Igor Tudor Sees Spurs' Champions League Exit as Premier League Survival Boost

Tudor says Spurs' Champions League spirit can win premier league survival

Igor Tudor believes Tottenham's spirited Champions League exit against Atletico Madrid shows they're on the right track for Premier League survival.

Tottenham's 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid was a morale boost, with Tudor citing “a lot of confidence” ahead of their relegation showdown with Nottingham Forest...

Tottenham boss Igor Tudor is pleased with his team's performance despite their Champions League exit. Tudor's side showed improvement, beating Atletico Madrid 3-2 in the second leg, although they lost 7-5 on aggregate. The win was a morale boost, with players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressing Tudor.

Tudor believes this performance shows Tottenham can win their fight for Premier League survival. They'll now focus on their relegation battle, facing Nottingham Forest on Sunday. “The sensations are mixed, but it was a very good performance,” Tudor said 

Tottenham's season has been a real struggle, but they've finally shown some spark under interim boss Igor Tudor. After losing their first four games, they've managed to pick up a point against Liverpool and a win against Galatasaray, giving fans a glimmer of hope.

The 1-1 draw at Anfield on Sunday was a gritty performance, and it showed that the team is slowly finding its footing. They're currently just one point above the relegation zone, but every point counts at this stage. 

“The sensations are mixed. You don't like to not get through but it was a very good performance. It was a beautiful sensation on the pitch with the fans who were really there together with the team from the first moment,” Tudor said.

“Congratulations to the players. It is positive, commitment, lot of running, lots of good things.

“The energy was really nice from the first moment. The players believed and you could see the performance at this moment is very important. In the last two games we have improved.”

‘The fans were together with us until the last minute.’ 🤍

Igor Tudor's match reaction 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/7v8CsOTrv6

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 18, 2026

Tottenham's Champions League exit wasn't unexpected, given their 5-2 thrashing in the first leg against Atletico Madrid. However, their performance in the second leg was a marked improvement, showcasing a more impressive display than they've managed in months. This boost comes at a great time, with relegation rivals Nottingham Forest visiting for a crucial Premier League clash on Sunday.

The match against Atletico Madrid showed signs of life in Tottenham, and they'll look to build on that momentum against Forest. Nottingham Forest, currently 17th in the Premier League, will be looking to take advantage of Tottenham's struggles. 

Nottingham Forest, currently fourth-bottom, are just one point behind Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League standings. Despite the pressure, interim Tottenham manager Igor Tudor insists this weekend's match against Forest won't define their season.

Tudor's side are looking to bounce back from a 7-5 aggregate defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and they'll be hoping to build on their recent 1-1 draw with Liverpool. Forest, on the other hand, will be looking to take advantage of Tottenham's struggles.

“It is an important game on Sunday but it will not decide anything yet, it will be decided over the last three games,” he said.

“Today we had 11 players and on the bench (Lucas) Bergvall, (Destiny) Udogie and Conor (Gallagher), the doctors said they could only play 20 minutes.

“That makes the value of this performance even better. It was nice to take the victory and important for morale.”

Victory on the night, but our Champions League campaign comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/B0XhnQKSBB

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) March 18, 2026

Atletico Madrid will face Spanish rivals Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals after scraping past Tottenham 7-5 on aggregate. Diego Simeone's side looked shaky defending their three-goal first-leg lead and will need to step up against La Liga leaders Barca, who thrashed Newcastle 7-2.

Atletico striker Julian Alvarez, who scored his side's opener, admitted it wasn't their best performance. “We didn't play our best,” he said. 

“We knew it wasn't going to be easy, but we had a few chances to win it as well. The important thing is that we're through to the quarters, we're among the best eight, so now it's time to enjoy that,” he said.

“We knew we were coming in with a three-goal advantage, which let us stay a bit calmer, but we also knew it was going to be a tough match.

“We didn't end up winning but the important thing was we went through. We have to think about improving and keep focusing on what's coming.”