igor tudor: no time for excuses as he seeks to arrest Tottenham slide

Igor Tudor has been appointed Tottenham's interim head coach until the end of the season and says there is "no time to find excuses" as he attempts to reverse a worrying run of results. With the club sitting perilously close to the relegation zone, a mounting injury list and a run of winless Premier League matches behind them, Tudor has prioritised restoring confidence, sharpening training and finding the right system for the players available.

Immediate priorities: confidence, courage and concrete work on the training ground

Tudor made plain that his first objective is psychological as much as tactical. "The team need, I believe, first of all, to get some confidence, to get some courage, " he said on taking the job. He has set out a back-to-basics agenda centred on demanding training sessions and clear messages about how the team must perform on the pitch.

He added that everyone must "give something more, something extra", signalling a hands-on approach aimed at shoring up a wounded dressing room. Tudor has experience of stepping into difficult mid-season situations and believes a short, intense programme of work can generate the immediate uplift Tottenham need.

Injury crisis and tactical choices to manage a thin squad

The club is dealing with a deep injury list that has sidelined a large portion of the squad. Tudor acknowledged the constraint and said finding the best system for the players who are fit will be a top task. That search for balance could require pragmatic adjustments from the style fans expect, even as he insists the club's footballing identity remains important.

Tudor's first Premier League assignment comes at home to Arsenal on February 22, 2026 (ET), a fixture that will test both his tactical flexibility and his ability to instil belief quickly. He also inherits a side that must navigate a congested schedule, including European commitments that resume in March, meaning rotation and squad management will be scrutinised closely.

Short-term targets and the broader remit

The remit Tudor accepted is straightforward: stabilise performances, lift results and climb the table before the season ends. He has signed until the end of the campaign and is under pressure to produce rapid improvement. The club's hierarchy has highlighted the need for organisation, intensity and a competitive edge; Tudor's comments underline the same priorities.

While underlining the importance of matching the club's cultural expectations about playing style, Tudor was candid about the practicalities. "It is an honour to join this club at an important moment, " he said on arrival, stressing the need to energise and organise the squad quickly. His recent track record includes spells that delivered improved finishes in major European leagues, and he has experience both as a player at the highest level and as a coach who can implement swift changes.

For Tottenham, measurable success in the coming weeks will be clear: halt the winless run, climb away from the relegation scrap and produce credible domestic results while remaining competitive in Europe. Tudor's immediate challenge is to convert his training-ground insistence into sharper match performances and to rebuild confidence within a squad battered by injuries and a run of poor results.

Supporters will expect visible signs of progress from the first fixtures under his leadership. If Tudor can restore collective belief and extract better performances from the personnel available, Tottenham may steady themselves before the season's decisive phase. If not, the club faces a tense final stretch as it looks to secure top-flight safety and balance its domestic and continental responsibilities.