Igor Tudor's Tough Task: Can He Save Tottenham from Relegation?

Can Igor Tudor's experience and tactical expertise be enough to save Tottenham from relegation

Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor admits his squad is struggling with physical demands, citing fatigue as a major factor in their relegation battle.

Igor Tudor's appointment has thrown Tottenham into uncharted territory...

Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor has admitted his team is struggling with physical demands, saying they're “not in an amazing situation” fitness-wise. This comes as Spurs face a relegation battle, risking their first stint in the second tier since 1977/78.

Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank, has pledged to “put some petrol in the engine” to turn things around. He's pushing his players hard in training, with a focus on improving their fitness and intensity. The Croatian coach believes fatigue is a major issue, making it tough for his team to press high and maintain their desired style.

Tottenham Hotspur are facing a tough battle to avoid relegation, sitting just four points above the drop zone after winning only two of their last 18 Premier League matches. Interim manager Igor Tudor knows his players' physical condition is crucial to their survival hopes.

Tudor has acknowledged that his squad isn't in great shape physically, citing the demanding schedule and lack of available players as contributing factors. He's focusing on putting “petrol in the engine” to improve their performance, emphasizing the need for intense training and high-energy games. Will Tudor's tactics be enough to turn Tottenham's season around?

The Croatian coach, known for his high-intensity demands, admitted his squad hasn't been able to match those levels, citing fatigue as a major factor.

“Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation,” Tudor said.

“They have played lots of games in the last period without lots of players available and it meant the physical condition of the team has dropped down.

“So, we need to use this period where we don't play the games to put some petrol in the engine so the engine starts to work better.

“They are fatigued. To do the pressing high you need to be fit, but all of them because if someone is not in the right shape, there is a problem because someone is coming late.

“For sure, we will improve and do these things better over time, but in this moment it's a big question what we can do and what we cannot do.”

Igor Tudor's intense training sessions have gone viral, with players doing runs reminiscent of pre-season. This comes as no surprise, given Tottenham's struggles with fitness under Thomas Frank, often producing only one strong half of football. Tudor has pushed back against criticism that his methods are too harsh, saying “No, never punishing. That's the only way - running.”

Preparing for the weekend 🔋

💪 @BetMGMUK pic.twitter.com/4znEMGJg0k

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 27, 2026

Tudor believes his squad's poor physical condition is a major issue, stating they're “not in an amazing situation” fitness-wise. He's focusing on building their endurance, emphasizing the need for high-intensity training to improve their pressing game. With Tottenham fighting relegation, Tudor's methods aim to turn their season around.

“No, never punishing. That's the only way - running. The pitch is 100 yards. You say yards here, 100 yards, it's long, so you need to run,” he said.

Working hard at Hotspur Way 📍

💪 @BetMGMUK pic.twitter.com/WFhFXUoVpp

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 26, 2026

“There are habits. Maybe you have habits to... I don't know... work a bit less? I put some runs without the ball. Players never like runs without the ball!”