Tottenham coach Igor Tudor says the club’s main priority is improving their Premier League position despite facing Atlético Madrid in the Champions League round of 16.

Igor Tudor has admitted that Tottenham Hotspur’s main focus remains their Premier League survival battle ahead of their Champions League round-of-16 clash with Atlético Madrid.

Tudor has endured a difficult start since taking charge, overseeing three consecutive league defeats. Those results have left Tottenham sitting 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone.

Despite the challenges, Tudor hopes the UCL tie against Atlético Madrid can help his side improve their confidence and performance levels. However, he made it clear that domestic stability remains the club’s primary objective.

Speaking ahead of the first leg, the Croatian coach acknowledged the strength of the Spanish side, led by Diego Simeone. He highlighted Atlético’s experience and history in the competition as a major challenge for his struggling team.

Tottenham face a demanding schedule around the Champions League tie. In between the two legs, they must travel to face Liverpool in the Premier League before hosting Nottingham Forest in what could be a crucial match in the relegation battle.

Tudor believes that playing in Europe could offer a fresh mental approach for a team that has lost five consecutive league matches. He suggested that such high-level games could help identify problems within the squad and potentially spark improvement.

The Tottenham coach also admitted that transforming the team’s mentality takes time, especially after replacing Thomas Frank less than a month ago. He confirmed that Djed Spence is fit to play while Cristian Romero will return from suspension and is expected to provide leadership in defence.