Igor Tudor was blasted for storming straight down the tunnel after Tottenham were knocked out of the Champions League despite beating Atletico Madrid 3-2 on the night. The irony is that Tudor’s first official win as Spurs boss came on a night when Tottenham lost, with the capital club losing 7-5 on aggregate to the La Liga outfit.
Tottenham were up against it from the start, given they came into the contest trailing 5-2 on aggregate after the first leg. The 2025 Europa League winners didn’t go down without a fight, but ultimately the first-leg deficit proved too big a mountain to climb, meaning Spurs’ full focus between now and the end of the season switches to staying in the Premier League.
But former Premier League ace Andy Reid wasn’t best pleased with Tudor’s decision to head straight down the tunnel after the full-time whistle was blown, with the ex-Sunderland man suggesting it could irk the fans inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Speaking on BBC Radio 5Live, Reid said: « I thought it was a bit unnecessary from Tudor [to walk straight through the tunnel].
« He hasn’t had great success yet so you pick up a win tonight, let’s get the fans on board and give them a clap so when they turn up here on Sunday they are behind the team. He’s lost from a tie and is out of the Champions League but he needs to take any positivity he can get.
« If you look at what Atletico Madrid did, they knew they had the advantage so didn’t really go after the game which gave Tottenham the opportunity to get something. It will be completely different on Sunday, two teams that are really struggling to find form. »
Tudor did praise the supporters for their efforts during the game, while also turning attention to Sunday’s crunch clash with Nottingham Forest in N17. He said: « The sensations are mixed. You don’t like to not get through, but it was a very good performance. It was a beautiful sensation on the pitch with the fans who were really there together with the squad and the team from the first moment.
« Congratulations to the players. It is positive, commitment, lot of running, lots of good things. The energy was really nice from the first moment and the fans recognised the team did everything from the first minute to the last and they were with us – beautiful, thanks.
« The players believed and you could see the performance at this moment is very important. In the last two games we have improved. It is an important game on Sunday [against Nottingham Forest] but it will not decide anything yet, it will be decided over the last three games. »
Tottenham currently find themselves one point above the relegation zone in 16th, with Sunday’s opponents, Forest, sitting one place below in 17th. Spurs could finish the weekend in the bottom three if they lose to Forest and West Ham United beat Aston Villa.
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