Igor Tudor has been set a clear target of Premier League survival, but should Tottenham Hotspur expect a bit more from their new manager?
Igor Tudor has arrived in Tottenham Hotspur’s greatest hour of need with a huge amount of responsibility on his shoulders.
Spurs are one position higher in the Premier League table than where they finished last season, but their points tally is a much greater concern.
Just five points separate Tottenham from the relegation zone, and while this might not seem so bad, West Ham are looking like a team who mean business.
If Tudor keeps his new club safe, he has ultimately fulfilled his purpose in North London. However, Spurs fans have high expectations, and they are unlikely to be satisfied with the bare minimum.
Tudor must secure more than Premier League survival
Nothing beats getting a result at the very last minute when all hope seems lost, but surely this does not apply to Tottenham’s fight for Premier League survival.
To go from celebrating a Europa League one year to remaining in the English top flight the next would be nothing short of tragic, so Tudor cannot let things go right down to the wire.
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Even Thomas Frank left Spurs a few points clear of the relegation zone, meaning it is important for Tudor to expand this gap rather than seeing it decrease.
Putting it simply, Tottenham must not find themselves in a situation where dropping down a division is still on the cards with a couple of matches left.
The Champions League is important for Spurs too
European football was the only good thing about Ange Postecoglou’s second campaign at Tottenham, and this season under Frank has been no different.
The Dane managed his team to a top-four league phase finish in the Champions League, meaning questions would be asked of Tudor if he suffered a last-16 exit.
Spurs could face Juventus or Atletico Madrid next, and both are good teams. However, there are still plenty of stronger sides in the competition and the ex-Serie A boss should really be progressing past at least one round.
Tudor cannot be expected to do the unthinkable at Tottenham
If Tudor were to lift Spurs up to a mid-table finish and reach the Champions League semi-finals, that would be quite the achievement, but it should not be the expectation.
The Tottenham first-team squad is laden with injuries, and even getting a draw takes a lot of effort. Therefore, the limitations Tudor faces should be recognised, and patience must be afforded to him.
What we are about to witness is like a firefighter running into a burning house without any PPE. The resources are simply not there for Tudor, and if he manages to restore stability at Spurs with what little he has to work with, then credit where credit is due.