Tudor was only appointed on 13/2, but his position is already precarious. The Croatian coach has lost all four matches since taking over as interim manager, with Tottenham falling 1-4 to Arsenal, 1-2 to Fulham, and 1-3 to Crystal Palace in the Premier League, and 2-5 to Atletico in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.
Beyond his tactical decisions, Tudor has also faced criticism for his player management. In the loss to Atletico, he sparked controversy by selecting Antonin Kinsky to start over Guglielmo Vicario, only to be forced into a change after Kinsky made two consecutive errors within the first 17 minutes. Tudor ignored Kinsky as the goalkeeper left the pitch and walked directly down the tunnel, while his teammates offered encouragement.
Despite speculation about an imminent dismissal, Tudor will still lead Tottenham in their match against Liverpool at Anfield on 15/3. Should they suffer another defeat, the North London club risks dropping into the bottom three of the league standings.
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Coach Igor Tudor ignored Antonin Kinsky as he substituted him off during Tottenham's 2-5 loss to Atletico in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on 10/3/2026. Photo: PA Wire |
According to Merson, the sole reason Tudor remains in charge is that Tottenham does not want to change coaches immediately before such a challenging fixture.
"I am both surprised and not surprised", Merson said on Sky Sports when asked about Tudor's continued tenure. "Surprised because of the terrible results, but not surprised because the next match is away to Liverpool. I do not know any coach who would want to take over the team right before that game. There are certain timings. I think they will wait for this match to pass, and then they will have another week to prepare for the next important game".
The former England international even predicted that Tottenham would have a new coach for their next match against Nottingham Forest on 22/3. "Tottenham will wait until after the Liverpool game to make a decision", Merson added. "I would be very surprised if Tudor is still the coach next week for the Nottingham Forest match".
According to The Athletic, Tottenham is actively seeking alternatives to Tudor. When questioned about these rumors, Tudor countered the notion that a new coach could instantly change the situation.
"People think that a new person comes in and everything changes, and the problems are solved", the 47-year-old coach told Sky Sports. "That makes me laugh. When people want a new coach, it is because they hope for something new. But the reality is not that simple".
The Croatian manager also acknowledged that the current football environment means every decision is scrutinized. "In a world where everyone has an opinion, you cannot please everyone", he stated. "The important thing is that we focus on what we can change, stay calm, and believe in ourselves".
By Hong Duy (via Daily Mail)
