Tottenham’s interim head coach, Igor Tudor, called tonight’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Atlético Madrid a “beautiful game”, but admitted it is not the priority as they fight relegation from the Premier League.
Spurs finished fourth in the league phase, earning them direct qualification for the last 16 and a return to the stadium where they played in the final less than seven years ago. But a run of 11 matches without a win has left them a single point above the Premier League relegation zone and Tudor under pressure just three weeks after taking over. He admitted: “Our first aim is the Premier League, this needs to be said publicly.”
Tudor added: “That doesn’t mean that we don’t want to go an extra round,” although that desire may be tested amid injuries and he talked about this tie as an opportunity to “grow” and test new solutions for the fight against relegation. Some relief comes with the return to fitness of Djed Spence, Radu Dragusin and Cristian Romero.
The full-back Pedro Porro, meanwhile, has insisted that his furious reaction after being substituted against Crystal Palace on Thursday night was “not about the coach”, with whom he said Spurs are “on the right path”.
“Of course [Champions League games] are important, as I said always,” Tudor said. “We focus on us grow[ing]so it can be an opportunity: it’s a totally different mentality in these kinds of games and maybe that can help us. I believe that this kind of game can help us to switch to the right way but always the focus is on us doing better: that is the point.”
Asked if this was a “free hit” or a trial run for changes that could be applied in the Premier League, Tudor replied: “It will be both things: focus on us, playing a team that has a story in this Champions League. They have experience and quality. We need to do our best in terms of the need to grow. Our first aim is the Premier League, this needs to be said publicly. It’s a normal thing; [the Champions League] is something extra.”
“I never say the first XI,” Tudor said. “But the players, we are happy that Romero is back, Djed is back. This is the first time [since] I am here that we will have all the players available for the defensive side.” He also confirmed that Richarlison will start but did not confirm his position, saying: “I have said too much already.”
“[Romero] missed a lot and he was not feeling good that he could not help the team, but now he is back,” Tudor continued. “He was working two, three weeks a lot, with fitness coaches. He did separate running sessions and we are happy he is back. We have missed players who usually play. The more time is passing, the sessions are better, there is more quality – especially as important players are coming back to the team. It is not easy to change things you are doing for a month or a year [but] something is moving. Let’s see tomorrow.”
Asked about his reaction to being replaced against Palace, Porro insisted: “I want to say it was not about the coach. I am a player who wants to win always. I always give 200% and you never like it when you lose. Let’s get rid of the speculation that is out there that is about the coach and the situation we are in: it was because I want to win. Since he [Tudor] came I knew he would get us 100% on the right path. He came two, three weeks ago and he has to [get to] know us and we have to get to know him and I am sure we are on the right path.”
