Premier League

Every word Igor Tudor said on what he told Tottenham stars after Arsenal defeat with two set to return

By Admin / February 22, 2026

Here’s every single word the Tottenham Hotspur boss said after the derby defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday

Igor Tudor has to discuss a rare debut defeat at his press conference after Tottenham’s 4-1 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Croatian had won his opening match at his five previous clubs but that was not to be the case at Spurs with a north London derby humbling in the second half after the teams went in level at the break.

The opening goal had come in the 32nd minute when Bukayo Saka got into the box and hit a low pass that found Eberechi Eze in plenty of space to take a touch and drill home. However, Spurs got themselves level just 123 seconds later when Randal Kolo Muani dispossessed Declan Rice and raced from out wide and stepped past one challenge before smashing the ball low into the net for the first goal of Tudor’s tenure.

It all fell apart though in the second half when Arsenal scored their second just two minutes in when Viktor Gyokeres found himself with all the time in the world to hit a curling effort from outside the area and into the net.

Kolo Muani had the ball in the net soon after only for it to be ruled out for a push on Gabriel. The visitors then scored again after the hour mark when Spurs seemed to have dealt with Saka in the box only for the loose ball to strike Joao Palhinha’s heel and fall perfectly for Eze to fire home.

The visitors made it four in added time at the end of the game as Gyokeres ran into the box with little resistance and curled an effort past Guglielmo Vicario.

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Our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Tudor after the derby defeat. Here’s the full transcript from the press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

You won your first game in charge at five previous clubs. Does this result show you the scale of the challenge you face or the quality of Arsenal?

Both things. Both things. Big gap in this specific moment between the two teams. It was too much Arsenal for us in this moment with the problems we have. Also it’s nice to understand where we are because you prepare in the best possible way then there is the game to show you reality. So it’s nice from one point of view so each of us understand and come, as I said the players, stay quiet they come on Tuesday and restart after these three or four training sessions to start to work harder than we did until now. To change our habits, to change the state of mind which is now as a team. It is the only way to work.

What did you make of the defensive performance?

Too much problems in this moment to let this level of team will not punish you. Because you wanted to go to press high but to press high from back you need to jump so if you are late and don’t take the ball around there, also with the ball. So we prepare to press high but we didn’t take the ball. So we need more time to be in a physical moment and physical situation that we can go strong and take the ball. Now we are not in that moment.

Even with the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident in the team. So we wanted and prepared to do the things but there is an opponent, there is a reality today. So I’m very sad and very angry and everything but in one way it is also good to understand where is our goal. What is the goal of this club. What is the goal of this team. What is this goal of this coach, these players, this staff. To become serious. Serious, not just a group of 20 players, and the medicine is you look in the mirror. Each of us look in the mirror and really try, really start to change the habits. Working hard is the only way.

What did you tell the players after the game?I saw the passion. I saw the will. So I was not angry because they wanted to do but then they were not able to do in this moment the things. They wanted to do all what we prepared so I said ‘that is good’ but we need to understand which moment we are now because we are not able to do. Why we are not able to do is the question we resolve and I speak from day one at the club I come here to resolve the problems. You believe that in three/four trainings you will do your best but when the game starts you don’t know what will happen because it is like this.

But as I said before, Tuesday I come in. Everyone there. Stay humble that is the key. Stay humble that is the key of each of us and trying to become, what I said before, a team. A Squad. A hard-working team. That is the only goal we have now in this moment.

Is the job bigger than you thought it was?

You never know. You never know because this is a situation that I never saw. That we have 10 players plus three players [available]. So it’s very, I don’t know which word is best to use, but I like because I see the players want to do. The players want [to], okay they are in this position. Now we need to restart again and waiting for the players who are out. For sure, that’s also a big reason. But it is how it is.

Did the players need a game like this to show the reality?

No, we didn’t need this game for sure, but this happened in this moment. You know, this team Arsenal is probably the best team now in the world in this moment. So it was not easy.

You know, I can also give to us excuse because if we wanted, if we were thinking today that is derby and derby can give something more. I also play a lot of derby. I was coach also for derby. For sure, the derby give you something more, but of mentality, of motivation. But there are also other things that you cannot change in three or four training sessions. It’s impossible.

So it’s a team who is built by years, choosing the right players and working hard on the mentality on brain sharpness, on second balls, of physicality, of quality, of everything. You know, mentality. So it is how it is.

There are 11 games left this season. Is there enough time to make the changes you want to make?

Of course, there is enough time. As I said, this was not a perfect team to play the first game after three or four sessions, but in one way we need to see something good. If I can tell this, you know. Something good to see where we need to be. You know, where is the goal? What is the level? What is, you know. So today, totally different worlds. I need to be honest. Two totally different worlds. Psychological and physical worlds, levels.

Randal Kolo Muani thought he had scored a second goal, what did you make of the decision to rule it out?

Oh, you know about this, touching the players in the box. It’s always about referees here, you know. They have their eyes who, you know, they make decisions every time, you know. How they feel. How they see. So it’s nothing. Sometimes they leave. Sometimes, no. This is how it is.

You had a lot of young players on the bench today because there are so many injuries. are you surprised that the club didn’t sign more players in January?

No, it’s not the moment. It’s not the moment to make the thing around [that].

Any injured players you’re hoping to have back for the Fulham game, Porro and Danso perhaps?

Yeah, probably two of them. We hope.

How important is that for your whole defence because you’re playing two midfielders back there?

We’re going to see now what is best for the team.

Randal Kolo Muani got his first Premier League goal, what’s he got to do to have more moments like that?

He made a good game today. We wanted with Dom and Richie to give some new energy. He was not [taken] out [because of his performance], because he played very good. It’s a good start and I’m happy for him.

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