Tottenham turn to igor tudor with 'no time for excuses' warning
Igor Tudor has been installed as Tottenham's interim head coach until the end of the season and has issued a blunt challenge to players and staff: there is "no time to find excuses. " With the club perilously close to the relegation zone and a packed injury list, Tudor says his immediate priorities are to restore confidence, sharpen training and put a clear tactical plan in place ahead of a huge run of fixtures.
Immediate mandate: steady the ship and boost belief
Tudor signed his short-term deal on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 12: 00 ET and arrives knowing the situation is fragile. The team sit 16th in the Premier League, five points above the relegation places, with 12 matches remaining. "I'm coming here knowing that the situation is not easy. There is no time to find excuses, " he said, stressing that the club's current league position is "one that nobody can accept. "
He believes the most urgent work is psychological as much as tactical. "The team need, I believe, first of all, to get some confidence, to get some courage, " Tudor said, adding that training will be a focal point: getting the players to understand the path he wants them to follow and to buy into it quickly. He also acknowledged the need to tailor his approach to the personnel available rather than forcing a system that doesn't fit.
Squad availability and tactical pragmatism
Injury problems compound the challenge: more than ten first-team players are currently sidelined, limiting options and forcing Tudor to prioritise finding the best system for those fit to play. He said he and his staff will need to be "very intelligent to find the best possible way in a very short time. " The emphasis is on organisation, intensity and extracting maximum performance from the existing squad.
Tudor, 47, arrives with a clear record of mid-season interventions at clubs across Europe and a reputation for demanding high intensity and discipline. He has experience in top leagues and European competition and has previously delivered measurable improvements after arriving mid-campaign. That experience will be put to the test as he balances the club's cultural expectation of attractive football with the immediate need for results.
Key fixtures and the short-term calendar
Tudor's first match in charge is a high-stakes London derby at home to title-chasing Arsenal on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Beyond that, the club faces a run of fixtures that will determine whether they can climb clear of danger or become embroiled in a relegation scrap. The Champions League knockout phase also looms in March, adding another layer of complexity to squad management.
He has been handed a straightforward brief: improve performances, deliver results and bring organisation and competitive edge to the squad at a decisive stage. Tudor insists everyone must "give something more, something extra" and that being aware of the problem is not sufficient without concrete change on the training ground and on matchdays.
With little time to implement sweeping changes, Tudor's first days will be judged on whether he can halt a winless run, stabilise confidence and set a clearer identity that players can execute. Fans will expect visible progress quickly; the next few matches will indicate whether the interim appointment has the desired galvanising effect.
