Tottenham fans demand 'emergency action' as Igor Tudor left on the brink after 5-2 drubbing

Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 11/03/2026

- 08:40

The nightmare began after just six minutes when Igor Tudor's decision to give reserve goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky his first start since October immediately backfired

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust has demanded "emergency action" following the club's disastrous 5-2 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last-16 first leg.

Interim manager Igor Tudor now holds an unwanted place in Spurs history, becoming the first head coach to suffer defeat in each of his opening four matches in charge.


The humiliating loss in the Spanish capital extended another grim record, with Tottenham enduring six consecutive defeats for the first time in the club's existence.

Tudor, who has been at the helm for just 25 days, declined to address questions regarding his position when speaking after the match.

A statement from THST read: "Tonight’s performance and result is a total disgrace. It’s symptomatic of the abysmal state of things at Spurs right now.

"From the January transfer window to the management appointments, the lack of leadership and the total absence of anyone with a Spurs pedigree informing these decisions. Where is the Daring to Do? Where are the Echoes of Glory?

"Emergency action is needed as right now we are sleepwalking off the edge of a cliff. Being a Spurs fan has never been so difficult but supporters will not sit by and watch the club continue to decline.

"At the very least those in Madrid should have their match tickets refunded. But all we really care about is that the club make us proud. We are here to support the team and be the 12th man. But we all deserve so much more."

Igor Tudor

Igor Tudor now holds an unwanted place in Spurs history

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The nightmare began after just six minutes when Tudor's decision to give reserve goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky his first start since October immediately backfired.

Kinsky badly mishit an attempted crossfield pass, allowing Marcos Llorente to slot the ball home.

Micky van de Ven then lost his footing in the 14th minute, enabling Antoine Griezmann to double the hosts' advantage.

Barely 92 seconds later, disaster struck again when Van de Ven played the ball back to Kinsky, who produced another dreadful miscue that gifted Julian Alvarez the simplest of finishes.

Tottenham

Igor Tudor's bold decision backfired immediately after Tottenham made a glaring error vs Atletico

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The Czech goalkeeper buried his face in the turf before being withdrawn after 17 minutes following a conversation between captain Cristian Romero and Tudor.

When asked whether Romero had influenced the decision to remove Kinsky, Tudor was emphatic: "My decision of course."

Pressed on whether he deserved to continue in his role, the Croatian offered a terse response: "No comment."

Tudor instead insisted his focus remained solely on the squad rather than his own position.

Antonin Kinsky

The Czech goalkeeper buried his face in the turf before being withdrawn after 17 minutes following a conversation between captain Cristian Romero and Tudor

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GETTY

He added: "It is not a topic for me. It is not about my job, it is about how to help the team. It will be always be about that.

"I recognise what we are and which problems we have. I recognise that every game, something happens. Sometimes it is very difficult to explain."

Robin Le Normand extended Atletico's lead to 4-0 in the 22nd minute before Spurs finally showed some resistance.

Pedro Porro pulled one back, and Dominic Solanke added another on either side of Alvarez completing his brace in 55 minutes.