Europe can help Spurs improve, but Premier League priority: Tudor / Photo: Thomas COEX - AFP
Europe can help Spurs improve, but Premier League priority: Tudor
Tottenham coach Igor Tudor said Monday trying to climb up the Premier League table was his team's true priority on the eve of their Champions League last 16 clash against Atletico Madrid.
The Croatian has overseen three defeats in his three league matches at the helm, with Spurs embroiled in a relegation battle, sitting 16th, just one point above the drop zone.
Tudor said he hoped the European double-header against Diego Simeone's Atletico could help his side improve, even if a deep run in the Champions League was not the main target.
"(We must) focus on us, we're playing against a team that has a story in this Champions League, they have experience, they have quality," Tudor told reporters ahead of Tuesday's game.
"We need to do our best in terms of that we need to grow. Our first aim is the Premier League, this should be said publicly, it's a normal thing.
"This (competition) is something extra, but that doesn't mean we don't want to pass (through), that we don't want to go to the next round."
In between the two legs against Atletico Spurs visit Liverpool in the Premier League, and after the second leg they host Nottingham Forest, 17th, in a crucial clash.
Tudor said the Atletico clash required a change in mindset, which might be refreshing for a team that has lost five consecutive games in the English top flight.
"Every game is important... we need to be focused on us, to grow, so it can be an opportunity," said the coach.
"A totally different mentality aspect can be used in this kind of game, so maybe this can help us, to see which problems we have.
"I believe these kind of games can help us to switch in the right way, but always focussed on us growing as a team. To do things better."
Tudor said it was not easy to change the players' approach quickly, having arrived under a month ago to replace Thomas Frank.
"I saw that the more time passes, the better the sessions are, the more quality in everything," he said.
"Sometimes old habits take more time than expected to change. We the staff are speaking about this every day, how fast can we make the changes, sometimes it's not easy...
"It's not easy to change the things you're doing for months or a year. Something is moving."
Tottenham have several players out injured but Tudor said Djed Spence was fit to play and the team would be boosted by centre-back Cristian Romero's return from suspension.
"I'm sure tomorrow he'll be a leader like he always is," added Tudor.
H.Davenport--NG
