Tudor: 'I have only 12 players here'

One of the biggest shock in the Premier League’s last season was Tottenham Hotspur’s final position. Apart from Manchester United’s woeful season, the Spurs were the biggest surprise, and not in a good way. Under Ange Postecoglou, the north London club won a trophy (the Europa League) after a long time, but suffered in the league – they finished just above the relegation line with 38 points from 38 games, which is a shocking point per game! Even the worst pessimists couldn’t predict that the Spurs will be in even worse situation this season, but it happened and Thomas Frank was sacked and Igor Tudor came to rescue the situation, like he did in Lazio and Juventus. Spurs are 16th with 29 points after 28 games. At the same stage last season, they were 13th with 34 points, and 17 points clear of the drop zone.

Now, Tottenham are just one point above the relegation zone. Last season Postecoglou managed only four points from the last 10 Premier League games as he was chasing the Europa League. Now, Igor Tudor cannot do the same as he is dangerously close to relegation and the Champions League Round of 16 games with Atletico Madrid are coming next week. He needs to focus on the Premier League and he lost his first two games in charge (Arsenal and Fulham). The third one is also against a London based team (Crystal Palace) and the Croatian boss is more than aware that the Spurs situation is much different than the one in Juventus.

"Impossible to compare. The problems are totally different. At Juventus, there were 20 players. Here, you come and have 12 players. There you fight for the Champions League. Here, you fight relegation. Then you go player by player and there are big differences everywhere. It's not like you do the job in the same way and have the same results. There is no copy in anything. Different team, different league, different position, different players” he said at the press conference.

Spurs players have a relegation clause and it's not looking good

Tottenham are down in every category comparing to last season. Fewer wins, fewer goals. Total shots down by almost 100. Shots on target down by almost 50. Possession is down. Total passes are down by almost 100 per game. They also allowed 20 goals in the last 10 games. Tudor blasted his players after a Fulham defeat but explained that honesty is the best way.

“Always the players need honesty. One of the skills of a coach is to be honest, in the right way of course, to speak with them. Without honesty you are dead," said the interim head coach. They need to recognise in you that here is a person who wants to say the things from a good place, not in a negative way. They need to recognise in you that you are telling them for the best. Then you can tell them everything" he said.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 29

Tuesday

Bournemouth - Brentford 0-0

Everton - Burnley 2-0 (1-0)

/Tarkowski 32, Dewsbury-Hall 60/

Leeds - Sunderland 0-1 (0-0)

/Diarra 70 (p)/

Wolverhampton - Liverpool 2-1 (0-0)

/Gomes R. 78, Andre 90+4 - Salah 83/

Wednesday

Brighton - Arsenal 0-1 (0-1)

/Saka 9/

Fulham - West Ham 0-1 (0-0)

/Summerville 65/

Manchester City - Nottingham Forest 2-2 (1-0)

/Semenyo 31, Rodri 62 - Gibbs-White 56, Anderson 76/

Newcastle - Manchester United 2-1 (1-0)

/Gordon 45+6, Osula 90 - Casemiro 45+9/

Aston Villa - Chelsea 1-4 (1-2)

/Luiz 2 - Pedro 35, 45+6, 64, Palmer 55/

Thursday

23.00: (2.45) Tottenham (3.40) Crystal Palace (3.05)

***odds are subject to change***