Tottenham Hotspur head coach Igor Tudor has made a candid admission ahead of his team's Champions League last-16 first leg against Atletico Madrid, declaring that Premier League survival remains the club's primary objective despite their European commitments.
Tudor, who became just the second Spurs head coach in Premier League history to lose each of his first three games in charge following a 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace, faces a mounting crisis in the league. Spurs have failed to win 11 successive league games for the first time since October 1975 under Terry Neill, leaving them just a point above the relegation zone.
The Opta supercomputer has assigned Spurs a concerning 16.8% chance of being relegated, with Nottingham Forest (26.4%) and West Ham (48.9%) better fancied to survive among the sides near them in the standings.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Tuesday's clash at the Metropolitano, Tudor addressed the delicate balance between European ambition and domestic survival.
"[We must] focus on us, we're playing against a team that has a story in this Champions League, they have experience, they have quality. We need to do our best in terms of what we need to grow. Our first aim is the Premier League; this should be said publicly, it's a normal thing."
The Croatian manager described the Champions League as "something extra" but emphasized the team's competitive desire to progress. "This [competition] is something extra, but that doesn't mean we don't want to pass (through), that we don't want to go to the next round."
Tudor faces a daunting schedule between the two legs against Atletico. Spurs will visit Liverpool in the Premier League, followed by a crucial clash against 17th-placed Nottingham Forest after the second leg—matches that could determine their top-flight fate.
The manager suggested that the Champions League encounter could provide a mental reset for his struggling side. "Every game is important. We need to be focused on us, to grow, so it can be an opportunity. A totally different mentality aspect can be used in this kind of game, so maybe this can help us to see which problems we have."
Despite their domestic woes, Spurs have impressed in Europe, winning their last three Champions League games without conceding a goal. They have also lost only one of their last five Champions League meetings with Spanish opponents—a 2-4 home defeat to Barcelona in the 2018-19 group stage.
Tudor received a significant boost with the return of defenders Djed Spence and Cristian Romero, with captain Romero available again after suspension to make his first appearance under the new manager. The Croatian also confirmed that Brazil forward Richarlison will start on Tuesday after featuring off the bench in his first three games.
"Players are coming back, that's important. In all three games we missed the players on their positions and we missed the players who are usually playing," Tudor noted.
"It's a beautiful game to play tomorrow, a totally different competition than the Premier League. There is a good experience from this season, past games, so let's see what happens tomorrow."
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