Igor Tudor has warned that Tottenham’s new manager will not immediately turn around the club’s fortunes.
The pressure has increased on head coach Tudor after a disastrous start to Spurs’ 5-2 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, in which substitute goalkeeper Antonin Kinski made two disastrous errors and was substituted after 17 minutes.
Tottenham face Liverpool, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on Super Sunday (kick-off 4.30pm), on a record four consecutive defeats to start Tudor’s spell in north London, a first in the club’s history and a record six consecutive defeats in all competitions.
Sunday, March 22, 2:00 p.m.
2:15pm kickoff
This has led to calls for Tudor to be replaced, but the Croatian player has insisted Spurs’ problems are bigger than expected and won’t go away even with a new manager.
“People think that if a new coach comes in, things will change and the problems will be solved,” Tudor told Sky Sports.
“It makes me laugh.
“When people want a new coach, it’s a new hope. People always want a new hope that things will change, but the reality is completely different. The reality is that’s not the case.
“You can never win in this world where everyone has an opinion. But as coaches, we have to focus on what we can change. We have to stay calm and believe in ourselves.”
I don’t see or hear anything. My family lives in Croatia so I haven’t seen it. It’s part of the job, so I don’t really focus on it. that’s reality.
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“My job is to help the players.”
Tottenham are 11 games without a win in the Premier League and are in 16th place, one point behind 18th-placed West Ham, ahead of Sunday’s daunting trip to Anfield.
With just nine games remaining, Spurs’ first relegation since 1977 is a very serious proposition after suffering five straight Premier League defeats for the first time in 22 years, but Tudor is confident his players can help turn a difficult situation around.
“I don’t feel good because I don’t have results,” Tudor said. “The problem is bigger than I thought.
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“There are a lot of mixed emotions. I still have the will and the confidence to try to change things, but the problem always comes back out of nowhere, like the red card and what happened in the last game (against Atlético Madrid). Everything you’ve worked for and prepared for is gone and it’s none of your business as a coach, so it’s a bit frustrating.”
“In another sense, I see players wanting to change things. It’s not easy for them. They are young players who are aware of difficult moments.”
“I have to find the strengths in what I do and my job is to help the players.”
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Defender Micky van de Ven says his side are facing a “doomsday scenario” against Atletico and feels the club is “taking blows one after the other” as mistakes cost them dearly in Spain.
Tudor also confirmed that captain Cristian Romero and Joao Parinha will miss the trip to Anfield due to Spurs’ continued injury problems. Both players are following concussion protocol, but with Van de Ven suspended and Yves Bissouma also sent off, there are further problems for Tudor.
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Asked if bad luck was to blame for the problems that have plagued Spurs since his arrival, Tudor said: “I don’t believe that.
“But there are too many. Every game, two or three players are out.
“Sometimes it’s not easy to understand why. Sometimes you understand the problem and I recognize it too, but it was difficult.
“That’s the reality and we need to accept it. We need to take this as a challenge and not cry.”
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Tudor added: “You have 10 players every game, 12 at most, maybe 13, you don’t have a central defender every game and Archie (Gray) is playing in four different positions. How do you deal with that situation when you don’t have four full-backs, you don’t have four defenders?”
“We have to be creative every time and what’s even more interesting is that in two training sessions we have to teach them positions they have never played before.
“It takes a lot of skill to teach all these things in one or two training sessions.”
“The players are participating.”
Tudor gives instructions to Mickey van de Ven and Jed Spence
There have also been reports of a rift between Tudor and the players, with the players reportedly losing faith in him after a very rocky start to his tenure at Spurs.
But Tudor rubbished rumors of a rift and appeared defiant as he looks to end Spurs’ losing streak at Anfield.
“It’s not easy to change things when you’re in this moment,” Tudor said.
“This situation is so rare and unusual that it is difficult to even describe it in words.
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“We need to get involved because it’s always important for everyone to come together,” he added of reports that the players had lost faith in him.
“They’re on board (the ship). They’re going to work and do what I say. They believe.”
Asked if he still had 100 percent confidence in his ability to turn things around, he said: “Can you expect me to sit here and say no?”
Watch Liverpool vs Tottenham on Super Sunday live on Sky Sports. 4:30pm kickoff
