This is what Igor Tudor must do to get Tottenham job, catastrophic events still on cards
Igor Tudor has a huge task on his hands at Tottenham.
The 47-year-old has been confirmed by Spurs until the end of the season on an interim basis to replace Thomas Frank.
The Dane had a disastrous spell in N17, as Tottenham sit 16th in the Premier League table and remain only five points clear of the relegation zone.
Dropping down to the Championship is a very real possibility, and the new head coach needs to see a quick response from the players in the coming weeks.
Despite not experiencing major success at the top level of European football, Tim Sherwood argues that Tudor has to win the Champions League if he wants to be considered for the permanent manager position in the summer.
Igor Tudor must win Champions League to become permanent Tottenham manager
Tudor is taking charge of his first training session on Monday, and he has six days to prepare for the North London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Croatian manager has had spells at Marseille, Lazio, and Juventus in recent years, but he has never completed a calendar year in charge of either of the three teams.
It shows that he is a quick-fix appointment, and Tudor will have to achieve the impossible if he wants the job permanently.
| Stat | Tudor |
| Games managed | 341 |
| Wins | 156 |
| Draws | 81 |
| Losses | 104 |
Speaking on Sky Sports News on 16 February, Sherwood believes that Tudor will have to do a remarkable job if he wants any credit.
He said: “He needs to win the Champions League and 90 per cent of the games in the Premier League if he wants any chance of getting the job on a permanent basis.
“That job is going to [Mauricio] Pochettino if he wants it. The downside for Tudor is so catastrophic as Tottenham could be in the Championship next season.
“I get shivers thinking about it. If Spurs finish 12th in the league, Tudor won’t get any credit for that.”
The Lilywhites may have won the Europa League last season, but going one better feels impossible at the moment.
Tottenham’s next five Premier League games will define their season
Although winning the Champions League will immortalise him, Tudor’s main focus should be to lead Spurs clear of the relegation zone.
After the Arsenal match on Sunday, Spurs face Fulham, Crystal Palace, Liverpool, and Nottingham Forest.
Tottenham need three or four wins to secure survival, and that match against 17th-placed Forest on 22 March will be a perfect chance to distance themselves from the bottom of the table.
It will be tough for Tudor to balance European and domestic football, but the players have no excuses.
This campaign has ultimately gone to waste, and barring a miracle, it will go down as one of the worst seasons in their history.
The least Tudor can do is to secure big victories in the next five league games to ease the fears of relegation from every Spurs fan.
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