Dominic Solanke breaks Tottenham dressing room silence after Crystal Palace embarrassment

Tottenham Hotspur manager Igor Tudor has insisted his belief in the squad is stronger than ever, despite another damaging result that has deepened the club’s worries in the Premier League. Meanwhile, striker Dominic Solanke has revealed that the players held a frank dressing-room meeting following their disappointing 3–1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.

The loss has left Tottenham Hotspur hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone, sitting just a single point above the bottom three. Their struggles have been ongoing for weeks, and the defeat to Palace extended a miserable run to 11 league games without a victory. Alarmingly for Spurs supporters, the team has yet to record a Premier League win in 2026, a drought that has intensified the pressure on Tudor and his players.

Things quickly unravelled during the clash in north London. Tottenham initially appeared to be on track when Solanke fired them into the lead in the 34th minute, giving the home crowd something to cheer about. However, the momentum soon shifted dramatically after defender and stand-in captain Micky van de Ven was shown a red card before half-time.

Van de Ven was judged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity when he brought down Palace winger Ismaila Sarr inside the penalty area. The decision proved costly. Sarr stepped up to score from the spot and later added another goal, while Jørgen Strand Larsen also found the net. By the time the teams went into the dressing room at half-time, Spurs had gone from leading the match to trailing 3–1.

The sending-off also carries consequences beyond that game. Van de Ven will now miss Tottenham’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Liverpool at Anfield on March 15, a difficult trip that already looked challenging even before the defensive suspension.

After the match, Solanke spoke openly about the mood within the squad. The striker admitted that the players had gathered to hold a serious discussion about their alarming situation and the urgent need to turn things around.

“We’ve just had a big conversation,” Solanke explained. “We all understand that the position we are in is not where this club should be. We need to find solutions quickly and figure out how we are going to get ourselves out of this situation.”

He stressed that while the squad has dealt with numerous setbacks, the time for excuses has passed.

“There have been difficulties along the way, but we can’t hide behind them anymore,” he added. “What matters now is what we do on the pitch. Everyone can talk about wanting to improve, but it has to be shown during matches. We have to fight harder and accept the reality of where we are.”

Solanke acknowledged that Tottenham are unfamiliar with battling near the relegation zone, something that makes the situation even more uncomfortable for players and fans alike.

“This club isn’t used to being in this position,” he said. “That means we have to recognise how serious it is. It won’t be easy to escape it. Every game, every minute, we have to compete and fight if we want things to improve.”

Despite the bleak outlook, Tudor attempted to strike a more optimistic tone when speaking after the match. The Croatian coach insisted he had actually seen signs of determination from his players.

“After this game, I believe in them even more than before,” Tudor said. “It might sound strange because we lost, but I saw something from the team. I saw a spirit and an energy, even in the dressing room after the match. That gives me confidence that we can still respond.”

Tottenham’s difficult season has been made even worse by a long list of injuries that has significantly weakened the squad. Several key players are currently unavailable, including Wilson Odobert, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Ben Davies, Lucas Bergvall, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence.

Former Tottenham striker Peter Crouch believes those absences have significantly reduced the team’s overall quality. Speaking about Spurs’ situation, Crouch suggested that the squad lacks the experience and leadership required to steer the club through such a difficult period.

“I don’t think there is enough quality in the team right now,” Crouch said. “Many of the best players are injured, and that’s hurting them badly.”

He also questioned the impact Tudor has made since arriving in north London, describing the appointment as a major gamble. Crouch compared Tottenham’s situation to that of Manchester United, who recently turned to coach Michael Carrick and immediately saw improvements.

“Tottenham are in real trouble,” Crouch continued. “At United, Carrick came in and quickly got a reaction from the players. Tudor, on the other hand, is still trying to find answers.”

The former England striker also pointed to a lack of homegrown leadership within the current squad. According to Crouch, too few players truly understand the culture and expectations of the club.

“The only standout player for Tottenham in that game was Archie Gray, and he’s just 19 years old,” he said. “There aren’t enough leaders on the pitch guiding the team.”

Tottenham must now try to quickly regroup, with their attention turning to European competition. Next up is a huge challenge in the UEFA Champions League as they prepare for the last-16 first leg against Atlético Madrid in Spain.

For Spurs, the upcoming match presents both a daunting test and a rare opportunity. While their domestic campaign is hanging by a thread, a strong performance in Europe could provide a much-needed boost to morale and perhaps spark the turnaround the club so desperately needs.