Igor Tudor: Tottenham head coach says 'no time for excuses' ahead of Arsenal test

Igor Tudor has wasted no time setting the tone at Tottenham, insisting the club must stop making excuses as he prepares for a daunting debut against Arsenal. Appointed until the end of the season, the Croatian coach wants immediate intensity on the training ground and full commitment from a squad hovering perilously close to the drop zone.

Tudor's message: urgency, courage and no draws

In his first interview since taking charge, Tudor left little doubt about his priorities. He said there is "no time to find excuses" and emphasised the need to restore both confidence and courage within the squad. Tudor was clear that merely acknowledging the club’s situation is not enough: every player must "give something more, something extra, " he stated, and the team will not be set up to play for draws.

The head coach underlined that his approach will be brave but also intelligent and pragmatic. He wants performances that fans can get behind and has made victory the target for the weekend's north London derby, describing the fixture as a "fantastic game to play" and one in which Tottenham must aim for three points.

Training, tactics and the immediate Arsenal challenge

Tudor moved quickly onto the training ground, taking the first session after a break in the schedule and signalling a shift in intensity. He arrived with a clear brief to inject energy and sharper drills into daily work, telling players that hard work is non-negotiable as they try to pull away from relegation danger.

The coach inherits a delicate selection problem ahead of the Arsenal meeting. Spurs are short of centre-backs, with one key defender suspended and another sidelined by injury, complicating a decision on whether to stick with a back three—a formation Tudor has favoured in the past—or tweak his shape for the derby. With only a week to prepare, the balancing act is to impose his methods quickly while getting the team ready to take on the league leaders.

Tudor also stressed practical, concrete improvements on the pitch: tactical clarity, sharper transitions and defensive organisation combined with a commitment to attack with purpose. He expects players to respond immediately to those demands and has warned that the current league position is unacceptable to everyone at the club.

A résumé built on short-term turnarounds

Tottenham have tapped a coach known for producing quick, effective turnarounds. Tudor’s managerial career is marked by a series of short-term appointments where he has often steadied clubs in danger or revived underperforming teams. Past stints include guiding teams through relegation battles and leading mid-season recoveries that restored confidence and results.

That track record is precisely why the club entrusted him with a late-season assignment. While Tudor’s CV is heavy with interim-style rescue missions rather than long-term projects, his ability to sharpen focus, demand intensity and deliver immediate improvement is the type of pragmatic solution Spurs hope will lift them from their current troubles.

His debut comes in one of the toughest possible circumstances: Tottenham host Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday with kick-off at 4: 30pm ET. For a club sitting 16th and only five points above the relegation zone, the match represents both a stern test and an early opportunity for Tudor to make an instant impression.

Fans will be watching closely to see whether the new coach’s demands translate into a measured, courageous performance capable of delivering victory and arresting a worrying slide.