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Igor Tudor was appointed by Tottenham Hotspur as a short-term fix to their painful campaign, but there are murmurs his position is under threat after only four matches

Tottenham Hotspur interim boss Igor Tudor appears to have been granted a temporary reprieve despite losing every game since taking over. Spurs have announced he will face the media at Friday's press conference, ahead of their daunting trip to Liverpool amid mounting pressure and the serious threat of relegation.

The 47-year-old Tudor hit rock bottom as his side were thrashed 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash with Atletico Madrid. His bold call to drop keeper Guglielmo Vicario in favour of Antonin Kinsky, 22, spectacularly misfired inside 15 minutes, with the young goalkeeper culpable for two of Atletico's three early strikes before being ignominiously hauled off.

Few questioned the decision to withdraw the Czech stopper, but Tudor's failure to acknowledge the distraught Kinsky left former Spurs keeper Joe Hart seething. With Tudor suffering the worst opening spell of any Tottenham manager on record, many have predicted the Croatian will be dismissed before the trip to Anfield.

His position seems secure, at least for the moment, as the club confirmed Tudor's attendance at Friday's press conference. This development virtually ensures Tudor will be in the technical area on the red half of Merseyside.

With four consecutive defeats under his belt, Tudor's future will undoubtedly come under scrutiny should the north London club suffer a heavy loss at Liverpool. Tottenham are treading a perilous path in the Premier League, sitting just one point above 18th-placed West Ham United.

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The Hammers welcome Manchester City this weekend, whilst 17th-placed Nottingham Forest take on Fulham at the City Ground. If both West Ham and Forest secure victories, and Tottenham fall to defeat, Tudor's men will plunge into the relegation zone.

There are also growing indications that he is losing the dressing room. Football London claims that numerous Spurs players believe he has been overly authoritarian and appeared disrespectful since taking charge.

A telling incident occurred at the Wanda Metropolitano when he opted to withdraw Kinsky after a mere 15 minutes. As the goalkeeper departed the field, Tudor failed to acknowledge him.

In response, Conor Gallagher, Joao Palhinha and Dominic Solanke, who had begun the fixture on the substitutes' bench, pursued him down the tunnel, recognising the potentially devastating impact his disastrous brief appearance might have.

Tudor's failure to provide any words of support on the pitch was noted by the Spurs squad. In his post-match interview, he also seemed hesitant to discuss Kinsky, though he did provide a modest show of backing for the goalkeeper during his press conference.

Tudor stated: "Unfortunately, it happened in this big game, these mistakes. He was sorry. The team is with him, me too.

"I was speaking with him. He understands the moment, he understands why he goes out. As I said, he's a very good goalkeeper.

"We are with him, we are all together. It's never about one player. It's happened. It's the Champions League again. We paid [for] this start of the game."

Tottenham's shambolic 5-2 defeat by Atletico Madrid saw a dreadful campaign hit a new low and leave Igor Tudor staring down the barrel ahead of Sunday's away game against Liverpool

It’s difficult to know who looked more lost inside Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano - keeper Antonin Kinsky or coach Igor Tudor.

On Tuesday, in the stadium where Tottenham suffered their Champions Leauge final pain six-and-a-half years ago, they managed to conjure up new depths from which to self destruct.

Kinsky suffered 16 minutes of humiliation while Tudor has suffered 26 days of pain, while realising what a mess Spurs are in.

The Croatian has not even made a dent. Nothing has improved from Thomas Frank’s era, who in turn improved nothing from Ange Postecoglou’s tenure. All signs point to an overriding problem more deeply rooted within the club.

The 47-year-old Tudor has made little positive impact on the players. His attempts to instil discipline have backfired.

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Some of the players have been unhappy with the training sessions. Big players have been pushed to the side. Xavi Simons has been marginalised despite Spurs screaming out for creativity and new signing Conor Gallagher reduced to a substitute role. Nobody looks to have any confidence about what is going on inside the club.

The Kinsky and Guglielmo Vicario mess was the latest selection blunder from the interim head coach. The images of Tudor snubbing Kinsky as he walked off the pitch, rather than attempting to have a word in the young keeper’s ear about the decision and the enormity of what this night could mean for his career spoke volumes.

Substitutes Dominic Solanke, Gallagher and Joao Palhinha instead ran from the bench and down the tunnel, attempting to console him.

Those scenes followed the strange Cristian Romero moment with Tudor just before Kinsky was removed. The captain came over to speak to the interim boss at length and as soon as they finished, the Croatian turned to Vicario and the change was made.

The irony was that Atletico were not incredible on the night and Tottenham were not dreadful. They conceded three ridiculous goals in those opening minutes but had enough chances to take a result back to north London that could have been turned around.

However, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Anfield, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust called for immediate action.

“Tonight’s performance and result is a total disgrace. It’s symptomatic of the abysmal state of things at Spurs right now,” a statement read. “From the January transfer window to the management appointments, the lack of leadership and the absence of anyone with a Spurs pedigree informing these decisions. Where is the Daring to Do? Where are the Echoes of Glory?

“Emergency action is needed as right now we are sleep walking off the edge of a cliff. Being a Spurs fan has never been so difficult but supporters will not sit by and watch the club continue to decline. There will be more to follow.”

Spurs now have to come up with a plan to fix the plan that failed to fix the previous plan. The Tudor experiment is only four games old but all the signs are already there that it will not work.

Pundits, including former Spurs players, share their views on the club's plight as relegation fears mount

Tottenham Hotspur are in real danger of crashing into the Championship. The dismissal of Thomas Frank hasn't seen any improvement, with interim boss Igor Tudor now feeling the heat following consecutive losses to Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace.

There's talk that Tudor could be ousted before Spurs resume Premier League action at Liverpool on Sunday. Europe seems like a distraction as Spurs strive to avoid descending into the second tier for the first time since 1977.

It's evident Spurs are NOT 'too good to go down'. Here's a compilation of what top pundits are saying about the club's plight and where it would stand on the list of Premier League shocks if they do tumble into the Championship...

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Alan Shearer

Via Betfair, the Newcastle legend said: "Tottenham are in big danger of getting relegated now. When I saw them against Newcastle, I thought there was a real prospect of them being relegated because I just didn't see any fight.

"I didn't see any desire or any attitude from the Spurs players, particularly in that first half on Thursday [against Palace]. I think that encapsulates what they are; they're a mess, both on and off the pitch. You can tell confidence is fragile. I know they've got injuries, but everyone has injuries.

"And if they go down, they deserve to go down because it hasn't just happened this season. It was last season where they finished. We all thought that can't happen again, but it has, so they can only blame themselves."

Rio Ferdinand

On his Presents YouTube channel, the ex-Manchester United defender didn't mince his words, saying: "They're going down. Even the manager says we've got to improve in every area, including the brain.

"If I was a betting man, I'd bet on Spurs going down, given where they are confidence-wise. I don't see where they're going to pick up points, their record is horrendous."

Jamie Redknapp

Following the 4-1 loss at Arsenal, he commented on Sky Sports: "They [Arsenal] were so much better than Tottenham, it was like two different leagues. If Tottenham aren't careful, they might be in a different league. They cannot keep performing like this."

Jermain Defoe

The former Spurs forward told The Sun: "It would be catastrophic if the club got relegated. A massive club like Tottenham, you look at the infrastructure and everything..

"I have been in both situations. Of course, the pressure of trying to win the league or finish in the top four is a lot of pressure.

"But I do feel like it is maybe a different type of pressure [at the bottom] when you have maybe not experienced something like this before. It is going to be tough."

Jamie Carragher

In his Telegraph column, the Sky Sports pundit said: "If they drop into the Championship it would be the most shocking descent of the Premier League era, and the most embarrassing for a club of such wealth and stature since Denis Law's back-heel for Manchester City sent Manchester United into the old Second Division in 1974.

"There is no escaping the shadow of the dreaded 'R word' at Spurs. Relegation is possible. Add 'ridiculous' or 'reprehensible' and plain 'rubbish' to the valid descriptions of their record over the past 27 months, which has led them to this perilous situation. Spurs' abysmal form since they were top of the Premier League in November 2023 defies belief."

Jamie O'Hara

The former Spurs midfielder told 10Bet: "Yeah, absolutely [Spurs can go down]. They have got to find a way out of trouble for sure. It's been a terrible season.

"We've got some tough fixtures coming up and we need to pick up some points. We've got enough good players in the team to find a way of winning.

"Even with all the injuries that we've got, there's still enough decent players to not get relegated. And that's all it's about this season, sadly in the league, not getting relegated."

ATLETICO MADRID 5-2 TOTTENHAM: The Champions League proved to be no tonic for Spurs, whose crisis deepened on a night which both Antonin Kinsky and Igor Tudor will want to forget

For Antonin Kinsky, 17 minutes was enough. For Igor Tudor, four games should be.

To put his faith in a goalkeeper, the most scrutinised position on the pitch, only to hook him in such humiliating fashion begs the question: does Tottenham's new boss even believe in what he's doing? Four games clearly isn't what Tudor had in mind when he agreed to succeed Thomas Frank, but he knew full well what he was getting into - and how quickly change was needed.

It's obvious that Spurs are still on the slide which began long before even Frank took over. Tuesday's first half against Atletico Madrid will go down as the nadir of their struggles.

Four goals conceded in 22 minutes. Nothing short of a horror show. In the wake of Atletico's third of five on the night, Tudor made the remarkable decision to sub Kinsky - who'd been at fault for multiple goals, it must be said.

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Vicario might've felt a hint of smugness watching things play out, but he was almost apologetic towards Kinsky as he replaced him. Dropped only to be suddenly recalled, the Italian's confidence won't exactly be rock solid either.

If Tudor feels that it's right to hook a player after 17 minutes, then he can no complaints if Spurs pull the trigger on him. Kinsky certainly didn't cover himself in glory in Madrid, but his substitution threatens to 'finish' his Tottenham career after a mere 13 appearances since singing in January 2025.

That's the verdict of Ally McCoist, who told TNT Sports: "Finished. It'll finish him. There's no way back. Absolutely [that's on the manager].

Should Tottenham sack Igor Tudor? Have your say in the comments section.

"You can make an argument he's got to do it as well, though, because you cannot make mistakes like that - they're schoolboy errors. It's proved he's made a mistake in changing the goalkeeper. That's an absolutely remarkable 14 minutes."

Tudor was so dismayed by the 22-year-old's performance that he didn't even acknowledge Kinsky when he trudged off at the baying Wanda Metropolitano. Football is a cruel business, but that was beyond the pale. At least a few of Kinsky's team-mates tried to console him, including captain Cristian Romero.

Ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Joe Hart was left flabbergasted at Tudor's snub of his young keeper, who'd suffered a public disaster. Hart said: "He's had a bad 14 minutes, there's absolutely no getting away from it. Even the stadium is feeling sorry for him.

"You see Tudor doesn't even acknowledge his goalie. Does not even acknowledge him. If that's man management, I'm flabbergasted."

"He's acted like that's not the 14th minute, and that doesn't happen at any level, I'm talking Sunday league. This is the Champions League. Yes he's had a bad moment. Has he done it on purpose? Course he hasn't. Stand by your team, send a message. No, stands there, pretends it's not happening, and moves on."

Spurs have a mountain to climb in the second leg, but even by Tudor's own admission, the Champions League is second on his list of priorities. Anfield beckons on Sunday - it can't get any worse, can it?

Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was subbed off after just 17 MINUTES, as crisis-ridden Spurs found themselves 3-0 down against Atletico Madrid. Kinsky, 22, got the nod over regular No.1 Guglielmo Vicario for Tuesday's Champions League round-of-16 first leg in the Spanish capital.

Despite putting his faith in him, Spurs boss Igor Tudor had seen enough when his side conceded a third goal on 15 minutes, with Kinsky having been at fault for two. "Wow, wow, wow," former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I have never seen that on a football pitch. What a huge call from the manager Igor Tudor. Yes, the goalkeeper was at fault but that is confidence destroying for Antonin Kinsky."

Spurs found themselves behind with only six minutes on the clock, as Marcos Llorente opened the floodgates. Antoine Griezmann doubled Atletico's lead before Julian Alvarez made it three after quarter of an hour.

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That was when Tudor decided to make the change and, in doing so, leave the Czech humiliated. Vicario replaced him but couldn't stop it from becoming 4-0 soon after his introduction.

Pedro Porro pulled a goal back to reduce the deficit, capping a wild opening 26 minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano. Joe Hart, another ex-Spurs goalkeeper, reacted to Kinsky's substitution by saying on TNT Sports: "I've been trying to make sense of it. My heart is absolutely broken for him.

"He had a horrible 14 minutes, that slip and the third goal. I don't know what to say. I am just heartbroken for the lad. This Tottenham team is all over the place."

Should Igor Tudor have subbed off Anthony Kinsky? Have your say in the comments section.

Tottenham paid Slavia Prague £12.5million to sign Kinsky in January 2025, handing him a six-and-a-half-year contract. The 22-year-old is yet to make his senior debut for Czechia but did receive his first call-up 18 months ago.

Spurs went into their clash with Atletico knowing that the Champions League is clearly their second priority for the rest of this season. Tudor's side are only one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League with just nine games remaining.

On Sunday, they travel to face Liverpool at Anfield. They'll then welcome Atletico for the return leg before a must-win game at home to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest four days later.

Tottenham forward Mathys Tel believes Premier League games are no longer entertaining to watch as more and more teams put an emphasis on set-pieces and disruptive tactics

Mathys Tel admits the Premier League has become "boring to watch" due to some of the tactics deployed by some teams, including the current emphasis on set-pieces.

The Tottenham attacker's comments relate to certain areas that Arsenal have excelled in this season, including set-pieces. The Gunners, who are on course to win their first domestic title in more than 20 years, have established themselves as the king of dead-balls having scored more goals (19) from set-pieces than any other team in the Premier League.

But Tel has become the latest figure to question the quality of games in the Premier League this term after similar comments made by Ruud Gullit and Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot.

“I’ll tell you the truth, yes, it’s not exciting,” Tel said on the Zack Nani Foot & Live podcast, via Maxifoot. “It’s boring to watch.

“It’s really just a clash between two teams with their own ideas. There’s less spectacle. There’s no Vinicius pulling off a sombrero, dribbling past you, no Kylian [Mbappe] accelerating past you.

“Here, I’d say it’s more structured, maybe too much so, with clear ideas, all the set pieces, little details that can sometimes make the difference. But sometimes you think it might be too much.

“I told the assistant coach in charge of set pieces: 'Don’t put me on that marking job.' Because it’s a zoo in the box.

“We’re all bunched together, everyone’s pushing, knocking each other to the ground, holding onto each other. Forget it. The goalkeeper can no longer get out, he can no longer see.”

Arsenal have emerged as a target for criticism in recent weeks given their prowess from dead-ball situations. But Declan Rice has laughed off comments from critics like Brighton boss, Fabian Hurzeler, who took aim at the Gunners last week.

“It comes from us, the way we set up and then everyone talks about it and then everyone does it – so it’s confusing!” Rice told The i Paper.

“But they’re not doing it to the level that we do it. You can see that when you’re seeing teams take corners. We can still get better and that’s the good thing about it.”

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Tottenham chiefs are still mulling over a decision over their next boss once Igor Tudor’s time is up and former chief Mauricio Pochettino is set to keep a close eye on the North London side

Mauricio Pochettino is set to end a long-standing Tottenham Hotspur hiatus to watch his former side in action. The Argentine left the North London club in 2019 and continues to be linked with a return.

Spurs are on the hunt for their next permanent boss following the sacking of Thomas Frank. Croatian head coach Igor Tudor was appointed on a temporary basis but has so far failed to inspire an upturn in form.

And while Spurs continue to consider their next steps, former boss Pochettino is actually set to watch his former side at close quarters. According to The Athletic, the Argentine will be at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday for Tottenham’s Champions League last-16 clash with Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

He will attend as a guest of the La Liga side and is expected to be keeping a close eye on American star Johnny Cardoso. Pochettino is currently manager of the United States national side and is attempting to decide on a squad for the upcoming World Cup.

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It is the first time that Pochettino will watch Spurs in action from the stands since leaving the club. He was of course re-united with his former side on a couple of occasions during the 2023/24 season, having won both Premier League games against them as Chelsea boss.

Pochettino has also expressed his desire to return to the dugout in North London. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “When I left the club I always remember one interview I said I would like one day to come back to Tottenham.

"I am in the USA, so I am not going to talk about that now - but what I said then I still, after six years or five years, feel in my heart. Yes, I would like one day to come back."

On Spurs’ recent troubles, he added: "To win a Europa League, that the team won [under Ange Postecoglou], is good, but it’s not enough. It is not enough to challenge for the Carabao Cup, or the FA Cup, or the Europa League, or the Conference [League].

"It’s a club that should be, or needs to be because the fans, what they expect is, to be in the Champions League, fighting for the Champions League, trying to believe that you can win the Champions League and also fighting for the Premier League and believing that you can win the Premier League."

Igor Tudor is still searching for a positive result since taking over at Tottenham Hotspur and now has the tough challenge of Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid side

Stepping away from their Premier League relegation fight, struggling Tottenham Hotspur travel to the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid. Despite their troubles at home, Spurs impressed in Europe, finishing fourth in the league phase and outperforming domestic giants such as PSG, Barcelona, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea. They recorded five wins, including notable 2-0 victories over Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt.

While European competition has offered Tottenham a welcome respite—much like during Ange Postecoglou’s memorable second season—their domestic form has been disastrous. Thursday’s 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace saw Igor Tudor’s side set a club record of 11 consecutive Premier League games without a win, leaving them just a point above the relegation zone. With five straight losses in all competitions, and three under Tudor, speculation is mounting over his future, though he will remain in charge for this challenging first leg.

Atletico Madrid, who finished three points and ten places below Spurs in the league phase, survived a dramatic playoff against Club Brugge, ultimately progressing 7-4 on aggregate after a 4-1 home win inspired by an Alexander Sorloth hat-trick. Traditionally known for their defensive solidity, Atletico ended the league phase with the worst defensive record among the top 16 teams, conceding 15 goals, and recent performances suggest their backline issues persist. They have conceded five goals in their last two matches—a 3-0 Copa del Rey loss to Barcelona (rendered meaningless by their first-leg advantage) and a 3-2 La Liga win over Real Sociedad.

Despite their defensive struggles, Atletico have won their last four home games, scoring at least three goals in each. However, their only previous competitive meeting with Tottenham ended in a heavy defeat, as Spurs triumphed 5-1 in the 1963 Cup Winners’ Cup final, with Jimmy Greaves scoring twice. Nearly 63 years later, a repeat of that result seems highly unlikely, but Tottenham will hope their European form can provide some relief from their domestic woes as they seek a fourth consecutive Champions League victory and a sixth clean sheet in seven tournament matches.

Atletico vs Tottenham Prediciton

Atletico to win to nil - 9/5 ( William Hill )

Under 2.5 goals - 17/20 ( William Hill )

Atletico vs Tottenham Team News

Tottenham’s defeat to Crystal Palace was set in motion by Micky van de Ven’s red card for a last-man foul, but the Dutch defender will serve his suspension in domestic competition and is available for Tuesday night’s Champions League clash, as is Cristian Romero, who has completed his own league ban. The visitors benefited from a weekend off following their early FA Cup exit, and manager Igor Tudor is optimistic that Djed Spence could return from a calf injury, with Destiny Udogie (thigh) also nearing a comeback.

However, Spurs remain without several key players: Wilson Odobert (ACL), James Maddison (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Ben Davies (ankle), Lucas Bergvall (ankle), Mohammed Kudus (thigh), and Rodrigo Bentancur (thigh) are all sidelined. Additionally, Radu Dragusin, who missed Thursday’s loss due to a knock, will need to be assessed ahead of the trip to Madrid.

For Atletico Madrid, January signing Rodrigo Mendoza was forced off at halftime against Real Sociedad with an ankle injury, which could keep the 20-year-old out for the rest of the month. He is one of only two fitness concerns for Diego Simeone, with the other being Pablo Barrios, who is back in training after a hamstring issue and should be available. Antoine Griezmann, who has confirmed he will remain in Spain despite MLS speculation, made a significant impact off the bench against Real Sociedad, as did two-goal hero Nico Gonzalez—both are pushing for starting spots in Tuesday’s match.

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