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Tottenham players applaud the travelling support after defeat to Atletico Madrid
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Sam Tabuteau
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Igor Tudor has appeared to suggest that there are no plans to refund travelling supporters after Tottenham’s 5-2 defeat by Atletico Madrid.
Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) released a statement hours after the defeat, in which Spurs found themselves 4-0 down inside 22 minutes, calling for “emergency action” and asking the club to refund the match tickets for each supporter who travelled to Madrid to watch the game.
“Tonight’s performance and result is a total disgrace. It’s symptomatic of the abysmal state of things at Spurs right now,” the statement read.
“From the January transfer window to the management appointments, the lack of leadership and the total 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 sleepwalking 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.
“At the very least those in Madrid should have their match tickets refunded. But all we really care about is that the club make us proud. We are here to support the team and be the 12th man. But we all deserve so much more.”
Igor Tudor was powerless to stop Tottenham falling to defeat in Madrid
Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
Tudor, who is the first Spurs manager to lose each of his first four games in charge, was asked about the THST’s request, and while he said it was an issue for the club, he went on to question the direction football was heading if the club felt obliged to refund supporters.
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“Two things, first thing, this is an issue for the club. Manchester City lose 3-0, Chelsea lose 5-2, every Sunday there are big defeats and every time you need to refund the money so where will football be going?,” Tudor stated defiantly in his pre-match press conference.
“I apologise after because of this 15 minutes because I felt it was something big, but this something big can happen. You cannot control this. It is something extraordinary. I like usually to apologise but I did this time because of these 15 minutes, but all the rest I’ve got nothing to apologise for.
“I like the players how they behaved after, in the second half, they were trying, they ran, they wanted to do but, in this moment, when you are in a problem so big it looks like nothing is enough.
“We need to stay now because this moment will pass, don’t lose our heads, stay focused, keep working and it will pass, that’s the point.”
I like usually to apologise but I did this time because of these 15 minutes, but all the rest I’ve got nothing to apologise for
Igor Tudor on Tottenham's defeat to Atletico Madrid
Manchester City’s squad refunded their travelling supporters in January after their shock 3-1 defeat to Bodo Glimt.
But asked whether he thought refunding tickets was an empty gesture, Tudor called on the club to use their “good sense”.
“I said what I wanted to say about this… this is for the club but there needs to be good sense in everything in life. See how you want to see my answer.”
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Igor Tudor has confirmed that Cristian Romero and Joao Palhinha will both miss Sunday’s game away to Liverpool after coming off with concussion injuries against Atletico Madrid.
Romero attempted to carry on before being substituted, while Palhinha came straight off as Spurs ended the game with nine men.
"No, no, no, they (Romero and Palhinha) are out,” Tudor said in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
“I don't know how much. I think they will be back for sure for Nottingham Forest, maybe even for the Champions League.”
Romero has yet to play a league game under Tudor, having only just returned from a four-game suspension after being sent off against Manchester United last month.
FA concussion protocols state that if a player is judged to be concussed, then they should begin a six-stage 'return to play' process, which starts with an initial 48-hour period of rest with minimal physical and 'cognitive' activities.
Yves Bissouma is also out with a muscle problem, while Conor Gallagher has a fever but is expected to be fit to face Liverpool.
The Dutch centre half’s absence means there will be more defensive rotation for a Spurs team that has struggled to name a settled defensive unit under Tudor.
Radu Dragusin’s return from a knock will alleviate some of the pressure on Tudor, but with Romero also out, he does not have three fit and available centre-halves.
He could opt to move back to a four-man defence, but after hinting that the versatile Archie Gray could play another new position against Liverpool, it seems the Englishman may come in at centre-back as Tudor sticks with a three at the back formation.
“That's the problem. He needs to, every game, change the position, tomorrow again. Four games here, four positions for Archie Gray. He's an amazing player, but that's been that.
“Something's wrong. Beautiful guy, beautiful player. I didn't know him before so much, so from inside, he has my big respect.”
Tudor played full-back Pedro Porro at right-sided centre-back in a three-man defence against Palace, but as has been the case for many of the Croat’s decisions since he took charge, it is an experiment unlikely to be replicated.
Experiential lineups have become commonplace under Tudor, but if there is one certainty, it is that he will restore first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in between the sticks after his decision to hand Antonin Kinsky his first start since October backfired spectacularly.
“He is good, he will be on the goal,” Tudor confirmed when asked if Vicario would start against Liverpool.
It was a dizzying opening quarter of an hour in the Spanish capital, which was compounded by Tudor seemingly blanking Kinsky as he came off.
One thing Tudor did get right amidst a litany of errors against Atletico was to name Mathys Tel and Richarlison in attack, with the pair impressing even as Spurs found themselves 4-0 down inside 22 minutes.
Tel was unlucky to be replaced at half-time at the Metropolitano, the fall guy for Spurs’ wretched first-half performance, and Tudor would be wise to keep faith with the Frenchman.
Richarlison, meanwhile, helped get Spurs on the scoresheet as he laid on the assist for Porro’s goal at the end of a frantic opening 26-minute spell. The Brazilian was unlucky not to score himself, and has impressed since returning from injury.
Tudor has made some striking decisions during his three weeks in charge, with one of those being to drop Xavi Simons and Conor Gallagher to the bench against Palace and Atletico.
Simons and Gallagher are seemingly out in the cold, though it remains to be seen whether Tudor will be swayed to change his mind as he continues to search for answers after a disastrous start to his tenure.
Spurs could find themselves in the relegation zone by the time they kick off against Liverpool on Sunday, with Tudor still searching for his first win as interim manager.
A desperate situation spiralled further out of control after an error-strewn performance against Atletico on Tuesday, but for now, Tudor still retains the faith of the board despite becoming the first Spurs manager to lose each of his first four games in charge.
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Tottenham decision-makers must cut Igor Tudor loose before their end-of-season reckoning
Spurs have got to arrest their slide towards potential relegation disaster
Your move: Spurs chief executive Vinai Venkatesham faces a big decision
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Sam Tabuteau
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau
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If anyone at Tottenham needed it, Tuesday’s 5-2 humiliation against Atletico Madrid was a sharp reminder that they are a club in crisis, all but out of the Champions League and seemingly hurtling headfirst towards the Championship.
In a dreadful season, it was another new low for a team that must look back to December 28 for their previous win in the Premier League and who have suffered six straight defeats in all competitions for the first time in their history.
Make no bones about it, unless something changes fast, Tottenham will soon be playing in the second tier of English football for the first time since the 1977-78 season.
Spurs could find themselves in the relegation zone by the time they kick off at Anfield on Sunday.
After the game against Liverpool, they face relegation rivals Nottingham Forest in a match they really cannot afford to lose.
Under pressure: Igor Tudor has overseen four straight defeats since being appointed
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The big question facing the club after the Atletico embarrassment was whether they could afford to go into those games with interim boss Igor Tudor still in charge.
He was brought in to arrest the decline under Thomas Frank, but somehow matters have only got worse.
Chopping and changing tactics and personnel has left the squad with no apparent, cohesive tactical plan.
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And the seeming blanking of young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after hooking him at 3-0 down after only 17 minutes of the Atletico game suggested he does not possess the man-management skills to turn this mess around by power of personality.
Tudor became the first Spurs manager in history to lose his first four games in charge — and with 14 goals conceded. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) has called for emergency action and the club’s decision-makers would do well to pay heed because not all is lost.
All eyes now are on what chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange do next. The message from the club when removing Daniel Levy as chairman was all about generating greater success on the pitch, so credibility really is on the line with only nine games in the Premier League remaining.
This is a Spurs side desperately unsure of themselves and devoid of ideas. Tudor has appeared overwhelmed by the size of the task, and his tough-love approach has not worked.
A fresh appointment at this stage of the season would constitute little more than a last-ditch effort to restore some identity and impetus. But what choice do they have?
Shambles: Tudor’s handling of Antonin Kinsky has been widely criticised
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They have a kind fixture list that includes games against Forest, Wolves and Leeds, and an injury crisis that should begin to ease after the March international break.
Captain Cristian Romero, for all that he has let the side down on occasions this season, has the ability and leadership to cajole Spurs towards safety. Outspoken, at times to a fault, Romero’s words carry weight, and he knows it. But on the pitch, he can inspire others.
The Argentinian was among the players to console Kinsky following his mistakes against Atletico, and he was quick to go over and talk to Tudor to try and remedy the situation as Spurs self-destructed.
Romero needs to make it clear to his team-mates that they cannot hide from the situation. The players must take responsibility.
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Robin Le Normand added a fourth, with Pedro Porro pulling one back for Spurs, before Julian Alvarez and Dominic Solanke traded goals in the second half.
It was a horrendous evening for Igor Tudor’s side as their Champions League hopes fell apart, and THST labelled the club’s performance a “total disgrace”, before demanding that the fans who had travelled to Madrid should have their tickets refunded.
“Tonight’s performance and result is a total disgrace,” the statement read. “It’s symptomatic of the abysmal state of things at Spurs right now.
“From the January transfer window to the management appointments, the lack of leadership and the total 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 sleepwalking 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…
“At the very least those in Madrid should have their match tickets refunded. But all we really care about is that the club make us proud. We are here to support the team and be the 12th man. But we all deserve so much more.”
Spurs, who sit 16th in the Premier League table, face a trip to Liverpool on Sunday and could potentially be in the relegation zone by the time the game kicks off at Anfield.
Interim manager Tudor is also under serious pressure after becoming the first Spurs manager to lose his first four games in charge, and it is unclear whether he will be in the dugout at the weekend.
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Spurs are facing the unthinkable less than seven years on from one of the biggest nights in the club’s history
Reprieve: Igor Tudor
Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
Sam Tabuteau
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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau
I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.
Tottenham return to the scene of their 2019 Champions League final defeat to Liverpool as a club in turmoil.
Tonight they take on Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. It was at the same stadium nearly seven years ago that - despite falling to goals from Mohammed Salah and Divock Origi - Spurs were supposed to embark on a new chapter of success in the club’s history.
Yet, the failure to build on that night in Madrid has hung over Spurs. They now find themselves staring at relegation to the Championship.
Spurs arrive in Madrid fresh, after a rare weekend off, but somewhat distracted. With just one point separating them from the relegation zone, tonight’s game against Atletico feels like something of an aside, and interim manager Igor Tudor has admitted that Premier League survival remains the priority.
Tottenham lost the 2019 Champions League final
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“Our first aim is the Premier League. This is something extra, but that doesn't mean that we don't want to pass to the next round,” Tudor said in his pre-match press conference on Monday evening.
Tudor, though, will be hoping to find that, like his predecessor, Thomas Frank, the Champions League can be a welcome distraction for his squad.
While one eye is on Sunday’s trip to Liverpool - with Spurs potentially finding themselves in the relegation zone by the time they kick off at Anfield - a performance in the Spanish capital could flick the switch for Tudor’s men after suffering their fifth successive defeat against Crystal Palace last week.
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He continued: “We have to grow. So, it can be an opportunity. A totally different mentality can be used in this kind of game. So maybe this can help us to see which problems we have. I believe that these kinds of games can help us to switch in the right way, but always focus on us, to grow as a team, to do things better.”
Spurs have played their best football this season in Europe, and with Tudor still searching for his first win as interim manager, he needs his side to find form now more than ever.
Tudor made a dramatic call to arms in the wake of last week’s 3-1 defeat to Palace, stating that he only wanted to work with players who were up for the fight.
The Croat was seemingly aiming a dig at some of those in the squad he feels are hiding from the gravity of the club’s situation. Being able to call upon captain Cristian Romero for the first time since taking charge three weeks ago, he will hope to see a change in mentality as Spurs look to change “old habits” and come away unscathed ahead of next week’s second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Captain Cristian Romero is back in the fold
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Tudor believes “something is moving” and he is in no doubt that Romero, who he says has been taking part in separate running sessions to maintain his fitness after more than a month out through suspension, can be the leader that Spurs’ fractured dressing room needs.
“He missed a lot. He was also not feeling good, to not be able to help the team. Now he's back. He was working these two, three weeks a lot,” Tudor said of Romero.
Plenty has been made of Romero’s behaviour this season, with the 27-year-old serving two separate suspensions as well as coming under fire for his social media outbursts criticising Spurs’ board.
His return, though, is massive for Spurs, who are looking for players not to rock the boat after a stormy last few months. With Romero linked to Atletico in the past, and rumours of a move away this summer not disappearing, there will be eyes on his performance from across the Metropolitano tonight.
Conor Gallagher, on his return to the club, is another player Tudor will surely look to instil some bite to Spurs’ midfield as they attempt to irritate one of Europe’s great disruptors in Diego Simeone’s dogmatic Atletico team.
Affectionately referred to as “the pitbull” during his time at Atletico, Simeone praised Gallagher as “very humble” yet “very dangerous” in his pre-match comments, and there is a tenacity and a willingness - after he was dropped to the bench against Palace - to make an impact against his former club.
There may be bigger things at stake for Spurs at the moment, but in the Champions League, they have found some rhythm, and for a team as devoid of confidence as they are, tonight’s game will surely be a reprieve. A chance to prove they still belong at Europe’s top table.
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