Tottenham boss Igor Tudor has shared some group information forward of the Lilywhites’ Premier League conflict in opposition to Fulham on Sunday.
Tottenham brace for Fulham as Tudor battles relegation menace
Sunday’s journey to Craven Cottage couldn’t come at a extra pressurised second for Tudor.
Tottenham sit sixteenth within the Premier League desk, 4 factors above the drop zone with 12 video games remaining. Each level from right here issues enormously.
Each efficiency carries weight.
Marco Silva’s Fulham are a well-drilled, organised aspect who’ve spent years making life tough for the division’s larger golf equipment. Tudor spoke actually in his press convention concerning the scale of the duty forward, describing the scenario as one among “life and loss of life” for the membership in sporting phrases.
Requested if this was the hardest firefighting job of his profession, he didn’t hesitate in confirming the reply was sure.
It’s a outstanding scenario for a membership of Spurs’ stature to be in.
He is closing in on a comeback.
Tudor has spoken repeatedly this week about the necessity to focus inward, to focus on what his gamers can management in coaching and in video games, relatively than trying on the desk or fascinated about what others are doing. The strategy is smart, however outcomes have to comply with, and shortly.
The excellent news from the press convention is that Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso are each out there after lacking the Arsenal defeat.
Their returns present Tudor with extra defensive choices, and the Croatian advised he’ll contemplate his construction rigorously, holding each a again three and a again 4 on the desk relying on how the gamers look within the closing coaching periods.
Joao Palhinha, who performed out of place within the three-man defence in opposition to Arsenal, is predicted to return to a extra pure position.
Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani all stay out there, with Tudor working by way of how finest to deploy his attacking choices with out leaving the aspect uncovered.
Future Udogie and Dejan Kulusevski sadly stay absent, alongside a plethora of different injured Spurs stars.
Tudor spoke warmly concerning the latter — the Swede is a participant he is aware of effectively from their time collectively at Juventus — and confirmed that each gamers and medical doctors are optimistic about his restoration.
Whether or not Kulusevski options once more this season stays unsure.
Then got here the second that had been constructing all week. A clip had circulated on social media showing to indicate Tudor issuing directions through the Arsenal sport that had been seemingly ignored by one among his personal gamers. The id of the participant had change into the primary speaking level.
Igor Tudor shares Micky van de Ven replace with toe downside revealed
The participant in query was Micky van de Ven — and Tudor was fast to place the story to mattress.
“It was not instruction to Micky, it was instruction to the group to go up,” he defined.
“It isn’t about, it was not about Micky. It was concerning the group developing.”
Tudor confirmed that he and the centre-back had not even mentioned the incident afterwards, as a result of in his view, there was nothing to debate.
“He is a incredible man, excellent skilled, so he would by no means do these issues,” Tudor mentioned.
There was additionally a minor health scare to handle.
Van de Ven himself picked up a small damage to his toe through the Arsenal sport, however Tudor confirmed it’s nothing severe and the Dutchman shall be out there at Craven Cottage.
Given how a lot Spurs’ defensive stability depends on his velocity and composure, that shall be a big reduction.
The image general remains to be bleak for Tudor. He has a skeleton squad, a factors deficit to claw again, and the load of a fanbase working out of persistence, however Sunday is the subsequent step.
Win at Fulham. All the things else can wait.
Talking of van de Ven, it’s believed by some media sources that Tottenham are poised to demand a world-record defender charge for the 24-year-old amid curiosity from elite rivals.
Spurs are weighing up their subsequent everlasting head coach after Igor Tudor.