Ahead of the Champions League round of 16 first leg against Atlético Madrid, Tottenham manager Igor Tudor attended the pre-match press conference and discussed the current situation of the team.
On Thursday evening, you mentioned players who are with you and those who are not. I wonder if tomorrow’s lineup will show us who is on your side?
— First of all, I never said that. From this morning’s training session, some players have regained their fitness. We are pleased that Cristian Romero and Spence are back, but Yves Bissouma and Sosa are still unavailable due to Champions League regulations. Importantly, this is the first time since I arrived that we have so many defensive options.
In the previous three games, we had absences in key positions, and now they are finally back. Tomorrow’s match will be a great contest against an opponent with a completely different style to Premier League teams. It will be a good experience for us.
This is the first time you have been able to select Cristian Romero since you arrived. As a former centre-back, what qualities do you think he brings? How determined is he to help the team turn things around?
— He has missed many games and felt uncomfortable because he couldn’t help the team. Now he is back, having trained intensively over the past two or three weeks, even doing individual fitness work to stay in top condition. We are delighted, and I am sure tomorrow he will be a leader for the team as always and lead everyone in the fight.
How important are these two games against Atlético Madrid?
— Extremely important, of course. As I always say, we need to focus on ourselves and keep growing. This is an opportunity to approach this kind of match with a different attitude. It might help us identify problems and find the right direction. But we must always focus on ourselves and keep improving as a team.
Have you seen more from the players in recent days?
— Over time, training has become better and better, and the quality has improved. Crucially, some important players have returned to the squad. As I said before, changing old habits sometimes takes longer than expected.
That’s also a very interesting point. My staff and I discuss every day how to make changes quickly. It’s not always easy, but we are working on it. When I talk about change and the “boat”, it’s because changing habits built over months or a year is not easy. So some changes are happening, not just superficial ones. We will see the results tomorrow.
You said this match is very important to you, but to some extent it could be a chance to try new things, as you clearly want to focus on the Premier League relegation battle?
— I agree with both points. We need to focus on ourselves, and facing a team with great Champions League experience, we must give everything to grow further. Our top priority is the Premier League, and that must be stated clearly, but that does not mean we do not want to reach the next round.
On Richarlison – he seemed to be recovering when you first arrived. You have used him in all three games, and he scored against Fulham. What do you think of his importance, and is he ready to start again?
— He will start tomorrow.
What do you think of this Atlético Madrid side? What are the key things to watch out for when facing Simeone’s team?
— First of all, the manager’s mentality is crucial. You know his style as a player and as a coach. So this team has excellent mentality, experience and player quality. They can score at any moment and never stop running. They will be a tough opponent, but also a big motivation for us.
Can you tell us more about your view on his mentality?
— We know what kind of person he is. It’s admirable to stay at a club for so many years. I have huge respect for him; he is a fantastic manager.
