League. We need to say this publicly, this is normal, this is special. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to go through, we don’t want to go to the next round.”
Spurs host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday before their final games against Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Brighton and Wolves. Tudor was only contracted until the end of the season, but Spurs are said to be eyeing Roberto De Zerbi as a potential replacement this summer.
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