in the post-match press conference<\/a>, and the Croatian admitted that while Arsenal proved to be too much to handle, there\u2019s a lot of work that can still be done to improve the level of the squad going forward.<\/p>\n\u201cBoth things. [There\u2019s a] big gap in this specific moment between the two teams. It was too much Arsenal for us in this moment with the problems we have. Also it\u2019s nice to understand where we are because you prepare in the best possible way then there is the game to show you reality. So it\u2019s nice from one point of view so each of us understand and come, as I said the players, stay quiet they come on Tuesday and restart after these three or four training sessions to start to work harder than we did until now. To change our habits, to change the state of mind which is now as a team. It is the only way to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tottenham weren\u2019t abject against Arsenal. While on the pitch they didn\u2019t look substantially different in attack than they did under Thomas Frank, they had a sense of intent about them that seemed to be missing under the recently-departed Dane. Even so, the defensive performance was at times suspect, with Tudor suggesting it wasn\u2019t that the team wasn\u2019t trying, it\u2019s that the team simply couldn\u2019t get the job done this time. Tudor implied that the squad, critically injured and under a great deal of pressure, will be able to counter the pressures against it through hard work, introspection, and belief.<\/p>\n
\u201c[There were too many] problems in this moment to let this level of team not punish you. Because you wanted to go to press high but to press high from back you need to jump so if you are late and don\u2019t take the ball around there, also with the ball. So we prepare to press high but we didn\u2019t take the ball. So we need more time to be in a physical moment and physical situation that we can go strong and take the ball. Now we are not in that moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven with the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident in the team. So we wanted and prepared to do the things but there is an opponent, there is a reality today. So I\u2019m very sad and very angry and everything but in one way it is also good to understand where is our goal. 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. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nobody likes to lose a North London Derby. It sucks to lose to your biggest rivals no matter the circumstances, but considering the relative statuses of both teams, and the fact that Spurs are in the position where they are with a new interim head coach and a relegation battle, Sunday\u2019s match was a free hit. Tudor suggested that he\u2019s learned a few things about his new team in the process, but there\u2019s a clear indication that the challenge was simply too great. <\/p>\n
\u201c<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>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 \u2018that is good\u2019 but we need to understand which moment we are now because we are not able to do. Why we are not able to do is the question we resolve and I speak from day one at the club I come here to resolve the problems. You believe that in three\/four trainings you will do your best but when the game starts you don\u2019t know what will happen because it is like this.<\/p>\n\u201cBut as I said before, Tuesday I [came] in [and] everyone [was] there. Stay humble \u2014 that is the key. Stay humble that is the key of each of us and trying to become, what I said before, a team. A Squad. A hard-working team. That is the only goal we have now in this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The real work begins now, and Spurs will need to rise to the challenge when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Sunday, March 1. It\u2019s now about taking small positive things from the Arsenal loss, working hard, and building upon those successes to get better, and Tudor thinks there\u2019s enough time to save the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, there is enough time. As I said, 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. You know, where is the goal? What is the level? What is, you know. So today, totally different worlds. I need to be honest. Two totally different worlds. Psychological and physical worlds, levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
Igor Tudor knows the job. He knows what it will take, and the amount of work required. He also knows that he will have a couple of players back available to him this week, with more on the way. The challenge isn\u2019t lessened by the reality \u2014 Spurs still need to do the job and perform on the pitch. But I take a certain amount of comfort from his response to yesterday\u2019s loss. Now we need to see how the players respond.<\/p>\n
\u200bhttps:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/articles\/tudor-big-gap-between-spurs-133952999.html<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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