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Tottenham Hotspur is going through a serious crisis. The team coached by Igor Tudor has not won a single match in 2026 and, ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, suffered a painful 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.

The loss raised even more concerns, as the Spurs are now just one point above the relegation zone.

Following the defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Premier League Matchday 29, Spurs remain with 29 points in 16th place in the table.

Their margin is extremely small, with Nottingham Forest only one point behind and already inside the relegation zone.

The upcoming schedule does not help either. Tottenham must face Atlético de Madrid in the Champions League, before playing Liverpool, a team desperate for points to reach the European qualification spots.

After that, Spurs will face Nottingham Forest, a direct rival in the fight to avoid relegation.

Instead of loud boos, the match ended in an unusual silence that reflected the frustration surrounding the club.

Images circulated online showing fans leaving the stadium, some already outside the venue while 45 minutes of the match were still remaining.

The season for Tottenham Hotspur FC has shifted from inconsistent to alarming. With ten matches remaining in the Premier League campaign, the North London side holds only a slim cushion above the relegation zone, currently marked by West Ham United FC. What once seemed unthinkable is now a genuine possibility: relegation to the Championship.

Amid the sporting turmoil, however, the club has a financial safety net. According to a report by The Athletic, most of Tottenham’s squad members signed contracts that include an automatic 50% wage reduction in the event of relegation. The measure was reportedly introduced by former chairman Daniel Levy before stepping down from his role.

The only exceptions are said to be recent signings Connor Gallagher and Souza, whose contracts do not include the relegation clause. This financial foresight is particularly significant given the reported departure of several sponsors and the economic uncertainty that would follow a drop to the second tier.

On the pitch, even the arrival of Igor Tudor as replacement for Thomas Frank has failed to spark an immediate turnaround. Tottenham remain without a win in 2026, a streak not seen at the club since 1994.

Last season, Spurs narrowly avoided relegation with 38 points. This year, they have collected just 29 so far, with projections hovering around 40 — a total that may not guarantee survival this time. While the sporting outlook is uncertain, financially, Tottenham appear to have prepared for the worst-case scenario.

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Still without a league win this year, Spurs remain just four points above the relegation zone in 16th with 10 games remaining.

Tudor was taking charge for just the second time since being appointed until the end of the season.

But if the Croatian could excuse last weekend's 4-1 north London derby to Arsenal on the gulf between the sides, he was left with no doubt over the task he faces in the coming months.

"We were not good, (we) lacked everything attacking and defending," said the former Juventus boss.

"Fulham were much better. There are problems here, big problems.

"We need to stay calm, believe in what we are doing in training, and get out (of trouble), staying all together."

Tottenham have been an ever-present in the English top-flight since one season in the second tier in 1977/78.

They are among the top 10 richest clubs in the world based on revenue and boast a state-of-the-art stadium and training ground.

But Tudor said relegation is a realistic possibility unless his side improve markedly in the coming weeks.

"We don't need to think about that (relegation), not because it cannot happen, but we must focus on growing mentality as a team, concentration, physically," he added.

"These are the only goals we must have."

There was frustration for Spurs over the award of Fulham's opening goal.

Harry Wilson fired in after Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin in the back with a very similar action to one penalised when Tottenham forward Randal Kolo Muani nudged Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes last weekend.

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Igor Tudor has urged Tottenham to think like a "small team" as they attempt to pull themselves away from Premier League relegation danger.

The Croatian's first game in charge of Spurs after replacing Thomas Frank until the end of the season finished in a 4-1 loss to fierce rivals Arsenal last weekend.

Tottenham are now winless in nine league matches in 2026 and are four points above the relegation zone ahead of facing Fulham on Sunday.

Tudor is vastly experienced, having coached 12 teams over the past 13 years, and he is fully aware of what is required to fight the drop.

"In Italy, they use the term 'have the mentality of a small team'," Tudor said at Thursday's pre-match news conference.

"That's the key: to always have the willingness and motivation like you play against bigger teams. They are aware of everything."

Tudor also insisted that only hard work was going to get Tottenham out of trouble at this stage, adding: "The mentality changes by training.

"Doing the right things there and to have enough training sessions that you can transmit these things to the team so that on Sunday this can be seen from the fans in the stadium.

"Hard work. There is no other possibility. You need to be smart to understand, deeper the moment and how to take the points."

Fulham snapped a three-game losing run in the league with a 3-1 win at Sunderland last weekend to move into the top half of the table.

Marco Silva's side enter this weekend's match at Craven Cottage three points off Brentford in seventh, with European football very much the aim.

"We're taking it step by step," Alex Iwobi told Sky Sports. "It's onto the next game now.

"We got the three points [against Sunderland], which was the aim, to climb above them. We take it game by game – there's that cliche saying.

"We'll see where we end up at the end of the season."

Raul Jimenez scored twice in the win at Sunderland last weekend and now has eight goals and three assists in 26 league games this term.

The Mexico international has opened the scoring in 32 of the 62 Premier League games he has scored in, including in four of Fulham's last 11.

Tudor confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Pedro Porro is available for selection after a recent spell out.

Porro had started 21 league matches prior to his injury last month and could come straight into the line-up, giving Spurs far more threat down the right.

Tottenham are aiming to avoid going 10 Premier League games without a win for the first time since between January and March 1994.

The incident occurred during a corner that the midfielder was responsible for when the fan near the player managed to show him his phone with a photo of Declan Rice's wife. Although the cameras captured the situation, it is not entirely clear that the midfielder noticed the mockery at the moment.

Rice's wife, the player's response, and social media

Lauren Fryer is the wife of Declan Rice, who was mocked due to her physical appearance and had to delete many of her photos on social media to avoid further issues and attacks on her looks.

It's not the first time that Rice or his wife have found themselves under the spotlight of public opinion and fans. Previously, the player came to his wife's defense after the wave of attacks and comments she received and expressed his love for her. However, there is still no concrete or official response from the player regarding this new and particular incident; the lack of response on the field may have been due to the player's unawareness of the situation.

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Tottenham Hotspur have officially parted ways with Thomas Frank, bringing an end to a tenure that never found stability. The decision arrives with Spurs dangerously close to the relegation zone in the Premier League, a position that few imagined possible at the start of the season.

What began as a pragmatic appointment meant to restore balance instead turned into a campaign defined by inconsistency, fragile performances, and mounting pressure.

The statistics paint a troubling picture. Frank’s points-per-game average placed him among the lowest-performing managers of the modern “Big Six” era. But beyond the numbers, the bigger issue was the team’s identity—or lack of one.

Tottenham struggled to control matches, looked defensively vulnerable, and failed to develop a coherent attacking structure. The tactical clarity that defined Frank’s Brentford years never fully translated to North London.

Perhaps the most damaging element of the season was the breakdown in trust between the manager and the fanbase. Early patience quickly faded after defeats to direct rivals, including arch-neighbors Arsenal.

Chants calling for change became a regular soundtrack at away grounds. While players still received applause for effort, Frank increasingly became the focal point of frustration in a season that felt directionless.

Frank’s departure does not solve Tottenham’s deeper structural concerns. Squad imbalances, recruitment decisions, and long-term planning remain under scrutiny. However, in a crisis situation, the head coach is often the most immediate lever a club can pull.

Spurs now face a far bigger task: restoring competitive credibility before the word “relegation” shifts from theoretical fear to genuine possibility.

With world-class facilities and ambitions of competing in Europe, Tottenham’s current position is a stark warning. The dismissal of Thomas Frank may be the first step toward change, but it is far from the final one.

For Spurs, this is not merely about replacing a manager. It is about rediscovering identity, authority, and belief—before the season leaves consequences that cannot be undone.

Thomas Frank is "1,000%" certain he will still be in charge of Tottenham for their North London derby against Arsenal next week, despite a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United bringing renewed scrutiny of his position.

Spurs have gone eight Premier League games without a victory and are one of only two teams – along with Burnley – to fail to win a game in the competition in 2026.

Jacob Ramsey's left-footed strike proved the difference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, coming just four minutes after Archie Gray had cancelled out Malick Thiaw's opener.

Spurs were booed off at half-time and full-time, and their current losing streak is their worst since a nine-match run between May and October 2008, which led to Juande Ramos being sacked.

They have 12 days until their next match, at home to Premier League leaders Arsenal, but Frank does not expect the club's hierarchy to use that downtime to make a change.

Asked if he expected to remain at the helm, Frank told reporters: "1,000%. I'm also 1,000% sure I didn't expect us to be in the position we are in, with 11 or 12 injuries.

"There were a few before me, here at Tottenham and many other clubs, that have lost their heads. I have to stay calm. We have to get through this together.

"I am convinced I will be [in charge]. I understand the question. It is easy to point at me, but it is never only the head coach, ownership, players or staff. It is everyone.

"Everyone knows what position we are in and what we need to improve on. That is what we are working hard on."

Frank has repeatedly highlighted Spurs' lengthy injury list as a key reason for their struggles, with James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Richarlison, Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie among their absentees.

Asked if Spurs' decision-makers understood the impact of those injuries, Frank said: "Of course they understand that.

"You can put 11 players in a lineup and then you guys can judge. Of course that affects things, but it is my job to find solutions with the players available.

"If you see them out there, they are running hard. It is tough for them. When you have things going against you, it shows your true colours."

Spurs are just five points clear of the relegation zone in 16th place, though things would have been worse for Frank's men had 18th-placed West Ham not conceded a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United.

And Frank warned the grass is not always greener even when replacing a struggling manager, as he said: "I think there are a lot of studies that show it is not the right thing to do.

Under Michael Carrick, Manchester United continue to look like a transformed side. The Red Devils defeated Tottenham 2-0 at Old Trafford to claim their fourth straight win and strengthen their push for Champions League qualification.

The turning point came in the 29th minute, when Cristian Romero was sent off for a challenge on Casemiro. Less than ten minutes later, Bruno Fernandes drilled a low cross to the near post, Kobbie Mainoo flicked it on first time, and Bryan Mbeumo finished past Guglielmo Vicario.

From that moment on, United were in control. Two goals were later ruled out for offside — one by Amad Diallo and another by Matheus Cunha — before the second finally arrived in the 80th minute, as Bruno Fernandes poked home a cross from Diogo Dalot.

On October 5, 2024, Frank Ilett, widely known as The United Strand, vowed not to cut his hair until Manchester United won five consecutive matches — something that had eluded the club since the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era began.