New Tottenham head coach Igor Tudor says he is “100%” convinced the club will avoid relegation from the Premier League despite their current struggles.
Spurs sit 16th in the table, five points above the bottom three with 12 matches remaining.
The north London side dismissed Thomas Frank on 11 February after eight months in charge, turning to the former Juventus, Marseille and Lazio coach to stabilise their season.
Speaking at his first news conference on Friday, Tudor made clear his immediate priorities.
Tudor Vows Tottenham Will Avoid Relegation
It is not about systems. It is important to become a team, a group, who will look after each other. For me this is basic.
“After that the quality can come out and, for me, this is a team with quality, with legs that can run. There is potential.”
League form a concern
Tottenham’s domestic campaign has deteriorated sharply. Since November, they have won only two of 17 league matches, drawing six and losing nine. Their last Premier League victory came away at Crystal Palace on 28 December.
While Spurs impressed in Europe by finishing fourth in the league phase of the Champions League to reach the last 16 automatically, their league position has left them looking over their shoulder.
Asked directly about the prospect of relegation, Tudor was unequivocal: “100%.”
Injury crisis adds pressure
Tudor’s first match in charge comes against leaders Arsenal on Sunday, with Spurs dealing with a significant injury list.
“It’s a very rare situation,” he said. “We have 10 injuries, we trained with 13 players.
“It is an even bigger challenge to succeed from this situation. My first goal is that we become a team in the right meaning of the word, that suffers when it needs to suffer, to fight, to run, to have the right mentality. The start is always about mentality.”
Tottenham have not been relegated from the top flight since 1977-78. Tudor now faces the task of ensuring that record remains intact.