Football London

Here's every single word the Tottenham Hotspur interim head coach said on Friday ahead of the big Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest

Igor Tudor had some positive injury news at his press conference on Friday afternoon ahead of Tottenham's crunch Premier League game with Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Sixteenth-placed Spurs sit just a point above Forest in 17th and West Ham in the drop zone and Sunday brings Vitor Pereira's side to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a relegation six-pointer. Tudor's men have had a good week though with a battling point at Liverpool and then a midweek Champions League win against Atletico Madrid.

At his press conference, Tudor provided updates on Dominic Solanke as well as some of the longer term absentees in Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski. Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison.

Our Tottenham reporter Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Tudor. Here's every word the Croatian said at his press conference at Hotspur Way.

We saw Joao Palhinha back in training but couldn't see Dominic Solanke, what's the update on him?

Dom didn't train, but probably tomorrow he will train with the team and he will be available. It is a problem with his hip, so he will be ok.

No fresh issues apart from that?

No, no, no.

What is your reaction to the FA misconduct charge?

Yeah, they told me about this with the club. We focus on the game, that is the most important thing.

What do you make of the big upcoming show of support from the fans ahead of Forest?

Nice, nice. I said, after the game there was a beautiful sensation, feeling of togetherness with the fans. Very rare. I felt this enjoyment, I enjoyed feeling like sensation that we are doing good on the pitch, but together with them, together with the fans. That was really nice, rare. We need to continue all together this, if we can say, small positive moment after two games where we can recognise small but important things for the squad.

Did you get that feeling in the stadium?

Yeah, there is a positivity, but also understanding the game, it is not easy. So, important game, but probably it will not decide anything after the game, independent of the results. We just need to keep going on what we did in the last two games.

What have you learned about your players over the past seven days that perhaps you didn't know beforehand?

What did I learn about players that I didn't know before? What can I tell you about that question? Nothing new. I didn't learn anything new.

Nottingham Forest were in action away from home in Denmark and needed extra-time and penalties to win the tie, how much of an advantage do you think it is that they had to go away?

No, there would be no advantage because the coach made it in the way so the players who started didn't play more than 60 minutes. So there would not be an advantage from this point of view.

There's a stat going into this game on Sunday that Spurs have scored the second-most goals from corners in the Premier League this season and Forest have conceded the second-most goals from corners. So how big a part do you think that could be?

Set-pieces are always important. After you said about the statistics, we just need to go on set-pieces and win set-pieces if it's possible! But of course, it's not just set-pieces. It's a long game to play, a few games in the game. You need to be inside from the first to last second of the game, including five subs.

So a big respect to them because they have players who can hurt us, but as well, going on our sides, going on with our things, with confidence, with courage, with humbleness, with all the stuff necessary to take the points.

I wanted to ask you about Xavi, you created so many chances on Wednesday night and it felt like he was a really important part of that. How do you get him playing like that consistently for you?

Oh, I didn't get him. He himself was motivated, was good, was with the right mentality. When he's like that, his qualities come out. So his qualities connect a lot with these things I said now. It was a really beautiful surprise for me.

He was inside from the first second of the game. It was nice to find in him this resource we will need in these last games we still have to play.

With Archie Gray, Xavi had the most ball recoveries on the pitch, is it strange to have a playmaker who's also a fighter?

For sure. In football today, it's always about 11 players who need to defend, so the more players you have with these values, the better result you get.

When are you expecting to have Mohammed Kudus back?

So we have this big three weeks after the game on Sunday. I don’t know. Probably some part of the things with the squad maybe 10 days [after the break]. I don’t know I’m not sure. We need to check but he is progressing very well. Already a little bit with the ball. Rodrigo [Bentancur] as well, Maddison as well. We hope the medical staff will make us some nice surprise in the next weeks which would be very important to have that.

Could Maddison play before the end of the season?

Yes. Maddison is already doing interesting things as well with the ball. Sprinting as well. I saw him. He is positive. He's positive.

And Dejan Kulusevski, any progress there?

No, not yet.

You have a big break after this Nottingham Forest game, no game on weekend of April 4th, have you planned what you want to do during that period?

No, a lot of players are with national team of course and we make already plans. It will be some rest and a lot of work.

Would you like a game on that weekend without a match?

We will see. For now it is not a problem.

How important is it that you have impact players on the bench to help you finish strong?

Yeah it will be nice to have five or six subs on Sunday. It can be so important.

Richarlison missed Wednesday but his goal at Liverpool felt significant to end the poor run, how motivated and fired up is he for this game?

For sure not just about him but we need this kind of performance after the long period of problems. What is the key now is to not think that this kind of mentality we put on the pitch will come and be done by themselves. The confirmation is always key in the sport and from the first minute the same way, the same mentality and all the tactics and technical things come after this.

Tottenham are gearing up for Sunday's crunch Premier League relegation six-pointer against Nottingham Forest

Tottenham are back in training ahead of Sunday's huge Premier League six-pointer against fellow relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

Igor Tudor's rejuvenated side are fresh from Wednesday's 3-2 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid and the Croat's ranks have been bolstered by the return of Joao Palhinha.

The Portuguese midfielder, on loan from Bayern Munich, has been missing since the first-leg against Atletico when he clashed heads with team-mate Cristian Romero during the final stages of the contest.

As per concussion protocols, Palhinha sat out of the draw with Liverpool at Anfield and the second-leg versus Atletico but he trained at Hotspur Way on Friday morning.

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There was still no sign of Dominic Solanke (hip) out on the grass, however. The England international has been included in Thomas Tuchel's squad for upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, sparking hope he might be available this weekend.

Tudor is set to address the media in his pre-match press conference this afternoon at 1:30pm when he is poised to provide a key fitness update on his striker.

There is positive news for Tottenham though as Richarlison is free to play again following his Champions League suspension.

Lucas Bergvall and Destiny Udogie both made their returns from the bench against Atletico, though their fitness will need to be managed carefully following notable lay-offs.

Spurs picked up no fresh injury concerns in midweek against their Spanish counterparts as they look to extend their unbeaten run to three matches in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Forest are buoyed following their dramatic Europa League penalty-shootout scalp over FC Midtjylland in Denmark on Thursday evening.

Boss Vitor Pereira boldly shuffled his pack, instead prioritising Sunday's game at Spurs, but Forest were able to get the job done in Scandinavia.

Forest skipper Ryan Yates is hopeful the result can provide a platform to kick on in the Premier League. He told TNT Sports: "Considering the changes it just shows the strength we have and the spirit. At this stage of the season, that's what it's all about, showing togetherness and fighting for each other.

“A lot of lads who haven't played many minutes will now be looking for more. You want to keep momentum going. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves. We will recover well and head to Spurs this weekend."

England will face Uruguay and Japan in friendly matches this month with Thomas Tuchel confirming the squad for both fixtures

Thomas Tuchel has named the England squad for the upcoming round of fixtures for the March international break. The Three Lions will be back in action later this month in the final international hiatus of the season ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur all have players who have been named in the England squad for this month’s friendly fixtures against Uruguay and Japan, with both matches taking place at Wembley Stadium.

This will be one of Tuchel’s last opportunities to prepare for the World Cup this summer, which is being hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Arsenal have seen four players called up to the England squad, with Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Eberechie Eze and Declan Rice all included.

Chelsea have Cole Palmer as their only representative in the England squad selected by Tuchel. Reece James and Trevoh Chalobah are not included as the duo recover from their respective injury concerns.

Tottenham have two players selected in the England squad, with Dominic Solanke earning a call-up alongside teammate Djed Spence.

Other notable inclusions sees Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele named in the squad, while Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Everton midfielder James Garner have also been selected by Tuchel.

England will also have a friendly match against Costa Rica in June, which will be their final game before making the trip across the Atlantic for the World Cup.

England have been drawn in Group L for this summer’s World Cup, where they will face Croatia, Ghana and Panana in the first stage of the competition.

Tuchel guided the Three Lions to the top of their group in qualifying with a 100 percent record from their eight games.

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Full England squad confirmed for fixtures vs Uruguay and Japan:

Goalkeepers:

Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Jason Steele, James Trafford

Defenders:

Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall, Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, Nico O’Reilly, Jarell Quansah, Djed Spence, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori

Midfielders:

Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, James Garner, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Adam Wharton

Forwards:

Igor Tudor is holding his press conference on Friday ahead of Tottenham's big Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Spurs lie 16th in the Premier League table and sit just a point above Forest in 17th and West Ham in the drop zone and Sunday afternoon brings Vitor Pereira's side to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a crunch game in the relegation battle. Tudor's men have finally just started to find a bit of form with a battling draw at Liverpool and then a midweek Champions League victory against Atletico Madrid.

However, they must impress again to win their first Premier League game of 2026 if they are to overcome Forest this weekend and give themselves a much-needed cushion from the drop zone going into a three-week gap in their fixture list.

At his press conference, Tudor will provide the latest injury news on Dominic Solanke and Joao Palhinha, as well as potentially some of the longer term absentees such as Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison.

Our Tottenham reporter Alasdair Gold is among those putting the questions to Tudor. Scroll down for his latest updates from the press conference at Hotspur Way.

Troy Parrott is being tipped to make a move in the summer transfer window

Tottenham could receive a transfer windfall if former striker Troy Parrott completes a £25million move to AC Milan this summer.

The 24-year-old is currently enjoying a stellar season with AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch top flight.

Parrott has hit the ground running since leaving the north Londoners in 2024, scoring 20 goals for AZ in all competitions last season. He has managed to do even better this season, notching 28 goals and 10 assists in 40 matches.

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The Irishman’s stellar form and consistency has unsurprisingly caught the attention of clubs around Europe, including Real Betis, Wolfsburg, Fulham and now AC Milan. The Independent reports Parrott is hoping to take the next step in his career, while AZ are open to cashing in on their star striker.

Milan are monitoring his form while in pursuit of a forward to sign this summer, with the £25m-rated Parrott being one of the players on their shortlist. And any potential transfer to Serie A in that region would come as a boost for his former side Spurs, given the Lilywhites included a 20 per cent sell-on clause when agreeing Parrott’s move to AZ.

Parrott was considered an exciting talent during his time in N17 but only made four first team appearances, having been loaned out on five occasions. His last loan stint as a Spurs player was with Dutch side Excelsior, during which his performances caught the attention of AZ Alkmaar.

Parrott was sold for £6.7m to AZ in July 2024. Then-manager Ange Postecoglou explained that competition for places, following the arrival of Dominic Solanke, would have limited Parrott’s chances of a first-team breakthrough.

Spurs will be pleased to see their former prospect thriving given they may stand to earn £5m this summer based on his valuation. The club did not agree a buyback clause in his deal when he left, suggesting they will not compete with Milan for his signature.

Parrott came up against his former side last season in the Europa League as Spurs defeated AZ 3-2 across the two last-16 legs and went on to lift the trophy.

He explained last month that he wasn’t thinking about his future much, though his camp have understandably been exploring options beyond the Eredivisie to further his career.

One Tottenham player is expected to complete a £17m move in the summer transfer window with both parties looking to cut ties and end his stay in north London

Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is poised to sign for Inter Milan this summer, it has been claimed.

The Serie A side have been in the market for a replacement for Yann Sommer, 37, who is expected to leave Inter when his contract expires in June and sporting director Piero Ausilio was in London for talks earlier this week.

Ausilio met with Vicario's agent Valerio Giufridda on Wednesday before Tottenham's Champions League round of 16 second leg tie against Atletico Madrid and Inter are confident about getting a transfer done for £17 million, according to the Daily Mail.

Vicario, 29, started the game against Atletico and made a number of standout saves as Spurs ran out 3-2 winners on the night, though it wasn't enough to see them overturn the three-goal deficit from the first leg as Igor Tudor's side crashed out of the competition.

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A 5-2 defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano last week did the damage with Tudor opting to start Antonin Kinsky before taking him off and bringing on Vicario in the 17th minute.

Vicario has been at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since 2023 following his £17m move from Empoli. He made an impressive start to life in north London until opponents figured out his weakness dealing with a high ball before he then made several mistakes with his feet.

He was an integral part of Ange Postecoglou's side before suffering a broken ankle in a 4-0 win at Manchester City in November 2024 and was forced to miss three months of action. However, Vicario did return to help Spurs win the Europa League, with the ex-Cagliari man keeping a clean sheet in the final against Manchester United.

Although Vicario still has more than two years left on his Tottenham contract, it appears there is a mutual understanding that it will be best for both parties to go separate ways in the summer.

Vicario will be back playing Champions League football should he sign for Inter, with the San Siro club six points clear at the top of the Serie A table and eyeing up a 21st Scudetto and a second in three years.

Despite the speculation around Vicario's future, his and Tottenham's immediate attention is on Sunday's crucial Premier League outing against Nottingham Forest. Spurs are embroiled in a relegation dogfight, with Tudor's men 16th, just one point and one place above Forest in the top flight.

Tottenham Hotspur look set to welcome some big names back to the Premier League matchday squad at the weekend

Igor Tudor has already been given a huge boost ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's clash against Nottingham Forest this weekend. The Lilywhites will host Vítor Pereira's side on Sunday afternoon as they each look to climb the Premier League table.

Spurs will hope to pick up from where they left off on Wednesday night when they defeated Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League last-16. Despite losing 7-5 on aggregate, the north Londoners showed great promise and determination during their 3-2 win over Diego Simeone's side.

Meanwhile, Forest will look to return to winning ways, having failed to taste victory in any of their last seven games in the English top-flight. Just a point separates Tottenham and the East Midlands outfit, who are both on the brink of the relegation zone.

If West Ham beat Aston Villa and Spurs lose to Forest, Tudor's side will fall into the bottom three. Although Tottenham haven't had as long to prepare for this weekend's clash, they're set to welcome some big names back to the Premier League stage.

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On Wednesday evening, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall and Conor Gallagher, who were all absent from the matchday squad at Anfield, returned to action. They each featured in some capacity during the win over Atletico, brushing off the cobwebs ahead of a huge fixture.

That said, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Speaking to reporters after the game, Tudor commented on Spurs' injury crisis. The interim Tottenham boss said: "Even I need to repeat that today we have again 11 players and on the bench just one player.

"One player is [Kevin] Danso. All three players - Bergvall, Udogie and Conor - doctors say they can play at least maximum 20 minutes, 25 minutes. So, you have only Danso as a substitute.

"You play with 11 plus Danso in this kind of a game, and I don't count these two young players. So imagine the situation, imagine the value of this victory here.

"You need to make a proclamation of substitutes, what happens if someone is out, how we can deal with Bergvall and Conor. So, it's a really particular moment, but you know how it is here in Tottenham, better than me with this kind of injuries.

"The value of this performance is even bigger because of these things."

When asked about the connection between players and fans, Igor said: "Yes, a beautiful sensation on the pitch. I really enjoyed it from the first to the last moment of the game. It was magical.

"The guys pushed from the first moment. They believed that we could do it, so that was the key. After 1-0, the idea was, as I said before, to just take 1-0 and see what happened. Then the referee didn't give the foul on Xavi (before Alvarez’s first equaliser). It was a key moment of the game.

"That’s football, it's always about that. It's about details, about mistakes. So, the sensation that if it didn't happen, what happened after 20 minutes in Madrid, we could have a big probability to pass. But this is the past - we need to watch the future."

Tottenham currently have nine players out injured and the supporters are desperate to know when that treatment room is going to clear

Tottenham Hotspur and injuries appear to go together like cheese and crackers and interim head coach Igor Tudor is currently finding out exactly that.

The Croatian went into Sunday's Premier League game at Liverpool with 13 unavailable players and came away with a 1-1 draw. Then on Wednesday night Spurs took on Atletico Madrid with 11 members of the squad unable to take part in the Champions League clash. The north London side won the second leg 3-2 but it was not enough to overcome their first leg deficit.

Richarlison was suspended for that game and his fellow Brazilian Souza was not registered for the European competition, leaving nine other players missing through injury, many of them long-term absentees.

So what's the latest with those in the Tottenham treatment room? Here's what we know about each of them and potential return dates.

Dominic Solanke

Despite training the day before the game, Solanke missed the Champions League win in midweek with a hip injury and Tudor gave an update on the 28-year-old just before kick-off.

"Unfortunately he has some problem with the hip. It is no big deal but he hasn't made it for today but I think he will be good for Sunday," said the Croatian.

Return date: Hopefully Sunday vs Nottingham Forest.

Joao Palhinha

The Portuguese missed both the matches against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid following that clash of heads with Cristian Romero in the first leg out in Spain last week.

Palhinha could be seen training alone with a member of sports science staff on Tuesday morning, mainly running around an adjoining pitch as the rest of the team were put through their paces at Hotspur Way.

Romero exited the concussion protocol in time for Wednesday night and Palhinha will be tested ahead of the visit of Forest.

Return date: Also hopefully Sunday vs Nottingham Forest.

Mohammed Kudus

It's all gone rather quiet when it comes to Kudus who suffered a serious quad injury in the draw against Sunderland at home back in January.

"Mohammed Kudus unfortunately is a bigger injury to the tendon in the quad," said then manager Thomas Frank. "That is one where we expect him back after the March international break."

Not much has been heard since on Kudus and Ghana head coach Otto Addo, as expected, did not name him in the 26-man squad for the international friendlies against Austria and Germany later this month.

With no game for three weeks after Sunday's encounter against Forest, that gives Spurs players like Kudus more time to get closer to a return to the training pitches at Hotspur Way.

Return date: After this international break.

Yves Bissouma

Tudor revealed a week ago that Bissouma is suffering from a muscle problem but that was the last update we've had on the Mali international.

The 29-year-old had just started to get himself back into action at Tottenham with eight Premier League appearances in a row only to suffer the problem earlier this month.

Along with Kudus, Bissouma could be one we get an update on at Tudor's press conference on Friday afternoon.

Return date: Unknown

James Maddison

The 29-year-old midfielder uploaded a social media video this week showing his trip to Manchester for further ACL tests and exercises to help with the final stages of rehabilitation.

At training on Tuesday at Hotspur Way, Maddison could be seen running over to a nearby pitch to work outdoors in the sunshine alone with a member of staff.

The England international had hoped to be back this season after his ACL injury in pre-season, but also admitted early in the process that he did not want to rush things and jeopardise the next stage of his career.

It's worth noting that Radu Dragusin did not play a competitive game of football for almost two months after returning to training with the squad following his ACL injury. With Maddison not in that position yet, it means a return to match action this season is growing more unlikely with each passing week.

Return date: It's going to be tight for a return before the end of May

Rodrigo Bentancur

Bentancur underwent surgery on a serious hamstring injury in January and this week his personal fitness coach, Daniel Fernandez, provided a detailed update on his progress.

He explained to Uruguayan radio 100% Deporte that the surgical wound had healed well and Bentancur's rehabilitation is currently around 15 days ahead of the original prognosis.

The midfielder has already returned to working on the grass after weeks spent in rehabilitation and strength training.

Fernandez said that Bentancur should be ready to return to training by the end of March but would not be realistically available for first-team action until the end of April if there are no setbacks.

Return date: End of April

Dejan Kulusevski

Everyone has been waiting for the Swede to return, with estimates of his return from that patella surgery last April repeatedly pushed back. Initially it was handful of months, then it became before the end of last year with Frank then saying he would definitely be back before the end of the season.

As the Dane's tenure came towards its end, football.london asked Frank again about Kulusevski and he admitted he was unsure if the 25-year-old would play during this campaign.

The key for the Swede was always to be able to move without feeling pain or discomfort after a complicated knee injury that Frank said was 'historic' in how rare it was. The graphic image Kulusevski posted of the inside of his kneecap on Instagram certainly showed the severity of the operation.

Sweden boss Graham Potter admitted this week at his press conference, after not including Kulusevski in his 26-man squad: "Dejan is making progress but not as quickly as we would have liked."

Return date: Unknown

Ben Davies

Davies underwent a second operation in January on the broken ankle he suffered in the Premier League defeat that month to West Ham United.

The 32-year-old Wales international will not be involved in this month’s World Cup play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina and there will be fears within his country's set-up over whether he will be back in time for the summer tournament if they progress.

Return date: Unknown

Wilson Odobert

Odobert suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last month.. He underwent surgery and is now in the early stages of his rehabilitation with the club's medical staff.

The Frenchman's time at Spurs has been fragmented by injuries and now the 21-year-old will follow in the footsteps of Maddison, Dragusin and Bentancur in going through at least nine months or so out of the game.

The young Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has given an insightful interview in which explains the way he approaches matches

Archie Gray has offered an insight into the mentality that has seen him become an important Tottenham player at just 20-years-old.

Gray, who cost Spurs £40million as teenager back in 2024, put in a huge performance in Wednesday night's 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, continuing a run of fine form in Igor Tudor's injury-ravaged team. The midfielder drove Spurs on throughout the contest, looking comfortable and confident with the ball at his feet and strong in the tackle.

It was his interception and interplay with Pape Matar Sarr and Xavi Simons that led to his assist for the latter's first goal of the night. As well as creating two chances, and Gray and Xavi recorded nine ball recoveries each, more than any other outfield player on the pitch from both sides.

Gray was so good on Wednesday night against one of Europe's toughest sides that when he was substituted with nine minutes to go, Atletico's Marcos Llorente trotted across from this position to shake his hand and give him a hug on the far touchline.

"Whenever I get the chance to get on to the pitch, I always make sure I give my all, no matter what may come up in the game," Gray said in an interview in the matchday programme.

"I always try to put myself about in tackles and focus on how I play without the ball first, over anything else. My old coaches at Leeds always used to say to me that I had to earn the right to play, whether that be making a tackle within the first five minutes or putting a few good passes together early doors.

"I always focus on starting sharp and being aware and then I start to trust my quality on the ball. I’ve worked really hard for my whole life to get here so that I can deliver that quality, and there have been a few more [goal contributions] in the past few weeks, my assist against Crystal Palace, for example.

"I'm determined to make that continue and to show the fans and my team-mates what I can do and keep improving every day."

On Wednesday, Gray overtook Dele Alli to ensure he has made more Champions League starts for Tottenham while aged under 21 than any other player in the north London club's history, with seven of them.

Despite his age, the England U21 midfielder, who comes from the famous and trophy-laden Gray football family, is a vocal presence on the pitch, with many marking him out as a future captain. He explained that using his voice came from an old team-mate.

"I always want to push my team-mates on, and I always want to push myself. I think I show that on the pitch," he said. "One of my best mates in football, Charlie Cresswell, would always say to me when I was a youngster at Leeds 'If you can't have a good game as a football player, you can always be loud and help your team-mates'. That has always stuck with me because it's so true.

"You might not be having the best game, but you can always affect a game of football, no matter what. When I’m playing at centre-back or right-back, for example, it’s always nicer to have the player next to me being vocal and letting me know they have my back. As a team, we have to do more of that and learn to be better at it in these next few games."

In his two years at Spurs, Gray has been utilised at right-back, centre-back, left-back, as a wing-back and in midfield as a holding player as well as a number 10.

"Having so many Injuries and me having to play in different positions has seen me learn different things every single game," he admitted. "I've always enjoyed trying and learning new things both in football and off the pitch too, which I see as an important thing in life.

"By playing in different positions in football, I can understand different perspectives of the game, and ultimately, it’s just adding another tool to my toolbox. That's the way I see it. In the academy at Leeds, they always made us swap positions, I have been doing it from a young age and have built a base which has made it easier for me. It allows me not to think too much about it and just take on advice from the coaching staff."

On Spurs' current state he added: "It's especially difficult now because we shouldn't be in this situation, but we've got to show that on the pitch. I always go into every game with the same attitude that I was taught at Leeds, and in a difficult situation like the one that we are in at the moment, I’ve been trying as hard as I can to do that little bit extra.

"I want to help my teammates out and will do that in every single game. If we can all do that and try to help each other out, it will help us add that extra 10 percent, which could end up being massive. I think you find out a little bit about yourself in a situation like this. We've just got to keep pushing every single day and believe in each other."

When it was put to Tudor that Gray had been remarkable against Atletico, the Croatian nodded and said: "I agree, I agree. He's a guy, you know the positions he plays everywhere, so probably this position in the middle is, I believe, the best one for him, but he's playing continually in the right way, in a good way.

"It's a mix of quality, physically and mentally, to always make the right choices and be humble and have legs to do so. He needs to continue this, he's still young, so every day he needs a new confirmation [of what he can do].

"Together with Pape, I see them very well, there's a quality between these two players. The last two games, they really made a difference."

Igor Tudor has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association

Igor Tudor has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for his comments after Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 defeat at Fulham.

Tudor was angered about the decision to award Harry Wilson’s sixth-minute opener at Craven Cottage on March 1 after Raul Jimenez appeared to push Spurs centre-back Radu Dragusin in the build-up to the goal from a Kenny Tete cross.

Jimenez was accused of “cheating” by an irate Tudor in his post-match press conference and the Croatian coach described match official Thomas Bramall as a “home team referee” to the BBC’s Match of the Day. It has earned the Tottenham boss an FA charge.

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“Tottenham Hotspur’s Igor Tudor has been charged with misconduct following comments that he made after their game against Fulham on Sunday 1 March in the Premier League,” an FA statement read.

“The manager allegedly acted in an improper manner during a post-match interview by making comments that imply bias and/or question integrity and/or are personally offensive in relation to a match official.”

Spurs and Tudor have until Monday to reply to the charge. Tudor will get the chance to talk about the charge during Friday’s press conference ahead of the visit of Nottingham Forest on Sunday.