Igor Tudor: New Tottenham head coach insists 'no time for excuses' ahead of Arsenal clash
Igor Tudor has delivered a blunt message in his first interview as Tottenham head coach: there will be no excuses and no playing for draws. Appointed on a deal until the end of the season, the Croatian arrives with an urgent brief — lift a team 16th in the table and steer them clear of relegation — beginning with a high-stakes north London derby at 4: 30pm ET on Sunday.
Immediate mandate: confidence, courage and results
Tudor set out a clear set of priorities as he began his tenure. The short-term aims are straightforward: restore confidence, instil courage and deliver concrete improvements on the pitch. He has told players that each individual must offer something extra because the club’s present position is unacceptable to supporters and to those within the squad.
He has also rejected pragmatism that aims only to avoid defeat. Tudor said he will prepare the team to play bravely but intelligently, targeting victory rather than settling for a draw. That message frames his task this week: use limited preparation time to sharpen the team mentally and tactically for the derby, while also addressing deeper problems that have contributed to an eight-game winless run that preceded his arrival.
A ferryman with a track record of immediate impact
Tudor arrives with a reputation for being a short-term fixer — a manager who has repeatedly stepped into troubled mid-season situations and produced quick turnarounds. His CV includes brief but effective stints at a string of clubs where he stabilised results, lifted teams away from relegation danger or pushed underperforming squads back toward their targets.
Past interventions have featured rapid improvements: cup success early on in one role, rescuing teams from prolonged losing streaks in another, and short bursts of form that delivered European qualification or survival. That pattern helps explain why Tottenham entrusted him with a run-in rescue job despite his relative unfamiliarity with the Premier League.
Still, the record also prompts questions about long-term fit. Tudor has rarely completed a full season at the clubs he has helped, and his strongest results have typically arrived in compact spells. For Tottenham, the immediate need is clear — does Tudor's short-term effectiveness translate into safety for the remainder of this campaign?
Tactics, training and the selection headache
From his first training session, Tudor has demanded intensity. Players returning to the training ground after a short break encountered a coach intent on lifting standards and raising the workload. That tone matters: Spurs' recent form had been criticised for sluggishness and a perceived lack of bite in sessions, and Tudor's imprint aims to change that quickly.
Tactically, Tudor has shown a preference for a back-three in recent roles, though he has indicated flexibility depending on personnel and opposition. Selection for the derby is complicated by absences: one key centre-back is suspended and another is sidelined through injury, which limits options at the back and may force tactical adjustments.
With little time before a fixture that will test the squad’s mental resilience, Tudor’s immediate task is to marry urgency with clarity: sharpen the team’s defensive organisation, reintroduce attacking conviction and ensure players understand the specific responsibilities he will demand on Sunday.
Tottenham have handed Tudor a short window to change momentum. If he can extract the quick gains that have marked previous interventions, the club’s slide could be arrested and the remaining fixtures approached with renewed belief. Fail to do so, and the pressure that produced his appointment will intensify. For now, Tudor’s message is simple — no excuses, only action.
