Sunday afternoons North London Derby marked **Igor Tudor**’s first match as Tottenham Hotspur boss.
However, the result culminated in a 4-1 loss for his Spurs side after a disallowed Randal Kolo Muani goal and an assault on the Tottenham defence.
First match in charge
In the post-match press conference Tudor opened by explaining how “it was too much, Arsenal for us in this moment with the problems we have.”
Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League table, whilst Tottenham are behind in 16th.
Tudor came into the club after the sacking of former boss Thomas Frank in February, and stated that from the moment he joined he has tried to resolve the issues Spurs are currently facing.
“Why we are not able to do is the question we resolve.
“I speak from day one at the club, I come here to resolve the problems.
“You believe that in three or four trainings you will do your best, but when the game starts you don’t know what will happen because it is like this.”
Motivations for Tottenham
Tudor explained that despite the match being a derby, and so providing motivation for the players, ‘there are other things that you cannot change in three or four training sessions’, saying:
“It is a team who is built by years, choosing the right players and working hard on the mentality on brain sharpness, on second balls, of physicality, of quality, of everything.”
The Croatian also emphasised the importance of Tottenham having a goal for the future, stating:
“What is the goal of this club, what is the goal of this team, what is this goal of this coach, these players, this staff.
“To become serious – serious, not just a group of 20 players, and the medicine is you look in the mirror.
“Each of us look in the mirror and really try, really start to change the habits. Working hard is the only way.”
Igor Tudor may have experienced defeat in his first match as head coach, but the Spurs boss was keen to look towards the future (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Looking forwards
Regarding what was told to the Spurs players post-match, Tudor said:
“I saw the passion, I saw the will.
“So I was not angry because they wanted to do but then they were not able to do in this moment the things.
“They wanted to do all what we prepared so I said ‘that is good’ but we need to understand which moment we are now because we are not able to do.”
With only 11 matches left for his side until the culmination of the 2025/26 Premier League season, Tudor expressed confidence in the remainder of the season, but maintained that changed must be seen.
“This was not a perfect team to play the first game after three or four sessions, but in one way we need to see something good. If I can tell this, you know. Something good to see where we need to be.”