Igor Tudor has conceded the task of rescuing Tottenham Hotspur from their Premier League struggles is proving more challenging than he initially anticipated, describing it as potentially the most difficult of his managerial career.
The Croatian, appointed as interim head coach earlier this month following the dismissal of Thomas Frank, is preparing his team for Sunday’s trip to Fulham. Tudor suffered a 4-1 defeat in his first match in charge, a home loss to Arsenal that left Spurs just four points above the relegation zone.
Speaking ahead of the Fulham match, Tudor acknowledged the scale of the problems he inherited. “Probably, yes… I agree with you,” he said when asked if the role was more difficult than expected. “It’s very tough… but it is how it is. So daily work, focus, raising in all things we need to do – physical condition, mental confidence, performance – and waiting for the [injured] players to come back.”
Tottenham’s injury list remains significant, with eight players currently unavailable. However, there was some positive news with Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso returning to training this week. Cristian Romero remains suspended, while Micky van de Ven is expected to be fit for selection.
Tudor, who has managed 12 clubs since beginning his managerial career in 2013, suggested that the situation at Tottenham represents a unique challenge. “If I recognise the difficulties We find, probably, yes,” he said. “It’s an even bigger challenge, an even bigger motivation to do this and we do it.”
The appointment of Tudor followed a turbulent period for Spurs, who had sacked Ange Postecoglou last summer before bringing in Frank, who was then dismissed in February 2026. Johan Lange, Tottenham’s sporting director, outlined six demands for Tudor upon his arrival, focusing on clarity, intensity, and experience in challenging situations, with the aim of stabilising performances and competing in both the Premier League and Champions League.
Tudor described the situation before the Arsenal game as an “emergency situation” and reiterated the need for a pragmatic approach. “It’s not looking to the style at this moment,” he said. “Because now it’s a question of life, and death. There is not too much time to think about performance or style. Every game needs to be prepared in that way. How People can take these points, one way or the other?”
He emphasized the importance of adopting a resilient mindset, referencing a concept used in Italian football. “In Italy, they use the term ‘have the mentality of a little team’. That is the key, to always have motivation when you play big teams. So that’s the start, of course, and we work a lot on that. The players are aware of the situation.”
Despite the precarious league position, Tudor avoided directly addressing the possibility of relegation. “I never used it but not because it’s something too scary or it’s a danger word or we won’t sleep,” he said. “It’s about that we need to refocus on ourselves.”
