Football London

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League which has led to increased pressure on Igor Tudor's future

Igor Tudor’s future at Tottenham Hotspur remains increasingly uncertain after another heavy defeat, this time in the Champions League. Spurs were beaten 5-2 by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday night, leaving themselves an uphill task heading into the reverse fixture next week.

Tudor was appointed by Tottenham last month on a caretaker basis until the end of the season, but has now lost all four games in charge, including three in the Premier League.

The 47-year-old’s future has been the subject of increased speculation over the last couple of weeks, with some reports suggesting that an exit before the end of the season is not off the table.

Tottenham’s next match will see them face Liverpool in the Premier League at the weekend, with Spurs currently in 16th place in the table and just one point above the relegation zone.

Former Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara gave a passionate explanation as to why he would not continue with Tudor as the club’s head coach following the defeat to Atletico Madrid.

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“I’m absolutely embarrassed to be a Spurs fan," O’Harta said on talkSPORT. "I'm embarrassed to be affiliated with this football club. It is nothing short of a disgrace.”

O’Hara added: “The manager needs to go, sack him at half time. It's a disgraceful performance from the players.

“The tactics, unthinkable. To set up 3-4-3 against Atletico Madrid is embarrassing. We cannot play that formation. He [Tudor] said it's about experimenting. You cannot experiment in the Champions League playing 3-4-3 and to pick [Antonin] Kinsky....

“Everyone's saying all of a sudden they’re feeling sorry for this guy… he's a professional football player. He's a professional goalie. It's his job. He can't kick the ball.

“It's their job to look through to wear the right footing. Put some studs on, you're falling over the ball. I've never seen anything like it."

With Tudor’s future still uncertain, football.london writers have put together their views on whether or not the club should make a change.

Mark Wakefield

It’s fair to say that things have not gone to plan for Tottenham since Igor Tudor was appointed by the club last month.

While a defeat to Atletico Madrid, especially the manner of the loss, will be disappointing and frustrating, the Champions League is no longer where a priority for the club.

The focus for Spurs now rests on the Premier League and retaining their top-flight status for another season. That is where Tudor will, and should, be judged.

After three defeats in the top flight, the pressure is certainly on, and another defeat to Liverpool this weekend would certainly see calls for a managerial change grow louder.

For the time being, though, Spurs should stand by their choice. If Premier League relegation becomes likely, or even probable, then that could change.

Bruna Reis

Tottenham's fortunes have taken a sharp turn for the worse since Tudor took charge. The man brought in to steady the club through to the end of the season has so far been unable to stabilise the situation.

He is still searching for his first win, and three straight Premier League defeats have left Spurs just a single point above the relegation zone. The 5-2 loss to Atletico Madrid was grim viewing, but ultimately has little relevance to their fight for Premier League survival.

Preserving their Premier League status is the priority, and that must now command their full attention. That’s far from straightforward when confidence has drained from the squad and the team looks increasingly directionless.

Even so, making another managerial change less than a month after Tudor's arrival is unlikely to provide a quick fix. A new coach would bring another new system, another reset, and even more upheaval at a time when stability is desperately needed. Spurs need something to shift, and that has to start on Sunday against Liverpool.

Patrick Austen-Hardy

There are bad decisions and then there is Igor Tudor. The supposed fire-fighter of European football has poured petrol over Tottenham's failings and they are close to crashing and burning.

The Tottenham players' response to Antonin Kinsky's substitution, after Tudor did not even acknowledge the youngster, was the sight of a team who is against their manager. There is still time for another manager to come in and jumpstart this Spurs side, so they can at least finish in front of those relegation lines.

At this point, tactical acumen is out the window. They need a loud voice, who can raise the spirits of the dressing room, put an arm around those who need it and remind the likes of Micky van de Ven how good they are. This would have sounded mad one year ago, but Harry Redknapp may just be the person to do that.

Joe Doyle

I think it's fairly obvious Igor Tudor has to go. Regardless of how good or bad you think this Tottenham squad is, there are just no positive markers since he replaced Thomas Frank as head coach.

The only trajectory under Tudor at the moment is down. If they were playing good football but not quite getting the results, that would be one thing. But they're conceding more goals and losing to teams they should at least be getting a point from.

When it comes to the Atletico Madrid debacle, dropping Guglielmo Vicario for an inexperienced replacement in Antonin Kinsky on the biggest stage was a huge risk, and it backfired spectacularly. The players' response on the night said it all.

The 'new manager bounce' after appointing a supposed firefighter of a coach has not happened, and it's clear that the current situation is not working. The board must recognise they made a huge mistake and attempt to rectify it before it's too late.

Isaac Seelochan

It's hard to see anyway back for Tudor after such a disastrous start. I can only see Spurs getting relegated with him in charge.

In fairness to him, he is nowhere near the biggest problem at Tottenham, but unfortunately, he's the easiest to fix in the short term. This has been one of the worst appointments in Premier League history.

So many others in the Spurs hierarchy should follow Tudor out the door if he goes. Ultimately, it feels like Tottenham are going to have to make a Michael Carrick at Manchester United-type appointment to stay up at this stage.

The under fire Spurs manager has come in for scathing criticism after the club's 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League

Beleaguered Tottenham Hotspur boss Igor Tudor has been savaged by sections of the Spanish press after his side were thrashed 5-2 by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening. The Croatian's decision to start Antonin Kinsky in goal was targeted by the media, with the manager's decision-making in the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie also coming in for a mauling.

Tudor deployed Kinsky in place of Guglielmo Vicario against Diego Simeone's side. The Czech goalkeeper was at fault for two of the first three goals, slipping and giving the ball away for Marcos Llorente's early strike, before scuffing a clearance into the feet of Julian Alvarez for Atleti's third.

In shocking scenes, Tudor then substituted Kinsky in the 15th minute and did not even acknowledge the young goalkeeper as he sullenly left the pitch.

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Spanish outlet AS tore into the former Marseille coach, criticising Spurs' general performance and even compared Kinsky to Loris Karius, the former Liverpool goalkeeper who infamously made two glaring errors against Real Madrid in the Reds' 2018 Champions League final defeat.

They said: "Tudor 's decision had hit him like a ton of bricks. 1-0. And that was just the appetiser. The main course was soon to come. Because Tottenham is a dead team. A zombie .

"A disgrace. A ghost. A tragedy. Live surrealism. A joke that just won't do. It doesn't matter who plays. Whether [Micky] Van de Ven returned to the starting eleven, whether Richarlison played up front or [Conor] Gallagher waited in the wings, or whether Kinsky took over in goal.

"Put on some circus music; there's no other way to describe what comes next. Kinsky had dressed up as Karius and refused to let go of the disguise. Turn up the volume."

The Spaniard's rough take on Tudor's management didn't stop there. SPORT was equally baffled by the Spurs' manager's decision.

They said: "Igor Tudor , who surprised everyone with his decision, substituted him in the 17th minute, bringing on Vicario in his place. This move sealed the fate of the young goalkeeper, who was making his debut in the continental competition."

Asked about his choice to play Kinsky after the defeat, Tudor said: "After you see what happened, for sure, it was the wrong decision.

"But, it was, for me, the right decision to do [before the game], thinking before because, the team, it was a change of competition. Unfortunately, what happened, happened, I've never changed a goalkeeper after 30 minutes, but, it was not easy, it happened."

When queried if he had spoken to Kinsky after the game, Tudor replied: "It's normal. We don't need to comment. It's not the moment to speak too much."

He added: "Very strange, it was unusual, so it took our confidence. Then we restarted. We had a good opportunity to make it 4-2, and then we conceded the goal and it's 5-1. We apologise to the fans and to everybody."

Tudor has lost all four games that he's been in charge of so far at Tottenham. There's no let-up either as Spurs face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday in a potential season-defining week.

A loss to the defending Premier League champions, coupled with positive results for West Ham and Nottingham Forest, could leave Spurs in the relegation zone. The Lillywhites will then host Atletico in the return leg of the Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday, March 18.

It's difficult to know who looked more lost inside Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano - Antonin Kinsky or Igor Tudor.

On Tuesday night in Spain, in the very stadium where Tottenham suffered their most painful moment of recent memory - up to this point - six-and-a-half years ago, they managed to conjure up new depths from which to self destruct.

Kinsky suffered 16 minutes of humiliation while Tudor has suffered 26 days of pain, while realising what a mess Spurs are in.

The Croatian has not even made a dent. Nothing has improved from Thomas Frank's era, who in turn improved nothing from Ange Postecoglou's tenure. All signs point to an overriding problem more deeply rooted within the club.

On Tuesday night in the rain in Madrid, Tudor bore a resemblance to two very different characters. With his cap on his head, he stirred memories of Martin Jol's final game in the Tottenham dugout against another Spanish side Getafe. The Dutchman at least had made a big impact on the club before that point.

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Tudor also bears the slightest of resemblances to Arnold Vosloo's titular character in The Mummy movies, but like Imhotep, the Croatian has been unable to resurrect himself or Spurs and instead they are disintegrating towards a ghastly demise.

The 47-year-old has made very little positive impact on the players. His attempts to instil discipline have backfired. football.london understands that some inside the dressing room believe he has over asserted himself and instead come across as disrespectful to some and borderline mocking to others.

Antonio Conte came into the club with a similar tough, no holds barred style, attempting to wake up the players but his approach came with authority, aura and a dazzling track record.

Tudor has not got that to tap into. Some of the players have been unhappy with the training sessions, Tudor missing the impact of his usual right-hand man Ivan Javorcic in the process with his compatriot entangled in work permit complications.

Big players have been pushed to the side. Xavi Simons has been marginalised despite Spurs screaming out for creativity and new signing Conor Gallagher reduced to a substitute role. Nobody looks to have any confidence about what is going on inside the club or where it is currently heading.

The Kinsky and Guglielmo Vicario mess was the latest selection blunder from the interim head coach and neither the dropping of the popular Italian nor the embarrassment suffered by the hapless Czech would have done his standing within the dressing room any good.

The images of Tudor snubbing Kinsky as he walked off the pitch, rather than attempting to have a word in the young keeper's ear about the decision and the enormity of what this night could mean for his career spoke volumes.

Spurs substitutes Dominic Solanke, Gallagher and Joao Palhinha instead ran from the bench and down the tunnel, attempting to console him.

Then there was the strange Cristian Romero moment with Tudor just before Kinsky was removed. The captain came over to speak to the interim boss at length on the touchline and as soon as they finished, the Croatian turned to Vicario and the change was made. Tudor claimed afterwards that it was "My decision, of course" and that he had spoken to Kinsky in the dressing room afterwards.

"He was sorry. He made an excuse for the team. The team is with him. Me too. I was speaking with him," he said. "He understands the moment. He understands why he came out. So, as I said before, he is a very good goalkeeper. We are all together. It is not about one player. So, it has happened. Champions League again. These things."

Spurs imploded in the opening 22 minutes in Madrid, due to their goalkeeper's fragile confidence and players slipping all over the rain-sodden Metropolitano turf.

Just six minutes in, Kinsky slipped onto his backside as he went to pass the ball and ended up hitting it straight to Ademola Lookman on the edge of the Spurs box. The winger passed inside to Julian Alvarez and the former Manchester City man teed up Marcos Llorente to score.

Micky van de Ven was next to slip at a crucial moment on 14 minutes. The Dutchman tumbled and allowed Pape Matar Sarr's pass to roll through to Antoine Griezmann and the experienced Frenchman ran through to beat Kinsky with ease.

While those two goals could be chalked up to slips and the wrong studs, the third Atletico goal two minutes later was purely a horrendous gaffe from Kinsky. He scuffed a simple pass in his box just a yard in front of him to Alvarez, who ran on and poked the ball into the empty net.

The Atletico attacker had enough time to glance back at Kinsky lying on the turf with his hands on his head before gratefully tapping home.

Then came Kinsky's withdrawal and the awkward call for Vicario to replace his replacement. The Italian could not prevent things getting worse on 22 minutes. He made a reflex save to stop Sarr's header flying into his own net from a Griezmann free-kick, but Robin Le Normand headed the loose ball over the line despite Vicario getting something on it.

The irony was that Atletico were not incredible on the night and Tottenham were not dreadful. They conceded three ridiculous goals in those opening minutes but had enough chances to take a result back to north London that could have been turned around.

Pedro Porro fired a low shot into the net to grab one back before the break and Romero sent a header against the outside of the right-hand post. However, Atletico got a fifth goal just 10 minutes into the second half. Richarlison saw his header saved brilliantly at one end by Jan Oblak only for the home side to break up the pitch with Alvarez running through, Porro unable to keep up and eventually giving up as the attacker slotted home clinically.

Solanke did fire another back for Spurs with a powerful effort after Oblak hit his own poor kick straight to Porro and the right-back found the striker to smash home.

However, the problems only got worse for Spurs as they ended the game with nine men on the pitch after Palhinha and Romero clashed heads in added time. The Portuguese staggered off the pitch soon after and the captain played on only to crouch in the centre circle before walking off a minute before the final whistle blew.

Both men could miss Sunday's trip to Liverpool and more crucial games if they are found to have concussion.

"Also, an example of the moment. It is incredible," Tudor told football.london. "It is incredible. We finished the game and we see the two players and there is Micky [Van de Ven], who is already out [against Liverpool] with a red card. Sometimes it is difficult to explain. It looks like everything is against us. Incredible things."

Tudor was asked whether he deserved to carry on as Spurs manager after four defeats in four games and ensuring that Tottenham lost six consecutive matches for the first time in their entire history. "No comment," he replied with a disdainful look.

Has this become an impossible job for the beleaguered Croatian? "I am not taking it that way. I recognise what we are and which problems we have. I recognise that every game, something happens. Sometimes it is very difficult to explain. I see also the wish of the players to do the right things," he said.

"We started good, let's say. These two or three minutes, I feel it during the game. These things, when they happen, what I said before, in the moment where we are now, unfortunately, it is like that. Even these slippery things happen, it explains the moment, because they didn't do it. The pitch was the same for both teams."

Tottenham will be scrambling behind the scenes with the club's next press conference required to be on Friday ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust called for immediate action in a statement after the game.

"Tonight’s performance and result is a total disgrace. It’s symptomatic of the abysmal state of things at Spurs right now," it 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 sleep walking 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."

There's nothing to disagree with there. Spurs now have to come up with a plan to fix the plan that failed to fix the previous plan. The Tudor experiment is only four games old but all the signs are already there that it will not work.

There is a shortage of obvious replacements. Tottenham need someone who understands how this chaotic club works. The logic behind Tudor was sound with his football firefighting history but it has failed because he does not know Spurs and being unable to bring his right-hand man was farcical.

Watching over it all on Tuesday night was former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, alongside his wife Karina, a guest of Atletico as the USA coach kept an eye on their midfielder Johnny Cardoso ahead of the World Cup.

The Argentine was returning to the scene of Tottenham's Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019, where he shed tears on the pitch, and it was the first time he had watched his old club from the stands since.

The 54-year-old had been serenaded by Spurs fans on his flight to Madrid on Tuesday as they called for him to return to north London this summer. He would have seen the size of the task at the relegation-threatened club first hand.

One of his disciples is available right now. Ryan Mason would not be the popular choice of the fans over the nostalgic options from yesteryear of Redknapp and Hoddle.

However, the 34-year-old understands Spurs to its core, knows these players after recent coaching spells at the club and he's done this before, coming in to steady the ship on two previous occasions. If Pochettino is the summer plan - should Real Madrid not swoop - then there are few better handover coaches than Mason in terms of the style of play.

People will point to his tough time at West Brom but the Baggies horror show has continued long since his departure and points to bigger problems at play.

The same goes for Tottenham. The club is in dire straights and a decision must be taken on Tudor. It could be that they allow him to take the game at Anfield in order for any hoped new bounce rather than trounce against Forest, but a change must happen.

Mason's Spurs did almost grab a 3-3 comeback draw at Anfield only for an added time Diogo Jota goal to snatch away the point.

Some might also point out that Mason had Kane and Son to call upon in those days and Bale as well in his second spell, but someone needs to come in with a different voice and an understanding of a club that appears to have no idea of the way forward.

The post-Daniel Levy era was expected to bring the scrutiny away from those at the top of the club but CEO Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange find themselves firmly in the firing line.

Mistakes galore have been made and the duo must pull something out of the hat, otherwise they will be forever tainted as the duo who oversaw Tottenham's demise.

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust have issued a statement after the club's defeat to Atletico Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust called for “emergency action” after the club's chaotic 5-2 loss at Atletico Madrid, with the performance labelled a "total disgrace".

Igor Tudor saw his side well beaten in Madrid with back-up goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky withdrawn after 17 minutes due to two terrible errors. Defeat made Tudor the first Tottenham boss to lose his first four games in charge.

“Tonight’s performance and result is a total disgrace. It’s symptomatic of the abysmal state of things at Spurs right now,” a statement from THST 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?

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“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.”

The shambolic 5-2 loss in the first leg of the last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid means Spurs have lost six games in a row for the first time in their history. Tudor has only been in charge for 25 days, but refused to answer questions about his future and Tottenham have been urged to act.

The Croatian's bold call to hand Kinsky a first start since October backfired with only six minutes played when he scuffed an attempted crossfield pass and Marcos Llorente subsequently slotted home. A slip by Micky van de Ven allowed Antoine Griezmann to make it 2-0 in the 14th minute and 92 seconds later Kinsky’s coup de grace occurred.

Van de Ven sent the ball back to Kinsky and he miscued his pass in horror fashion, which allowed Julian Alvarez to walk the ball in. Kinsky planted his face into the turf and was withdrawn after Tottenham captain Cristian Romero walked over to speak with Tudor.

Asked if Romero made the call to substitute Kinsky, Tudor responded: “My decision of course.” Pushed on if he deserved to carry on, Tudor responded: “No comment. It is not a topic for me. It is not about my job, it is about how to help the team. It will be always be about that.

“I recognise what we are and which problems we have. I recognise that every game, something happens. Sometimes it is very difficult to explain.”

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky endured a humiliating evening on Tuesday after being substituted during Spurs' 5-2 defeat at Atletico Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeping coach Fabian Otte has sent a message of encouragement to Antoin Kinsky after the Spurs keeper was substituted against Atletico Madrid. Kinsky endured the embarrassment of being replaced early in the first half of Tuesday's 5-2 thrashing in Spain.

The 22-year-old came in for Guglielmo Vicario as he looked to nail down a spot in Igor Tudor's team. But the Czech 'keeper endured a horror show in the Champions League with a couple of mistakes, which saw Tottenham fall 3-0 down inside the first 15 minutes.

Kinsky looked inconsolable as he walked down the tunnel after being replaced by Vicario with no acknowledgement from Tudor. Many will now be questioning the young star's future in north London after being humiliated at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

And Otte has tried to offer words of encouragement to Kinsky in an Instagram post after the game in Madrid.

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He said: "Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise," in reference to a quote from former basketballer Kobe Bryant.

He added: "Big things to come my friend!!"

Tudor explained his unusual decision after the game, claiming he had to make the decision 'to preseve the team'.

The 47-year-old said: "It happened very rare things in my coaching 15 years, I never do that. It was necessary to preserve the guy, to preserve the team. Incredible situation, nothing to comment, you will see. It was, before the game, the right choice to do in the moment like we are.

"Pressure on Vicario, another competition, Toni is a very good goalkeeper. So I was, for me, the right decision. After this, of course, it is easy to say that it was not the right decision.

"I explained to Toni, also speaking after, that he is the right guy and a good goalkeeper. Unfortunately, it happened in this big game, these mistakes.

"We started the game, it was too much for us. In this moment, when we are fragile, we are weak. Even the second half was 4-2, it was almost 4-2 with Richarlison. We tried to score a goal in 4-2 and then we conceded the goal."

Tottenham will now turn their attention back to their Premier League relegation battle as they travel to Liverpool on Sunday. Spurs currently sit one point above the bottom three with nine games left.

Fresh calls for former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp to return have been made as Igor Tudor struggles to reverse Spurs' fortunes

Jamie O'Hara has sent a desperate message for Harry Redknapp to replace Igor Tudor as Tottenham Hotspur head coach following the 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Spurs endured a difficult evening in the Spanish capital as former Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez netted a double and the visitors' goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky was brought off 17 minutes into his Champions League debut. Diego Simeone's side will travel to north London with a three-goal cushion looking to secure their place in the quarter-finals.

For Igor Tudor, it was a fourth successive defeat as caretaker manager with their problems worsening. Pressure continues to mount on the Croatian after his difficult start, which was compounded against Crystal Palace last weekend.

With the threat of relegation from the English top-flight ominously looming, the Tottenham hierarchy are facing increasing demands for a second change of management in the dugout since the beginning of the season.

O'Hara has made a plea to iconic former boss Redknapp, who hasn't been in the dugout since 2018, despite the 79-year-old preparing for the Cheltenham Festival, the horse-racing jumps event which started on Tuesday.

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Speaking on talkSPORT with former Spurs player Jason Cundy, O'Hara said: “Stop talking about the Gold Cup! Tottenham is bigger than the Gold Cup, Jase.

"Harry Redknapp would bin off the Gold Cup to come and manage Spurs. Come and manage Spurs. They need to get someone in, they need someone in so quick.

"You need someone who knows a formation and will stick to it. He's played four different teams and four different formations, how can he take over a club of this magnitude? He hasn't got a clue."

O'Hara added: "He has not got a clue what he’s doing, he’s a rabbit in the headlights. He has no idea how to get a tune out of any of these players. These players are not performing, I get it, but they are not this bad."

Redknapp's horse The Jukebox Man is fancied for Friday's coveted Gold Cup. The former manager will also feature on ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! South Africa edition, which was pre-recorded following filming in 2025 and is set to air on Monday, April 6 before a live grand final in London.

The former Spurs boss directly acknowledged links over a potential return previously but poured cold water on speculation. He said: "Of course. I'd have to, wouldn't I?

"But it's not going to happen. I can't see it happening. I'll be at Cheltenham on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday."

Spurs travel to Liverpool, who suffered a 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray in their Champions League first-leg, on Sunday (4.30pm kick-off). But they will have to do without Micky van de Ven, who was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity against Palace.

"Strange game. We give them three goals. We restarted good but then the problems kill us," Tudor said after the defeat to Atleti.

"Very, very strange, very unusual. It took our confidence.

“We apologise to the fans who were here today, to everyone. They had a difficult moment.

“Everything looked like it was going wrong, every small mistake we pay, even the situation at the end, two players out. Everything is going against us.”

Pundits, including ex-Tottenham players, have their say on the club's plight as relegation fears mount

Tottenham Hotspur are staring over the cliff edge of relegation to the Championship.

The sacking of Thomas Frank hasn't had the desired effect, with interim Igor Tudor now under pressure after successive defeats to Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace. There are suggestions that Tudor himself could be replaced before Spurs return to the Premier League action at Liverpool on Sunday.

Europe feels like a sideshow as Spurs look to avoid dropping into the second tier for the first time since 1977.

It's clear Spurs are NOT 'too good to go down'. Here's a round-up of what leading pundits are saying about the club's predicament and where it would rank in the list of Premier League shocks if they do drop to the Championship…

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Alan Shearer

Per Betfair, the Newcastle icon said: "Tottenham are in big danger of getting relegated now. When I saw them against Newcastle, I said that from that night onwards, I thought there was a real prospect of them being relegated, because I just didn't see any fight.

"I didn't see any desire or any attitude from the Spurs players, particularly in that first half on Thursday [against Palace]. I think that encapsulates what they are; they're a mess, both on and off the pitch. You can tell confidence is fragile. I know they've got injuries, but everyone has injuries.

"And if they go down, they deserve to go down because it hasn't just happened this season. It was last season where they finished. We all thought that can't happen again, but it has, so they can only blame themselves."

Rio Ferdinand

Speaking on his Presents YouTube channel, the former Manchester United defender didn't hold back, declaring: "They're going down. Even the manager says we've got to improve in every area, including the brain.

"If I was a betting man, I'd bet on Spurs going down, given where they are confidence-wise. I don't see where they're going to pick up points, their record is horrendous."

Jamie Redknapp

Speaking after the 4-1 defeat at Arsenal, he said on Sky Sports: "They [Arsenal] were so much better than Tottenham, it was like two different leagues. If Tottenham aren't careful, they might be in a different league. They cannot keep performing like this."

Jermain Defoe

The former Spurs striker told The Sun: "It would be catastrophic if the club got relegated. A massive club like Tottenham, you look at the infrastructure and everything...

"I have been in both situations. Of course, the pressure of trying to win the league or finish in the top four is a lot of pressure.

"But I do feel like it is maybe a different type of pressure [at the bottom] when you have maybe not experienced something like this before. It is going to be tough."

Jamie Carragher

In his Telegraph column, the Sky Sport pundit wrote: "If they drop into the Championship it would be the most shocking descent of the Premier League era, and the most embarrassing for a club of such wealth and stature since Denis Law’s back-heel for Manchester City sent Manchester United into the old Second Division in 1974.

"There is no escaping the shadow of the dreaded 'R word' at Spurs. Relegation is possible. Add 'ridiculous' or 'reprehensible' and plain 'rubbish' to the valid descriptions of their record over the past 27 months, which has led them to this perilous situation. Spurs' abysmal form since they were top of the Premier League in November 2023 defies belief."

Jamie O'Hara

The former Spurs midfielder told 10Bet: "Yeah, absolutely [Spurs can go down]. They have got to find a way out of trouble for sure. It's been a terrible season.

"We've got some tough fixtures coming up and we need to pick up some points. We've got enough good players in the team to find a way of winning.

"Even with all the injuries that we've got, there's still enough decent players to not get relegated. And that's all it's about this season, sadly in the league, not getting relegated."

Here's every single word the interim Tottenham Hotspur head coach said after the Champions League horror show at Atletico Madrid

Igor Tudor had to explain his decision to select Antonin Kinsky and then haul him off just 16 minutes after a remarkable double gaffe in Tottenham's 5-2 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16.

Tudor had brought the 22-year-old in for Guglielmo Vicario but the young Czech keeper gifted Atletico their opener inside the Metropolitano just six minutes in. Kinsky slipped onto his backside on the rain-hit turf as he went to pass the ball and ended up hitting it straight to Ademola Lookman on the edge of the box. He passed inside to Julian Alvarez and the former Manchester City man teed up Marcos Llorente to score.

Spurs players were slipping all over the sodden grass and Micky van de Ven was next to go over on 14 minutes. The Dutchman tumbled to the deck to allow Pape Matar Sarr's pass to roll through to Antoine Griezmann and the experienced Frenchman ran through to beat Kinsky with ease.

While those two goals could be chalked up to slips, the third two minutes later was simply a horrendous gaffe from Kinsky. He scuffed a simple pass in his box just a yard in front of him to Alvarez, who ran on and poked the ball into the empty net.

Tudor had seen enough and called for Vicario to replace his replacement. Things got worse after 22 minutes. Vicario made a reflex save to stop Sarr's header flying into his own net from a Griezmann free-kick, but Robin Le Normand headed the loose ball over the line.

Spurs did hit one goal back four minutes later as Richarlison cut inside and found Pedro Porro, who struck a low shot into the bottom left corner.

However, Atletico got a fifth goal just 10 minutes into the second half. Richarlison saw his header saved brilliantly at one end by Jan Oblak only for the hosts to break up the pitch with Alvarez running through, Porro unable to keep up, and the attacker slotted home clinically.

Dominic Solanke did hit another back for Spurs with a powerful effort after Oblak hit his own poor kick straight to Porro and the right-back found the striker to smash home.

Spurs ended the game with nine men on the pitch after Joao Palhinha and Cristian Romero both had to go off following a clash of heads in added time. Both men could miss Sunday's trip to Liverpool and more crucial games if they are found to have concussion.

The final whistle blew soon after, marking the first time Tottenham have suffered six consecutive defeats in their entire history.

Here's every word Tudor said in his press conference about the chaotic encounter in Spain.

Can you explain what happened with the two goalkeepers, the first decision to drop Vicario and then the second one to take off Kinsky?

It happened very rare things in my coaching 15 years, I never do that. It was necessary to preserve the guy, to preserve the team. Incredible situation, nothing to comment, you will see. It was, before the game, the right choice to do in the moment like we are. Pressure on Vicario, another competition, Toni is a very good goalkeeper. So i was, for me, the right decision. After this, of course, it is easy to say that it was not the right decision.

I explained to Toni, also speaking after, that he is the right guy and a good goalkeeper. Unfortunately, it happened in this big game, these mistakes.

We started the game, it was too much for us. In this moment, when we are fragile, we are weak. Even the second half was 4-2, it was almost 4-2 with Richarlison. We tried to score a goal in 4-2 and then we conceded the goal.

Are you worried about your job?

It is not a topic for me. It is not about my job, it is about how to help the team. It will be always be about that.

Cristian Romero came over to you before Kinsky was taken off, did he ask for him to come off or was it your decision?

My decision, of course.

Do you feel this is becoming an impossible job for you?

I am not taking it that way. I recognise what we are and which problems we have. I recognise that every game, something happens. Sometimes it is very difficult to explain. I see also the wish of the players to do the right things. We started good, let's say. These two or three minutes, I feel it during the game. These things, when they happen, what I said before, in the moment where we are now, unfortunately, it is like that. Even these slippery things happen, it explains the moment, because they didn't do it. The pitch was the same for both teams.

I know you said your future is not a topic for you, but obviously it has been a very difficult start to your time at Tottenham. You have lost all four games, do you think you deserve to carry on as a manager?

No comment.

Romero and Palhinha, at the end, are they both concussed after that collision?

Also, an example of the moment. It is incredible. It is incredible. We finished the game and we see the two players and there is Micky [Van de Ven], who is out with a red card. Sometimes it is difficult to explain. It looks like everything is against us. Incredible things.

So you are expecting both of them now to be out?

I don't know. We will see. I don't know.

How was Kinsky in the locker room when he was substituted, was he emotional?

He was sorry. He made an excuse for the team. The team is with him. Me too. I was speaking with him. He understands the moment. He understands why he came out. So, as I said before, he is a very good goalkeeper. We are all together. It is not about one player. So, it has happened. Champions League again. These things.

Where do you go from here, you play Liverpool on Sunday, what do you do from now?

I try to do my best, what a coach needs to do.

Here are our Tottenham player ratings after their 5-2 defeat at Atletico Madrid in their Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday

There was only pain in the rain in Spain for Tottenham's inconsolable goalkeeper Antonin Kinksy as he was hauled off just 16 minutes into his debut in the Champions League proper after a remarkable double gaffe.

Spurs interim boss Igor Tudor had brought the 22-year-old in for Guglielmo Vicario for the last 16 clash against Atletico Madrid, with Kinsky seen as better with his feet than the Italian. That assessment fell to pieces with the young Czech keeper as he gifted Atletico their opener inside the Metropolitano just six minutes in.

Kinsky slipped onto his backside on the rain-hit turf as he went to pass the ball and ended up hitting it straight to Ademola Lookman on the edge of the box. He passed inside to Julian Alvarez and the former Manchester City man teed up Marcos Llorente to score.

Spurs players were slipping all over the sodden grass and Micky van de Ven was next to go over on 14 minutes. The Dutchman tumbled to the deck to allow Pape Matar Sarr's pass to roll through to Antoine Griezmann and the experienced Frenchman ran through to beat Kinsky with ease.

While those two goals could be chalked up to slips, the third two minutes later was simply a horrendous gaffe from the young Spurs goalkeeper. He scuffed a simple pass in his box just a yard in front of him to Alvarez, who had time to glance over at Kinsky as the keeper slumped to the turf with his hands on his head, before poking the ball into the empty net.

Tudor had seen enough and called for Vicario to replace his replacement. Kinsky walked off the pitch and straight down the tunnel, chased by Spurs substitutes Dominic Solanke, Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha as they attempted to console him.

Believed to be watching over it all was former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, a guest of Atletico as the USA coach kept an eye on their midfielder Johnny Cardoso ahead of the World Cup. The Argentine was returning to the scene of Tottenham's Champions League final defeat to Liverpool in 2019 and it was the first time he had watched his old club from the stands since.

The 54-year-old had been serenaded by Spurs fans on his flight to Madrid on Wednesday as they called for him to return to north London this summer. He would have seen the size of the task at the relegation-threatened club first hand.

Things only got worse for his old club after 22 minutes. Vicario made a reflex save to stop Sarr's header flying into his own net from a Griezmann free-kick, but Robin Le Normand headed the loose ball over the line.

Spurs did hit one goal back four minutes later. Good work from Richarlison culminated in the Brazilian cutting inside and finding Pedro Porro, who struck a low shot into the bottom left corner.

However, Atletico got a fifth goal just 10 minutes into the second half. Richarlison saw his header saved brilliantly at one end by Jan Oblak only for Atletico to break up the pitch with Alvarez running through, Porro unable to keep up, and the attacker slotted home clinically to heap further misery on the north London side in a wretched night in Spain.

Dominic Solanke hit another back for Spurs with a powerful effort after Oblak hit his own poor kick straight to Porro and the right-back found the striker to smash home.

Spurs ended the game with nine men on the pitch after Palhinha and Romero both had to go off following a clash of heads in added time. Both men could miss Sunday's trip to Liverpool at the very least if they are found to have concussion.

The final whistle blew soon after, marking the first time Tottenham have suffered six consecutive defeats in their entire history.

Here are our Tottenham player ratings from the defeat:

Antonin Kinsky

An absolute horror show for the young Czech. Slipped to hand Atletico their opening goal, couldn't stop Griezmann's second and then there was no excuse for the scuffed kick that allowed Alvarez to stroll through and score the third. Not a single thing to give him a mark for. 0

Kevin Danso

All over the shop with the defence in the chaotic first half and looked to have suffered an ankle injury in the first half but ran on. 4

Cristian Romero

Back in the team and was unable to prevent the carnage around him. Came over to have a long chat with Tudor before Kinsky was taken off. He sent a header against the right-hand post in the first half. Came off in the final seconds with what looked like concussion after a clash of heads with Palhinha. 5

Micky van de Ven

Slipped for the second goal and never really looked comfortable throughout. 4

Pedro Porro

Had a tough night with Lookman at one end but contributed at the other. He fired home a low effort into the net in the first half and set up Solanke to score in the second. Tried to chase back with Alvarez for Atletico's fifth goal but knew he was never going to make it. 7

Archie Gray

Fought away in the centre of the pitch but Spurs were chasing shadows whenever the hosts broke. 5

Pape Matar Sarr

Saw his pass go straight to Griezmann after Van de Ven's slip and almost scored an own goal but for Vicario's save, with the ball knocked in by Le Normand anyway. Never really looked to have the rhythm of the game with some loose touches. 4

Djed Spence

Aside from a couple of nice touches he offered very little throughout the encounter. 4

Randal Kolo Muani

Offered even less and came off at half-time. 3

Richarlison

Did well to get the ball to Porro for Spurs' first goal and then had a header saved superbly by Oblak. A daft booking means he will miss the second leg though. 6

Mathys Tel

Looked promising early on but faded out of the first half and was taken off at the break. 5

Subs

Guglielmo Vicario

Unfortunate with the fourth goal as he saved the initial effort and almost saved the follow-up. Made a couple of good saves after that in a match he was not meant to play in. 6

Dominic Solanke

Made it goals in three consecutive games with his powerful finish in the second half. 6

Conor Gallagher

Gave Spurs some fresh legs if little extra quality. 5

Joao Palhinha

Came on for 20 minutes or so before having to leave the pitch following that clash of heads. 5

Xavi Simons

After Antonin Kinsky's horrific performance against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, the Tottenham players' reactions to Igor Tudor spoke volumes

Igor Tudor may have snubbed Antonin Kinsky but Cristian Romero and the Tottenham Hotspur players rallied behind the stricken goalkeeper. Things could not have gone worse for Spurs' No. 2 shot-stopper, who was given the nod to face Atletico Madrid ahead of Guglielmo Vicario.

Kinsky, 22, conceded three goals in a disastrous 14-minute period, of which two of those were of his own making. Tudor completed the Czech's embarrassment when he substituted him in the 15th minute and brought on Guglielmo Vicario, who was dropped in the Spanish capital, while Spurs were 3-0 down.

But when his evening at the Wanda Metropolitano looked like it could not get any worse, Tudor coldly snubbed the youngster as he trudged off the pitch. However, while the Tottenham manager did not even acknowledge him, the same could not be said of the Spurs players.

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Before Kinsky left the pitch, Spurs captain Romero gave him a hug, before defender Kevin Danso did the same thing while offering some words of encouragement. When Kinsky stormed down the tunnel, on the verge of tears, Tottenham substitutes Joao Palhinha, Conor Gallagher and Dominic Solanke followed him along with Dean Brill, a Spurs member of staff.

Their empathetic reactions and determination to ensure Kinsky did not feel alone was a stark contrast to Tudor, who barely looked at the Czech star as he walked off the pitch. The aforementioned Spurs stars did not appear to be the only ones playing in black to have noticed Tudor's cold reaction.

Djed Spence appeared to make a point to the Croatian when he was substituted. Initially, the England international walked past Tudor without acknowledging the interim boss.

However, the ex-Middlesbrough defender then stopped in his tracks, u-turned, walked behind Tudor and then tapped him on the shoulder, to acknowledge him, before heading to the bench. It's possible Spence was making a point to the North Londoners' boss about his lack of acknowledgement towards Kinsky.

The Tottenham players would have surely seen Tudor's lack of empathy as Kinsky left the field, close to tears. In his pre-match interview, when asked about his decision to deploy Kinsky ahead of Vicario, Tudor's response was vague and not exactly complimentary to the 22-year-old.

There was no mention of any good performances from Kinsky in training or any other explanation as to why he was given the nod ahead of Vicario. Instead, Tudor said: "I chose today what I think is best for team in this moment. Today, there are five changes, but the game is long. There is space for everyone.”

The biggest positive for Tottenham is the damage was only confined to 5-2. Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke's goals at least mean the La Liga giants are within some sort of range ahead of the second leg next week.

Before they can think about that clash, Tottenham face Liverpool this weekend, in what looks like an ominous clash for Tudor, given how close Spurs are to the relegation zone.