Igor Tudor takes first Tottenham training and immediately turns focus to Arsenal derby
London, Feb. 16, 2026 (ET) — Igor Tudor stepped into his new role this week and wasted no time. After securing a work permit, the Croatian coach arrived in London and led his first session on Monday, setting an intensity-first tone as he prepares the squad for Sunday’s north London derby.
Intensity and organisation on day one
Tudor addressed the group on Monday afternoon and then took charge of training at the club’s facilities. The session carried a markedly different tempo to what many players have grown used to, with a clear emphasis on energy, focus and physical demands. Tudor made it plain that rest periods will be pared back and that he expects full engagement in both drills and tactical work.
The message was direct: immediate improvement is required. The new head coach emphasised organisation and a competitive edge as priorities for the coming weeks, laying out a short, sharp plan to stabilise performances and lift results. He is in the job until the end of the season and has framed his brief in stark terms — bring consistency fast, energise the squad and make matches count.
Tactical questions and defensive headaches ahead of the derby
One of the earliest puzzles Tudor faces is formation choice. He has frequently favoured a three-man defence in previous assignments, but selection will be complicated by absences at the back: one key centre-back is suspended and another remains sidelined through injury. That leaves Tudor to balance his preferred structure against the players available and the unique pressures of a derby game.
With less than a week on the training pitch before the big fixture, Tudor has prioritised sharpening defensive shape and transition work while still trying to imprint his desired tempo on attacking phases. Expect drills that test concentration under fatigue and quick, demanding positional work that mirrors match-day intensity.
Track record as a short-term fixer and immediate mandate
Tudor arrives with a reputation for turning around teams mid-season. His CV includes several stints where he stepped into difficult situations and produced rapid improvements, guiding clubs to safety or securing higher finishes in short order. That pattern — immediate impact but relatively brief tenures — frames the expectations placed on him now: stabilise, extract results and set the squad on firmer footing before the campaign’s final weeks.
On appointment day, Tudor said he understood the responsibility he was taking on and that his priority was to bring consistency and conviction to performances. The club’s sporting director underlined the brief in similar terms, highlighting clarity, intensity and the need to maximise the quality already in the squad. Both messages point to a short, focused period of work with little margin for error.
For supporters, the coming days will offer the first real signals of what Tudor’s tenure might produce. The derby is not just a high-profile fixture; it is a barometer for whether the immediate changes on the training ground can be translated into results on the pitch. With a reputation for getting the job done in urgent circumstances, Tudor has been handed a clear mission: steady the ship and seize points that could define the remainder of the season.
Selection decisions, tactical tweaks and the squad’s response to a tougher training regime will be under scrutiny as the week progresses. If Tudor’s first session is any guide, intensity will be the hallmark of his short-term approach — and everything will be judged in a derby-sized crucible come Sunday.
