igor tudor: no time for excuses as new interim boss faces urgent Tottenham task
Igor Tudor has been installed as Tottenham's interim head coach until the end of the season, inheriting a squad low on confidence, short of bodies and sitting uncomfortably close to the relegation zone. The 47-year-old says there is "no time to find excuses" as he prepares to arrest a run that has left the club 16th in the Premier League with 12 matches to play.
Immediate priorities: confidence, courage and squad fitness
Tudor has made clear his first order of business is restoring belief. He described the club's current standing as "unacceptable" and said every available player must be instilled with courage and conviction. That task is complicated by a mounting injury list: Tottenham have 11 players sidelined, forcing the new coach to adapt systems around those who are fit.
He emphasised the importance of training as the primary tool to create improvement quickly. Tudor intends to focus on concrete, repeatable actions on the training ground to rebuild match sharpness and cohesion. He also stressed the need for immediate organisation and intensity — both in preparation and on matchday — to stop a slide that has seen the team go eight top-flight matches without a win.
Tactical tightrope and a testing fixture list
Arriving after Thomas Frank's dismissal following a 2-1 defeat by Newcastle, Tudor takes charge with a short window to make impact. His first game will be a high-pressure home meeting with Arsenal on 22 February 2026 ET, a fixture that will test both his tactical flexibility and the squad's mentality.
He has signalled a pragmatic approach: respect the club's footballing culture while tailoring a system to the players available. Tudor insists style matters but that it cannot be pursued at the expense of results in a relegation-threatened campaign. Expect adjustments aimed at defensive solidity, quicker transitions and clearer roles for individual players so the team can regain consistency.
Balancing immediate survival with European commitments
Despite the domestic struggles, Tottenham have preserved progress in Europe and remain in the Champions League knockout phase, with fixtures resuming in March 2026 ET. Tudor must therefore thread a difficult needle — stabilising league form while navigating continental commitments.
The club’s sporting leadership has framed the appointment as a move to bring clarity and urgency to the squad at a decisive stage. Tudor arrives with experience of mid-season takeovers and short-term turnarounds at multiple clubs, and he will be judged on the speed and scale of improvements across the next dozen matches.
With five points separating the club from the drop zone, margins are small and time is limited. Tudor’s message is simple and stark: the situation is intolerable, excuses are exhausted, and the immediate objective is to galvanise players, secure results and steer Tottenham to safety while maintaining competitiveness on the European front.
