Igor Tudor has refrained from speaking to his Tottenham squad about the possibility of relegation, even as the threat of a historic downfall looms large.
Recently, Tottenham suffered a heavy defeat against Arsenal in the north London derby, where doubles from Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze contributed to a 4-1 away victory for the Gunners.
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The outcome has left Spurs precariously positioned just four points above the relegation zone, sitting in 16th place, with both West Ham and Nottingham Forest below them showing signs of improvement lately.
To avoid what could be the most shocking relegation in the Premier League history, Spurs must quickly regain their form. However, interim manager Tudor—who believes that “the less we talk” about the derby defeat, “the better”—has not mentioned relegation during his initial two weeks in charge.
When asked if he had addressed the issue of relegation, Tudor replied, “No, I never used [that word]. Not because it should be avoided out of fear, but because it’s a dangerous word that we should not dwell on.”
“It’s important that we focus on ourselves, that’s what I’ve been stressing. I want my players to concentrate on our training. That’s the only thing we can influence.”
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“We shouldn’t be concerned about future points; they will come as a result of our training and performances. Our focus should be solely on that.”
Tottenham is set to face Fulham in a bid for a much-needed victory, with Tudor characterizing the club’s current situation as “a matter of life and death… in sporting terms.”
Tottenham faces Fulham this weekend, desperately needing a win (Getty)
Tudor also provided an encouraging injury update before the match, confirming that Kevin Danso and Pedro Porro would be available, while Micky van de Ven is “fine” despite a minor finger issue.
Van de Ven was a subject of discussion after a video circulating on social media seemingly showed him disregarding Tudor’s instructions during the match.
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While it was speculated that the instructions were aimed at Radu Dragusin and the defensive line, Tudor clarified that there were no issues with Van de Ven.
He stated, “It was just a video shared by a fan, so should we comment on fan-generated content? Yes, I saw the video, but it didn’t pertain to Micky specifically; it was an instruction meant for the entire team, asking them to push up.”
Igor Tudor maintains there is no issue with Micky van de Ven after a video emerged seemingly showing the defender ignoring his instructions (John Walton/PA Wire)
“It wasn’t about Micky; it was more about the team needing to advance. We want to press higher, but right now, it’s a challenge for the team to execute that.
“That’s why there was some frustration, but it’s just part of the process; nothing out of the ordinary.”
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Regarding Van de Ven’s dedication to the team, he commented, “We haven’t even discussed this incident, because there’s nothing to discuss. He’s a great professional and would never act in such a manner.”