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Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor urged his struggling side to “fight” as Spurs sit just one point above the relegation zone ahead of a daunting PL clash with Liverpool.
Igor Tudor with his Spurs players (AFP)
Interim boss Igor Tudor has urged his struggling Tottenham Hotspur side to show resilience as the club faces the unthinkable prospect of relegation from the Premier League.
Tudor, appointed last month, has endured a nightmare start in north London, losing all four matches in charge during a club-record run of six consecutive defeats in all competitions.
Spurs sit just one point above the relegation zone ahead of a daunting trip to face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. The North London club has not been relegated from England’s top flight since 1977.
“You Can Cry, or You Can Fight”
Speaking ahead of the match, Tudor delivered a blunt message to his players.
“You can cry or you can fight,” he said.
“You can be the victim or you can say ‘I can change something.’ This is the message I want to start with and what I communicate with the players.”
Tottenham’s misery deepened in midweek when they suffered a 5–2 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, with a string of defensive mistakes proving costly.
Mounting Injury Problems
Spurs’ problems have been compounded by injuries and suspensions.
Captain Cristian Romero will miss the Liverpool clash after a heavy head collision with João Palhinha triggered concussion protocols. Defender Micky van de Ven is suspended, while midfielder Yves Bissouma joins an injury list that already includes James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.
“We have a lot of problems to make a first eleven,” Tudor admitted. “I have never had this situation in my career where you have two players missing every game.”
Goalkeeper Controversy
Tudor also defended his decision to start young goalkeeper Antonín Kinský in Madrid after the 23-year-old was blamed for two early goals before being substituted.
Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel criticised the decision, claiming Tudor had “killed” the youngster’s career.
Tudor confirmed that regular first-choice keeper Guglielmo Vicario will start against Liverpool as Spurs attempt to halt their alarming slide.
(with AFP inputs)
March 13, 2026, 23:47 IST
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