Pressure is quickly intensifying on Igor Tudor at Tottenham Hotspur, and his troubled start in north London is beginning to mirror the turbulent period he previously experienced at Olympique de Marseille.
Spurs reached another worrying low on Thursday night after a damaging 3–1 home defeat to Crystal Palace. The loss left Tottenham hovering just above the relegation zone and extended their miserable run of results. Tudor, who took over following the February departure of Thomas Frank after a sequence of disappointing performances, has yet to turn things around. The Croatian coach has now lost his first three matches in charge, raising fresh concerns about the club’s direction as the season enters its decisive phase.
For Tudor, the situation may feel uncomfortably familiar. During his spell with Marseille between 2022 and 2023, the 47-year-old guided the team to a respectable third-place finish in Ligue 1. However, despite that achievement, the atmosphere around the club became increasingly hostile, prompting him to step down after just one season. He later admitted that the constant pressure had left him mentally drained.
His time in southern France was marked by ongoing tension with several members of the squad. Many players had developed a close relationship with former coach Jorge Sampaoli, who had resigned following disagreements over the club’s transfer policy. When Tudor was appointed as Sampaoli’s successor, the reaction inside the dressing room was far from warm, and early indications suggested the relationship between manager and players could become strained.
Pre-season reportedly became a major flashpoint, with disagreements quickly escalating. Brazilian midfielder Gerson was said to have clashed with Tudor during a heated exchange and was subsequently excluded from training sessions. On the same day, full-back Jordan Amavi was also removed from the first-team group after a disagreement with the coach. Meanwhile, winger Cengiz Ünder reportedly challenged Tudor as well, although he was not expelled from the squad in the same way.
Much of the unrest stemmed from Tudor’s strict managerial approach. Known for demanding extreme physical intensity, the Croatian made it clear that relentless effort was a non-negotiable requirement. Outlining his philosophy at the time, he emphasized that players in his teams must run constantly, warning that those who repeatedly failed to meet his training standards would eventually face consequences.
There were also unusual developments behind the scenes. Former Italian international Mauro Camoranesi joined Tudor’s coaching staff and was introduced to the squad as the manager’s “right arm.” However, his involvement lasted only a week before he suddenly left the role, adding further instability to an already tense environment.
After Tudor eventually departed Marseille — before later spending a brief period with SS Lazio — club president Pablo Longoria spoke about the intense pressure surrounding the manager. Longoria suggested Tudor had been caught in the middle of internal power struggles, with some factions pushing for Sampaoli’s return while others wanted players to have more influence. According to the president, the pre-season atmosphere felt as tense as a decisive late-season match, while pressure from fan groups only added to the chaos.
Now at Tottenham, Tudor appears ready to take a similarly firm stance if necessary. After the defeat to Palace, the Croatian hinted that he could soon make difficult choices about which players are truly willing to commit to his methods. While acknowledging the disappointing result, he insisted he had seen signs of improvement and now needed to identify those prepared to follow his vision.
Using a nautical metaphor, Tudor explained that the squad must move forward in the same direction, suggesting that anyone unwilling to adapt to his path could be left behind.
Tottenham’s task will not become any easier in the coming days. Spurs are set to travel to Spain to face Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie. Soon after, they return to domestic action with a daunting away trip to Liverpool FC — a match that could further test Tudor’s authority as he tries to halt Tottenham’s worrying slide.
