Tottenham Hotspur's crisis deepened on Tuesday night as they suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat at home to Atletico Madrid, leaving them all but out of the Champions League and facing a real threat of relegation. The loss was the club's sixth consecutive defeat in all competitions, a first in their history, and extended a winless run in the Premier League that dates back to December 28.
Interim manager Igor Tudor has come under intense scrutiny after becoming the first Spurs manager to lose his first four games in charge, conceding 14 goals in the process. The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust has called for emergency action, with many fans demanding Tudor's dismissal before Sunday's crucial trip to Anfield to face Liverpool.
The club's decision-makers, chief executive Vinai Venkatesham and sporting director Johan Lange, face a critical end-of-season reckoning. Having removed Daniel Levy as chairman with a promise of greater on-pitch success, their credibility is now on the line with only nine Premier League games remaining. Spurs could find themselves in the relegation zone by the time they kick off at Liverpool.
Tudor's tough-love approach has clearly failed, with chopping and changing tactics and personnel leaving the squad without a cohesive plan. His handling of young goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who was substituted after just 17 minutes against Atletico following a 3-0 deficit, has raised further questions about his man-management skills.
Despite the gloom, there are glimmers of hope. Captain Cristian Romero, while occasionally outspoken, has the ability to inspire his teammates and was seen consoling Kinsky after his mistakes. A kind fixture list ahead, including games against relegation rivals Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leeds, offers a chance to turn things around, especially with an easing injury crisis after the March international break.
The club's quiet January transfer window suggested relegation was not on their radar two months ago. Now, with time running out, Tottenham must act decisively to avoid dropping into the Championship for the first time since 1978.
