Igor Tudor gave a chilling interview after Tottenham’s draw with Liverpool (Image: Sky Sports)
Despite Tottenham snatching a late draw with Liverpool, Igor Tudor was very calm in his post-match interview with Sky Sports. Spurs picked up their first point under caretaker manager away at Anfield as they fight to avoid a potentially nightmare relegation from the Premier League. Richarlison scored the equalizer in stoppage time, canceling out Dominik Szoboszlai’s first-half free-kick, and the visitors deserved a draw. This result leaves them one point behind their next league opponents, Nottingham Forest and West Ham.
Despite gaining valuable points, Tudor became hostile towards interviewer Patrick Davison during a tense exchange. The 47-year-old was expected to be sacked as manager after just five games if Spurs lost on Merseyside, but it appears he has bought himself extra time to save the north London club from elimination. And he was fuming over whether a valuable draw could save the club, which is on a 12-game winless streak, from humiliating relegation.
Davison said: “Let me tell you, I had an interview, I think it was Friday, and I was asked about my position and I said, ‘People want a new manager because they want a new manager.’
Tudor replied: “I’m speaking in general terms. When you don’t have good results, this situation happens everywhere, in every club in the world. When you change the coach, you have hope, but the problem always remains. The problem has to be solved. You can change the coach, but you have to solve the problem, otherwise nothing will move.”
Asked if he had proven he could give Spurs hope, Tudor said: “That’s enough. I always say what I think. What questions do you need to answer? I’m the coach. You need to ask me about how we play. You’ve done that and I’ve answered you. These questions that journalists like to ask are meaningless questions.”
“You ask the coach about his position. You have no sense. Every coach always says the same thing, but you always argue. You say, ‘Coach, answer me,’ because he has an obligation to come to the press conference, otherwise he wants to stay home. You always argue with the same question.”
When Davison again tried to bring up Tudor’s pre-match comments, the Croatian shot back: “No, I didn’t say that. I didn’t. What did I say? What are you asking me now? What do I need to say now? Are we done or not? Okay, thank you.”
Tottenham leave Liverpool with a valuable point in the relegation battle (Image: Getty)
Despite an awkward exchange with the interim manager, Tottenham left Anfield in good spirits. And defender Pedro Polo insisted the team is confident they can stay put. He said: “We always believe. I always say this. I told my teammates before the game that they also believe in us.”
“We need everyone in this moment, and we played well today. The most important thing now is to get points, take positive points and continue to progress into the Champions League and Premier League.”
Goalscorer Richarlison agreed: “It’s a big point. We’re focused on next week now and we also have the Champions League in midweek, but right now we’re focused on the importance of the Premier League.”
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane praised the fight Spurs showed against Liverpool. He said: “Spurs did a thorough job. People have been making fun of them for the last few months, but today they showed their fighting spirit. It was ugly at times, but they went direct and the goals came from direct play. It was different to Tottenham.”
“They showed spirit, fight and quality at the right times. We wanted to get to know these players today to score goals. I have to give credit to them. They deserved it. Liverpool had one or two chances towards the end, but Tottenham could have kept winning. If Tottenham can get a point, it will cheer everyone up.”
