Igor Tudor recently disclosed his rationale behind a controversial decision during a high-stakes Champions League match in Madrid. The interim Tottenham manager explained that he deliberately chose not to comfort Antonin Kinsky after an early substitution, aiming to prevent an already tense situation from escalating.
Tudor made the tough call to replace Kinsky when Tottenham found themselves trailing 3-0 just 15 minutes into the game against Atletico. Despite the harshness of the decision and the subsequent public scrutiny, Tudor stands by his choice and his approach immediately following the incident.
“When you make such changes, the coach is in a lose-lose situation,” Tudor commented. “On one hand, people criticize you for putting him in the game, saying you’ve ‘killed the guy.’ On the other hand, not approaching him can also be misconstrued.”
He explained his hesitation to approach Kinsky right away, fearing that any gesture might exacerbate the situation. “Maybe he was upset at that moment. Sometimes, it’s better to hold off and address things in private, like at half-time, when emotions have settled,” Tudor noted.
During the break, Tudor did have a conversation with Kinsky, and they shared a reassuring hug. “We dealt with it then,” Tudor confirmed, indicating that they resolved the issue privately.
Igor Tudor (right) has revealed why he blanked Antonin Kinsky (centre) after substituting him after just 15 minutes against Atletico Madrid
Tudor revealed the two shared a hug at half-time, claiming the situation ‘finished there’
As Spurs prepare for their upcoming match against Liverpool, Guglielmo Vicario is set to return as the starting goalkeeper. The team faces a challenging defensive lineup with Cristian Romero among the 11 senior players sidelined due to injury and Micky van de Ven serving a suspension following a recent red card against Crystal Palace.
‘We will see who is ready,’ said Tudor. ‘Who can play in which position or who will go there and be a victim because we are missing players.’
Spurs have no wins in 11 Premier League games. The interim boss has lost his first four since replacing Thomas Frank and is already under pressure as chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange draw up contingency plans.
Tudor predicts the relegation battle will go all the way to the end of the season, however, by which time Spurs hope to be stronger with some players back from injury.
Romero, Joao Palhinha and Destiny Udogie are expected to be back for Nottingham Forest next weekend. Rodrigo Bentancur should be back next month, followed by Mohamed Kudus and Lucas Bergvall.
‘Stay calm, keep working more, don’t lose your head,’ said Tudor. ‘Wait until players come back to be more complete. Then will come the decisive games because this relegation battle will be decided in the last games.
‘I don’t know how much but it will be decided there. When these battles come, we need to be ready. That I believe 100 per cent, so our goal is to keep working, wait for this moment and be ready for this moment.’
Tudor also dismissed the sense behind Tottenham fans demanding a ticket refund for the thrashing at Atletico Madrid.
The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust (THST) issued a statement following the 5-2 defeat in Spain, branding the team’s performance a ‘total disgrace’ and calling for the club to refund the cost of tickets.
Tudor said it was a matter for the club, and added: “Manchester City lose 3-0, Chelsea lose 5-2, every Sunday there are big defeats and if every time you need to refund the money, where is football going? There needs to be good sense in everything in life.”
City lost 3-0 at Real Madrid and Chelsea lost 5-2 at Paris Saint-Germain, both on Wednesday.
Spurs, on the previous night, were 3-0 down inside 15 minutes to Atletico, all three goals courtesy of howler in defence, two by goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky and one by Micky van de Ven.
‘I apologised for the first 15 minutes because it was something big,’ said Tudor. ‘Something big can happen. You cannot control this. It is something extraordinary. I don’t like usually to apologise but I did this time because of these 15 minutes, but all the rest I’ve got nothing to apologise for.
‘I like the players how they behaved after. In the second half, they were trying, they ran but, in this moment, when you are in a problem so big it looks like nothing is enough.’
The THST’s post-Madrid statement said the performance had been ‘symptomatic of the abysmal state of things at Spurs’ pointing at transfers, managerial appointments, a lack of leadership and understanding of the club’s values and identity.
‘At the very least those in Madrid should have their match tickets refunded,’ they added.
Manchester City players refunded the cost of tickets for 374 of their fans who travelled to the Arctic Circle to see them lose 3-1 at Bodo/Glimt in January, at a cost of almost £10,000.
Spurs have shown no sign yet of making a similar gesture. They took about 3,400 fans to Madrid’s Metropolitano which at £43.50 per ticket would be a total refund close to £150,000.
