Igor Tudor reveals Champions League ‘not a priority’ as Spurs make relegation admission

Last Updated on 10 March 2026

Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League campaign should be the highlight of their season. Instead, it has become a strange sideshow to a far more uncomfortable reality.

Spurs are currently fighting to avoid relegation from the Premier League, a scenario few could have imagined at the start of the campaign.

And now interim manager Igor Tudor has publicly admitted what many feared: European success is not the club’s priority right now.

Igor Tudor admits Premier League survival is Spurs’ main focus ahead of Atleti showdown

Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League last-16 clash with Atletico Madrid, Tudor made it clear that his side’s immediate focus lies firmly on their domestic situation.

Spurs sit just one point above the Premier League relegation zone after a disastrous run of form that led to the dismissal of former manager Thomas Frank last month. Tudor has struggled to halt the slide, losing his first three games in charge.

With Tottenham battling to preserve their remarkable 49-year run in England’s top flight, the Croatian coach insisted survival must come first.

“Our first aim is the Premier League, this is something that needs to be said publicly,” Tudor said via HaytersTV. “It’s a normal thing.”

They now face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16, traveling to Spain for the first leg knowing the tie offers a rare opportunity for positivity during an otherwise turbulent campaign. But Tudor’s comments indicate that their focus remains on the Premier League.

Is relegation from the Premier League a serious possibility for Tottenham?

Tottenham have taken four points from Premier League games in the entirety of 2026 and remain winless. This puts them 16th in the table, a point ahead of Nottingham Forest in 17th and local rivals West Ham in 18th.

Over the course of the last five games, Spurs have lost all five, with Forest earning spirited draws and West Ham recording two wins and two draws. This comparison means that not only are Forest and West Ham more in form, Tottenham can’t seem to put any points on the board.

Then you have to factor in the remaining fixtures and in a relegation battle, there are no ‘sure shot’ wins. But even if there were, Tottenham are yet to play the likes of Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Chelsea away from home. All games which are difficult in any season for any side.

Their home form, however, is much worse than their away form. At the grand Tottenham Hotspur stadium, the Lilywhites will host a relegation six-pointer featuring Forest, as well as Brighton and Everton.

As a result, it’s hardly a surprise to see Tudor prioritizing Premier League survival over a Champions League run.