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Tottenham with no more 'excuses' as relegation fears deepen

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Tottenham with no more 'excuses' as relegation fears deepen - ESPN
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Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke said the team no longer have any excuses after their Premier League survival hopes took another blow with a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Thursday.

Spurs -- one of the richest teams in Europe and a founding member of the Premier League -- are just one point above the relegation zone and without a domestic win in 2026.

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"We've just had a big conversation. We know the position we are in is definitely not where we want to be so we need to figure out how we are going to get out of it as soon as possible," Solanke told TNT Sports.

"We know there's been difficulties but we're not in a position to make any excuses anymore. We need to do the job on the pitch. It is easy to say we want to be better but we want to be better on the pitch.

"We need to fight and realise the position we are in. We know the club is not used to being in this position so we need to understand it and understand it's not going to be easy and we need to fight every single game, every single minute, to make sure we improve."

Spurs' latest defeat was the fifth in a row and the third under new coach Igor Tudor, who was tasked with the responsibility of turning the season around.

He watched as his team capitulated in front of a home crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium -- conceding three goals in the first half, having taken the lead and then gone down to 10 men when Micky van de Ven was sent off.

Palace took full advantage by scoring three times in seven minutes before the break.

Ismaïla Sarr struck twice -- one from the penalty spot -- with Jørgen Strand Larsen getting the other for the visitors.

That was after Solanke had given Spurs the lead in the 34th minute. Van de Ven was red-carded four minutes later for bringing down Sarr in the box and Palace took control.

Plenty of Spurs fans headed for the exit doors at half-time and while Tudor's depleted group showed some spirit in the second half, this latest defeat extended the club's winless run to 11 matches, which is a new club record in the Premier League.

"I am very disappointed, like the fans," Tudor said. "We know what the moment is and we need to keep working and believe.

"But after this game I believe more than before because I saw something in the team and in the dressing room after the game. When we will be complete it will be good, I believe."

The deepening crisis at Tottenham comes after winning the Europa League last season and advancing to the knockout stage of the Champions League this term, where they face Atlético Madrid in the round of 16 next week.

But their desperate league form has carried on from last year when they finished one place above the relegation zone -- their lowest final position in the Premier League era.

"I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go and needs to go and who is in the boat can stay," Tudor said. "Otherwise they can bow down, or how do you say that, leave the boat.

"So, when the other players will come back and choosing the right [players], I'm sure we will have a good team and the victories will come back. It's not easy to accept the moment where we are now but it is how it is."

Their plight also comes amid a tumultuous period when they have had seven managers in less than seven years.

Tottenham have spent only one season out of England's top flight since 1950 and have been an established member of the Premier League since the competition's inception in 1992.

Deloitte ranked Spurs ninth on its most recent rich list in January with revenues of $781 million. That placed Tottenham above giants like Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus.

The Associated Press and PA contributed to this report.

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3 C Palace (5 Mar, 2026) Game Analysis

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Tottenham's survival hopes took a turn for the worse after a nightmare 24-hour period concluded with a 3-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace following Micky van de Ven's foolish sending-off.

Spurs started the night only one point outside the bottom three of the Premier League table after West Ham won away to Fulham on Wednesday to make relegation a serious possibility for the north London club.

When Ismaila Sarr had a goal disallowed for offside and it was followed five minutes later by a 34th-minute opener for Dominic Solanke, Tottenham's luck appeared set to turn.

However, Van de Ven's inexplicable red-card for a blatant pull back on Sarr inside the area earned the stand-in home captain his marching orders.

Sarr tucked away the resulting spot-kick and scored again during a chaotic end to the first half in between Jorgen Strand Larsen's low effort.

Igor Tudor watched Spurs rally in the second half and not concede again, but this fifth consecutive defeat will leave the Croatian facing serious question marks over whether or not he is the right man to guide the 16th-placed club out of relegation trouble.

Tudor again rolled the dice for the visit of Palace with big-money signings Conor Gallagher and Xavi Simons dropped, but it failed to have the desired effect with Guglielmo Vicario forced to deny Adam Wharton inside 60 seconds.

Souza, on his full debut for Spurs, was booked after seven minutes for a poor tackle on Daniel Munoz, who limped off.

Mathys Tel gave the home fans something to shout about with a snapshot in the 15th-minute.

It was not the catalyst for Tudor's team to grab a foothold in the contest, though, and instead Palace had the ball in the net just before the hour mark.

Sarr raced onto Evann Guessand's through ball and finished well past Guglielmo Vicario, but a lengthy VAR check decided the Palace attacker was offside.

Big cheers greeted the decision and moments later Tottenham seemed to have turned the tide when Solanke broke the deadlock.

A deflected Tel strike forced a corner and Gray brilliantly spun away from Wharton before he teed up Solanke to fire home a 34th-minute opener.

Four minutes later and Spurs' momentum was wiped out when Van de Ven pulled back Sarr to give away a penalty.

Referee Andrew Madley immediately pulled out a red card and after Sarr sent Vicario the wrong to score from 12 yards, Tottenham were left with a huge uphill task.

Tudor sent on Gallagher and Yves Bissouma, but shell-shocked Spurs conceded twice in first-half stoppage-time.

Wharton was the creator in chief for both, firstly threading a pass into Strand Larsen, who arrowed an effort past Vicario after he got away from Palhinha before Sarr grabbed his second.

Again, Wharton's clipped ball caught out Tottenham's static defence and Sarr poked in with Pedro Porro left to look foolish after he stood still with his hand up.

Loud boos greeted half-time, but the 10-men of Spurs rallied with Kevin Danso denied by Dean Henderson before Gray had an effort blocked.

Brennan Johnson was introduced against his old club to warm applause before Solanke tested Henderson with a low effort.

Richarlison and Xavi entered the fray with 16 minutes left, but Tottenham set a new club record in the Premier League of 11 matches without a win.

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Dele Alli training at Tottenham amid wait for new team

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Dele Alli has returned to train at Tottenham's facilities, four years after departing the Premier League club.

The attacking midfielder, currently a free agent, has struggled with fitness issues during recent seasons, but has been allowed to train individually at Hotspur Way.

Dele has been without a club since September, when his contract with Como was terminated by mutual agreement.

He played just one match for the Serie A side, coming off the bench in a match against AC Milan in March 2025, before being sent off shortly after his introduction. He has not made a professional appearance since.

After joining from Milton Keynes Dons in 2015, the 29-year-old spent seven years at Tottenham, scoring 67 goals in all competitions and playing in the 2019 Champions League final.

He was called up for England eight months after his Spurs move, and was a starter in Gareth Southgate's 2018 FIFA World Cup squad.

Dele went on to join Everton in 2022 and and also had a loan spell at Turkish side Besiktas before he signed for Como at the start of 2025.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

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Ossie Ardiles calls for unity as Tottenham linger above relegation zone

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Former Tottenham player and manager Ossie Ardiles has called for togetherness to ensure his old club get out of "big, big trouble" in the Premier League.

Spurs' top-flight status is under grave threat for the first time in three decades after a 2-1 loss at Fulham on Sunday left them only four points above the relegation zone.

A run of two wins in 19 matches and a record-equalling period of 10 matches without a victory has sent the fanbase into a state of frenzy about whether or not injury-hit Tottenham have enough in their current squad to stop the slide.

Ahead of Thursday's visit of Crystal Palace, two-time FA Cup winner Ardiles told the Press Association: "Our job, everybody at the club, my job and the job of everybody in Tottenham is to go behind the team.

"We are OK right now but we could be in big, big trouble.

"So, everybody has to be together to achieve what we want to achieve.

"Survive this season and then we'll see what happens next."

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Ardiles discussed Tottenham's precarious situation during a milestone occasion for his old teammate Micky Hazard, who alongside his sister Michelle is behind the mental health charity Legend On The Bench.

The Hazards were able to unveil the 100th park bench by Legend On The Bench last Thursday at Water Gardens in Harlow with several Spurs greats like Ardiles in attendance.

Former England goalkeeper Pat Jennings and former Tottenham captain Gary Mabbutt were also present for a landmark occasion for the charity, which was set up after Hazard's nephew Jay committed suicide in 2019.

"Yes, it is a wonderful, wonderful achievement. I was with him when he started to do this and he started very small, but it is amazing how it has grown," Ardiles reflected.

"Micky is the driving force. I come, take pictures and talk a lot of rubbish, but the proper job and the hard work is all down to him.

"His goal was quite small but it grew and grew and he works harder and harder. Now we are where we are right now. It's an incredible achievement."

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Tottenham fined for Nazi salutes by fans during Champions League match

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UEFA have fined Tottenham Hotspur and handed down a suspended ban on travelling fans, with the club acknowledging Nazi salutes were made by a group of supporters.

As part of the punishment, Tottenham will have to pay a €30,000 (£26,200/$35,100) to the European governing body.

The club has also been banned from selling tickets to away fans for one match in UEFA competition, albeit this has been suspended for a probationary period of one year.

In addition to the larger fine, Spurs have also been told to pay €2,250 (£1,960/$2,630) for the throwing of objects by fans.

In response to the sanctions, Tottenham confirmed that they have identified supporters who made Nazi salutes towards Eintracht Frankfurt fans during last month's Champions League tie.

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"The club has cooperated fully with UEFA's investigation, as well as with German police on the night and, subsequently, the Met Police," Tottenham said.

"We can confirm that all three individuals found to be making Nazi salutes towards Eintracht Frankfurt fans have been identified and have received indefinite bans under the Club's Sanctions and Banning Policy.

"The club stands firmly against all forms of discrimination and has therefore taken the strongest possible action. The disgusting behaviour of a minority of so-called fans on the night is in no way reflective of the values of our club and its supporters."

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Tottenham fined after 'Nazi salutes' by fans during Champions League match

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Tottenham fined after 'Nazi salutes' by fans during Champions League match - ESPN
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UEFA have fined Tottenham Hotspur and handed down a suspended ban on travelling fans, with the club acknowledging "Nazi salutes" were made by a group of supporters.

As part of the punishment, Tottenham will have to pay a €30,000 (£26,200/$35,100) to the European governing body.

The club has also been banned from selling tickets to away fans for one match in UEFA competition, albeit this has been suspended for a probationary period of one year.

In addition to the larger fine, Spurs have also been told to pay €2,250 (£1,960/$2,630) for the throwing of objects by fans.

In response to the sanctions, Tottenham confirmed that they have identified supporters who made "Nazi salutes" towards Eintracht Frankfurt fans during last month's Champions League tie.

- Randal Kolo Muani strikes as Spurs book place in Champions League last-16

- Shorn of star strikers Ekitike, Marmoush, Eintracht are floundering

- Tottenham's Igor Tudor: 'It's not about the system -- a sport of running, duels'

"The club has cooperated fully with UEFA's investigation, as well as with German police on the night and, subsequently, the Met Police," Tottenham said.

"We can confirm that all three individuals found to be making Nazi salutes towards Eintracht Frankfurt fans have been identified and have received indefinite bans under the Club's Sanctions and Banning Policy.

"The club stands firmly against all forms of discrimination and has therefore taken the strongest possible action. The disgusting behaviour of a minority of so-called fans on the night is in no way reflective of the values of our club and its supporters."

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Portland Thorns hire ex-Tottenham coach Robert Vilahamn - sources

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Portland Thorns hire ex-Tottenham coach Robert Vilahamn - sources - ESPN
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The Portland Thorns have hired Robert Vilahamn as head coach, multiple sources told ESPN, after a lengthy search that took almost the entire off-season.

Vilahamn was most recently the head coach of Tottenham Hotspur's women's side after stints at multiple clubs in his native country of Sweden.

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He led Tottenham to a sixth-place finish in the Women's Super League and to the FA Cup final in his first season in charge. He was fired by Tottenham last June after an 11th-place finish in the league, one spot above relegation.

Prior to Tottenham, Vilahamn coached BK Häcken in Sweden.

Vilahamn entered Portland's radar later in the search process, multiple sources confirmed. Portland interviewed several candidates both from inside and outside the NWSL over the past few months, sources added, but decided on someone with experience outside the league.

The timeline of the decision eventually left the prospective hire with little to no time with the team during preseason. The Thorns are less than two weeks away from their 2026 season-opener.

It is unclear if Vilahamn will be on the sidelines when Portland plays its first game on March 13 against the Washington Spirit, as he awaits a visa.

Portland fired former head coach Rob Gale on Nov. 25.

Gale was in charge for only one full season after taking over on an interim basis in 2024. He was promoted to the full-time job later that year.

Portland finished third last season despite several major absences. The Thorns lost to the Washington Spirit in the semifinals in November.

Vilahamn takes over a Portland team with high expectations. The Thorns are three-time champions and two-time Shield winners, although their last trophy came in 2022.

Since then, Portland has been inconsistent on the field and changed ownership off it. The team twice promoted internally to fill its head-coaching role since that 2022 championship.

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