Igor Tudor was brought in by Tottenham as a last-ditch attempt to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Despite turning previous clubs’ form around, Tudor has lost his first four games, with a humiliating Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid highlighting Spurs’ struggles.
Tottenham’s problems run deep. Injuries, recruitment issues, and previous coaching spells under Ange Postecoglu and Thomas Frank have left the club in a challenging position.
Tudor’s tactics, however, appear to have made things worse.
Spurs now play in a flexible 5-2-3 or 5-3-2 shape, depending on the wingers’ positioning. The system relies on man-to-man pressure across the pitch, with players expected to win the ball high and attack quickly.
While Tudor’s approach worked in less intense leagues, Premier League teams have higher technical quality. Players can bypass markers with dribbling or quick passes, and teams are physically stronger, making man-to-man pressing riskier.
For this press to succeed, it requires coordinated, aggressive effort. Any delay gives the opposition space and creates a man advantage. Spurs’ players, accustomed to Frank’s more passive style, sometimes hesitate to press, leaving gaps.
The 5-3-2 shape also leaves wide areas exposed. Atletico, Fulham, and Crystal Palace have exploited these spaces by positioning players in wide and deep areas, stretching Spurs’ defensive shape and opening up space for attacks.
Tudor’s tactics, designed to control central attacks, have unintentionally increased Tottenham’s defensive vulnerabilities, contributing to one of their most difficult seasons in recent memory.
