- Igor Tudor clearly a misfit for Premier League football
- The Croatian manager is likely to depart Spurs after a short stint
- Tudor’s man management under the microscope after recent incident
The Premier League is inarguably the most competitive league in the world. Igor Tudor, for one, has certainly had firsthand experience of that. The Croatian tactician was brought in by Tottenham Hotspur mid-season to replace Thomas Frank.
However, following Tudor’s arrival in February, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. Tottenham now find themselves near the bottom of the table in 17th position in the Premier League, having won none of their last five league matches and at real risk of relegation if they continue in this fashion for long.
In seven matches as Tottenham manager, Tudor has lost five, won one, and drawn one, which frankly isn’t up to the standards the Lilywhites expected. Additionally, the tactician has recorded the worst start in Spurs history for a manager, losing four games in his first four matches. So what could have gone wrong for the Croatian?
Why Igor Tudor’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur manager was a recipe for disaster
Lack of Premier League experience
Tottenham should have considered some key factors before giving the green light to Tudor’s appointment. First of all, he hasn’t had any experience managing a Premier League club before.
Even the best managers find it difficult to get their footing in this league. So it’s not surprising that the Croatian has struggled to succeed in such a short time. The Spurs team was already going through a difficult period before Tudor’s arrival, which has only worsened due to the new tactician’s lack of experience.
Moreover, Tudor’s reliance on a back-three system has not proven effective in the EPL, forcing him to adopt tactics outside his comfort zone and further limiting his impact.
Poor man-management from the get-go
Although Tottenham are struggling badly, a lack of quality players in the squad is hardly the issue. Some of the best players in their respective positions are currently at Tudor’s disposal. That said, the Croatian’s man-management has been questionable.
The recent incident involving Antonín Kinský against Atlético Madrid is a clear example of that. The young keeper was having a nightmare against the Spanish side and conceded three quick goals.
But instead of supporting him during that difficult time, Tudor decided to substitute Kinsky in the 17th minute, which drew sharp criticism from pundits, fans, and top players.
Additionally, the Croatian has been seen as having a negative approach, with growing belief in the dressing room that the manager lacks faith in the current Spurs players.
So, the fact of the matter is that the present Spurs setup is a recipe for disaster. Sooner or later, Tudor will have to go and be replaced by a more player-friendly, experienced manager at the helm. There have been reports linking Roberto De Zerbi and Mauricio Pochettino as top targets to replace him, but that’s a discussion for another day.
