READ!! Every word spoken by Totenham hotspurs new manager following derby defeat

Igor Tudor spoke to the media at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after our 4-1 loss against Arsenal in his first match in charge in the Premier League on Sunday.

Here’s what he had to say…

Does this result say more about the problems you face at Spurs or the quality of Arsenal?

Igor: “Both things. Both things. Big gap in this specific moment between the two teams. It was too much Arsenal for us in this moment with the problems we have. Also, it’s nice to understand where we are, because you prepare in the best possible way then there is the game to show you reality. So it’s nice from one point of view so each of us understand and come, as I said the players, stay quiet, they come on Tuesday and restart after these three or four training sessions to start to work harder than we did until now, to change our habits, to change the state of mind which is now as a team. It is the only way to work.”

What did you make of your team’s defending?

Igor: “Too much problems in this moment in time that this level of team will not punish you. Because you wanted to go to press high, but to press high from back you need to jump, so if you are late and don’t take the ball around there, also with the ball… so we prepare to press high but we didn’t take the ball. We need more time to be in a physical moment and physical situation that we can go strong and take the ball. Now we are not in that moment. Also, even with the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident in the team. We wanted and prepared to do the things but there is an opponent, but there is a reality today. I’m very sad and very angry and everything but in one way it is also good to understand where is our goal. What is the goal of this club? What is the goal of this team? What is this goal of this coach, these players, this staff? To become serious. Serious, not just a group of 20 players, and the medicine is you look in the mirror. Each of us look in the mirror and really try, really start to change the habits – working hard is the only way.”

What did you say to the players after the game?

Igor: “I saw the passion. I saw the will. I was not angry because they wanted to do but then they were not able to do in this moment the things. They wanted to do all what we prepared so I said, ‘that is good’ but we need to understand which moment we are now, because we are not able to do. Why we are not able to do is the question we resolve and I speak from the first day at the club, we come here to resolve the problems. You believe that in three, four trainings you will do your best but when the game starts you don’t know what will happen, because it is like this. As I said before, Tuesday, come in, everyone there, stay humble that is the key. Stay humble that is the key of each of us and trying to become, what I said before, a team, a squad, a hard-working team. That is the only goal we have now in this moment.”

After this game, is the job bigger than you thought?

Igor: “You never know, because this is a situation that I never saw. That we have 10 players plus three players. It’s very, I don’t know which word is best to use, but I like because I see the players want to do. The players want, okay they are in this position, now we need to restart again and wait for the players who are out. For sure, that’s also a big reason. But it is how it is.”

Did the players need a game like this to show the reality?

Igor: “No, we didn’t need this game for sure, but this happened in this moment. You know, this team Arsenal is probably the best team now in the world in this moment. So, it was not easy. You know, I can also give to us excuses because if we wanted, if we were thinking today that is derby and derby can give something more. I also play a lot of derby. I was coach also for derby. For sure, the derby give you something more, but of mentality, of motivation. But there are also other things that you cannot change in three or four training sessions. It’s impossible. So, it’s a team who is built by years, choosing the right players and working hard on the mentality on brain sharpness, on second balls, of physicality, of quality, of everything. You know, mentality. So, it is how it is.”

There are 11 games left this season – is there enough time to make the changes you want to make?

Igor: “Of course, there is enough time. As I said, this was not a perfect team to play the first game after three or four (training sessions), but in one way we need to see something good. If I can tell this, you know, something good to see where we need to be. You know, where is the goal? What is the level? So, today, totally different worlds. I need to be honest. Two totally different worlds, psychological and physical worlds, levels.”

What did you think about Randal Kolo Muani’s disallowed goal (at 3-1) – could the game have been different?

Igor: “Oh, you know about this, touching the players in the box. It’s always about referees here, you know. They have their eyes who, you know, they make decisions every time, you know. How they feel. How they see. So, it’s nothing. Sometimes they leave. Sometimes, no. This is how it is.”

Are you surprised that the club didn’t sign more players in January?

Igor: “No, it’s not the moment.”

Any injured players you’re hoping to have back for the Fulham game, Porro and Danso perhaps?

Igor: “Probably two of them, we hope.”

How important is that for your whole defence because you’re playing two midfielders in defence…

Igor: “We’re going to see now what is best for the team.”

Randal Kolo Muani scored his first Premier League goal, what’s he got to do to have more moments like that?

Igor: “He made a good game today. We wanted with Dom and Richy to give some new energy. He was not out… because he played very good. It’s a good start and I’m happy for him.”