Tottenham Hotspur interim coach Igor Tudor has stated that this role represents the most significant challenge of his career.
Tudor has stepped into his inaugural managerial position in England, with Tottenham’s Premier League prospects in jeopardy following a dire sequence of results this winter.
The team suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat at home against fierce rivals Arsenal, marking Tottenham’s ninth consecutive match without a win and leaving them with just two victories in their last 18 league games.
When asked if he views this as his most significant rescue mission, Tudor responded, “Probably, when I consider and acknowledge the challenges we face, it’s certainly my biggest. It’s an even greater challenge, and it only fuels my motivation to tackle it.”
The former Juventus manager admitted that the task is tougher than anticipated, but he is optimistic that focused work on the training ground can help shift the club’s fortunes before their upcoming match against Fulham on Sunday.
“Definitely yes,” Tudor reflected. “It’s very tough, but like I said before, my opinion hasn’t changed; it is what it is. Daily work, focus, improvement in areas such as physical conditioning, mental confidence, and performance is crucial as we await the return of our players.”
“We must concentrate on our own actions and capabilities, rather than worrying about others. That’s always a good approach and will continue to serve us well.”
This Friday, Spurs will learn who their Champions League opponents will be in the knockout stage. However, Tudor stated that he won’t expend any “energy” worrying about either Atlético Madrid or Galatasaray given the current predicament of the team.
Tudor noted, “I don’t dwell on the draw. Whether I’m anticipating it or not, it won’t impact my focus.”
The Croatian coach will have the addition of defender Kevin Danso and full-back Pedro Porro for the match against Fulham on Sunday.
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Danso and Porro might join Micky van de Ven, who received criticism after a social media clip suggested he disregarded Tudor’s instructions to advance during the loss to Arsenal.
Tudor clarified, “It wasn’t specifically an instruction for Micky; it was a team directive to advance. We wanted the entire team to push up, which is what we discussed beforehand.
“We aim for a high-pressing style, but it’s currently a lot for them, which is why I felt some frustration regarding that. But that’s part of the process.
“If you pay attention, you’ll see that I don’t engage directly with [Van de Ven] on this matter, as this dispute was about the team as a whole. I simply told him to get closer, and he did. My gesture was aimed at the entire defense advancing.”
“We haven’t needed to discuss this again because it was not a significant issue. He is a fantastic individual and a dedicated professional who would never intentionally disregard instructions.”