Tottenham Hotspur's winless run has now reached 10 games after suffering consecutive defeats in Igor Tudor's first two matches as manager. After a disappointing 2-0 loss to Fulham, Tudor expressed concerns about his team's attacking, defending, and physical capabilities. This drastic change in tone marks a shift from his initial confidence when he first took charge, with relegation worries now beginning to surface.
A Lack of Attacking Threat
Since the start of the year, Tottenham's attacking woes have been evident, ranking bottom in the Premier League for both dispossessions and losses of possession. Tudor highlighted the team's inability to generate dangerous attacks, pointing out that Spurs struggle to progress the ball into the final third, with only 35% of their possession sequences reaching that area—worse than even bottom-tier teams like Burnley and Wolves.
Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood echoed Tudor's sentiments, noting Fulham’s superior positional play. "Fulham had players in the right positions to open up the pitch," he explained, contrasting it with Tottenham’s ineffective positioning. The lack of creativity and efficiency in Spurs' play makes it no surprise they struggle to take the lead in matches.
Defensive Struggles and Lost Duels
Tudor also expressed frustration with his team's defensive fragility. Against Fulham, Tottenham struggled to win duels, claiming just 40% of the contested challenges in the first half, which allowed Fulham to gain a 2-0 lead. "You put the players on the pitch, but then you lack defending, running, and winning the duels," Tudor lamented. His frustration underscored how Tottenham is consistently late to challenges and unable to match the intensity of their opponents.
Physical Condition: A Key Issue
One of Tudor's main concerns was his team's physical condition. He acknowledged that Tottenham’s lack of fitness was a contributing factor to their underperformance. "Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation," he said. The team's physical state has been compromised by a busy schedule and the absence of key players, leading to fatigue. Tudor emphasized that the lack of fitness affects both attacking and defensive responsibilities, especially when it comes to pressing high up the pitch and tracking back to defend.
The Challenges Ahead
The physical demands on the team are only going to increase with the return of the Champions League next week, adding more pressure on the players' already fatigued legs. Tudor faces a tough challenge ahead in revitalizing Tottenham's performances both physically and mentally, as the team battles to turn their fortunes around.
