Tottenham Hotspur manager Igor Tudor has reaffirmed his confidence in the squad despite another damaging result that has intensified the club’s worries in the Premier League. At the same time, striker Dominic Solanke disclosed that the players held a serious dressing-room discussion after their frustrating 3–1 home loss to Crystal Palace.
The defeat leaves Tottenham hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, just one point above the bottom three. Their problems have been building for weeks, with the loss to Palace stretching their winless league run to 11 matches. Even more concerning for supporters is the fact that Spurs have yet to register a Premier League victory in 2026, increasing the pressure on Tudor and his squad.
The match itself turned dramatically in north London. Tottenham looked in control when Solanke put them ahead in the 34th minute, lifting the home crowd. However, the game changed shortly before half-time when defender and stand-in captain Micky van de Ven was sent off.
Van de Ven was ruled to have denied a clear scoring opportunity after bringing down Palace winger Ismaila Sarr inside the penalty area. The decision proved costly. Sarr converted the penalty and later scored again, while Jørgen Strand Larsen also got on the scoresheet. By half-time, Tottenham had gone from leading to trailing 3–1.
The red card also means Van de Ven will miss Spurs’ upcoming league clash against Liverpool F.C. at Anfield on March 15 — a tough fixture that now becomes even more difficult without the Dutch defender.
Speaking after the match, Solanke admitted the squad had gathered for a blunt and honest conversation about their worrying form and the urgent need to improve.
“We’ve just had a big conversation,” he said. “Everyone knows the position we’re in isn’t where this club belongs. We need to find answers quickly and work out how to get ourselves out of this situation.”
He acknowledged that while the team has faced plenty of setbacks this season, excuses can no longer be used.
“There have been challenges, but we can’t keep hiding behind them,” Solanke added. “What matters is how we perform on the pitch. It’s easy to talk about improvement, but it has to show during matches. We need to fight harder and face the reality of where we are.”
The striker also admitted that Tottenham are unfamiliar with being dragged into a relegation battle, making the situation even more uncomfortable for both players and fans.
“This club isn’t used to being here,” he said. “That means we have to understand how serious it is. Getting out of this situation won’t be easy, so every game and every minute we have to compete and give everything.”
Despite the gloomy outlook, Tudor tried to remain positive in his post-match comments. The Croatian manager insisted he had seen encouraging signs from his players.
“After this match, I actually believe in them even more,” Tudor said. “It might sound strange because we lost, but I saw something from the team — the spirit and energy, even in the dressing room afterward. That gives me confidence we can still react.”
Tottenham’s difficult campaign has also been compounded by a lengthy injury list. Key players such as Wilson Odobert, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence are currently unavailable.
Former Spurs striker Peter Crouch believes those absences have badly weakened the team. He argued that the squad currently lacks the experience and leadership required to guide the club through such a difficult period.
“I don’t think there’s enough quality in the team at the moment,” Crouch said. “Many of their best players are injured, and that’s affecting them badly.”
He also questioned the impact Tudor has had since taking charge, suggesting the appointment may have been a risky move. Crouch compared Tottenham’s situation to Manchester United F.C., who recently turned to coach Michael Carrick and quickly saw improvements.
“Tottenham are in real trouble,” Crouch added. “At United, Carrick came in and got an immediate reaction from the players. Tudor is still searching for solutions.”
Crouch also pointed to a lack of strong leadership within the squad, highlighting that the standout performer in the match was young midfielder Archie Gray, who is only 19.
“There simply aren’t enough leaders on the pitch right now,” he said.
Tottenham must now attempt to regroup quickly, with their focus shifting to European action. They are set to face Atlético Madrid in Spain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie.
For Spurs, the match offers both a huge challenge and a potential opportunity. While their domestic campaign is in serious trouble, a positive result in Europe could lift morale and perhaps spark the turnaround the club desperately needs. ⚽
