Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Mon 23 March 2026 17:30, UK

Tottenham Hotspur can’t keep hiding behind excuses as they limp towards relegation.

Igor Tudor’s side fell to a dismal 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, leaving them languishing just above the relegation zone.

Spurs are a club in disarray, as has been the case for years, stretching back to the departure of Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.

Ange Postecoglou, Antonio Conte and others have all criticised those behind the scenes at the North London club, offering valid points as to why the Lilywhites are unable to compete with those at the top of the Premier League.

With fresh doubts over Tudor’s Tottenham future, Spurs simply can’t hide behind disarray off the field and instead must have a long, hard look in the mirror.

Serious mentality issues present once again as Tottenham fall to another embarrassing defeat

After promising showings against both Liverpool and Atletico Madrid, Spurs were greeted by a fantastic supporter showing outside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Though as has been the case for large parts of the season, the players flattered to deceive on the pitch.

Tudor was brought in to oversee an uptick in form, given his firefighter reputation. Though, the players simply have not bought into his ideas.

But that in itself is a common occurrence in North London. The simple fact of the matter is that the current group is more than happy to uproot their manager themselves, as they continue to let themselves down on the pitch – despite the immense support from those in the stands.

The end result of this season will be a miniscule part of many of the players’ respective careers, given that a large majority will be moving on to pastures new over the summer, irrespective of what division Tottenham find themselves in next term.

The criticisms of the hierarchy are more than valid, but the players must not go without blame.

Tottenham have sleepwalked into their current position

For years, Tottenham have operated differently to the other clubs among the ‘big six’.

Former boss Postecoglou raised questions regarding wages, while Conte delivered a passionate rant before his 2023 departure aimed at the overall direction of the club – or lack of it.

This has resulted in the current situation, with Tudor brought in with the goal of guiding the club to safety, something that the squad do not seem to be too fussed about themselves.

The current playing squad is an amalgamation of multiple ideas, with the club oscillating between different managerial styles both in terms of man management and the style of play itself.

But this simply does not excuse the showings on the pitch.

It does not excuse Cristian Romero looking to take matters into his own hands and lead the attack, Micky van de Ven’s poor attitude as of late, nor does it excuse the general reaction to Tudor’s appointment.

Tottenham have a squad full of seasoned international professionals; it isn’t a matter of quality. The only way that the club will crawl out of the current mess is if those on the pitch can band together for more than just two matches – one of which saw the result out of sight after the 5-2 demolition in Madrid a week before.

The criticisms of the hierarchy from anyone associated with the club is valid, but those on the pitch require a long look at themselves.