:focal(1385x511:1387x509)/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/02/20/image-f2239264-19f0-41fe-9836-17718ba2a117-85-2560-1440.jpeg "Tudor rules out Spurs relegation threat, reveals ‘even bigger challenge’ at club - TNT Sports")
Igor Tudor will have a baptism of fire as Spurs interim manager as Premier League leaders Arsenal head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. The Croatian has given his new team a 100% chance of remaining in the top flight, but admitted the ongoing injury crisis has created an "even bigger challenge" and that his side "needs to suffer, to fight, to run".
Tottenham Hotspur interim manager Igor Tudor said the club will "100%" be in the Premier League next season.
The Croatian, who has previously coached Juventus, Lazio and Marseille, will take charge until the end of the season following the dismissal of Thomas Frank.
Spurs currently sit five points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United with 12 games of the season remaining.
But Tudor has no concerns about relegation ahead of his first game in charge, a north London derby against league leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
Asked if Spurs will be a top-flight club next season in his pre-match press conference, he said: "100%."
On his first few days at the club, Tudor added: "I'm not here to enjoy it, I'm here to work. Enjoy is the first moment, and then there's work to do.
"It's a fantastic club. I am very focused to do the right things."
Tudor has a reputation for joining underachieving teams and initiating an upturn in fortunes.
"I do my job," he said. "Nothing special. I do things that I believe are important.
"You need to resolve the problems - there are problems even in the biggest clubs."
Frank's job was made more difficult by an injury crisis, with a number of key players out of action, and Tudor admitted it is a "rare situation".
"We have 10 injuries, we trained with 13 players," he said. "It is an even bigger challenge to succeed from this situation.
"My first goal is that we become a team in the right meaning of the word, that suffers when it needs to suffer, to fight, to run, to have the right mentality. The start is always about mentality."
Arteta: 'Exactly where we want to be'
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hailed his side's response to their 2-2 draw with bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night.
The Gunners led 2-0 but a last-minute equaliser from Tom Edozie was another blow to their title hopes.
But Arteta said his players must "live in the present" as they turn their attention to the north London derby.
"What I have seen is a tremendous reaction again," he said. "When you lose points with the last kick of the game, in an unpredictable manner, nobody can really understand that. But this is football.
Bayern stance on Fernandes revealed amid £87m asking price - Euro Transfer News
Guardiola 'could not care less' about league table in title race
How Madueke was inspired by ‘pioneer’ Man Utd legends during his career
"That was a chapter. In chapter 27, we draw against Wolves. In the next one it is about how we write our own destiny going forward. Life moves on, there's nothing we can do. It is about what happens next.
"The immediate reaction is tough. It was a shock to the system. We wanted to win and we couldn't and we have to move on.
"We have clear instructions. We have to live in the present. The present is beautiful, we are exactly where we want to be in every competition."
On the prospect of playing Tudor's Spurs, Arteta added: "I think it has happened seven times already to us this season [facing a new manager].
"We will have the capacity to adapt but the main focus is on what we have to do to win.
"It's the match we have next and the one we cannot wait to play. We have to show up on Sunday."
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Men's and Women's FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Related Matches