Tottenham Hotspur interim coach Igor Tudor says his side will head into the clash against Arsenal on Sunday with full determination to take all three points.
The former Juventus manager was appointed until the end of the season last week, replacing Thomas Frank who was sacked after a poor run of results.
Spurs currently occupy the 16th position on the Premier League standings and are only five points above the drop zone.
However, Tudor’s task will not be easy with a clash against title hopefuls Arsenal in his first game in charge this weekend.
“Big week, important games. This derby is a fantastic game to play. We want to play this game in a way that our fans will like”, Tudor said during his first interview since becoming Tottenham’s coach.
“I’m going to give everything that we have in the right way, brave but in the same way intelligent and smart to achieve what we want, and that’s the victory.
And about winning or drawing, the truth is I never saw the coach who said that he can play for a draw. It’s not possible. So offensive football, yes, but smart, that’s the key”, he added.
Tottenham have endured a poor campaign in the Premier League this season, despite winning three of their first four matches.
Meanwhile, Tudor will be without some of the club’s best legs due to injuries and must tailor his system to the available players.
Spurs have several players out of action, including the likes of James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall.
“The team needs, first of all, to get some confidence, to get some courage, but also in the same way, the concrete things in the pitch”, Tudor continued.
“I’m coming here knowing the situation is not easy. There is no time to find excuses.
“What I said from the first day here [is] each of us, each of the players need to give something more, something extra, because the position of the club in this moment is not [one] that anybody can accept. Every fan of Tottenham cannot accept the situation. We are aware of that, but it’s not enough to just be aware of that”, the Croatian concluded.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
