Igor Tudor banished five players from training as dressing room turned sour

Pressure is rapidly mounting on Igor Tudor at Tottenham Hotspur, and his difficult start in north London is beginning to resemble the turbulent spell he once endured at Olympique de Marseille.

Tottenham’s season hit another worrying low on Thursday night after a damaging 3–1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace. The result left Spurs hovering just above the relegation zone and extended their dreadful run of form. Tudor, who was appointed after Thomas Frank departed in February following a string of poor performances, has so far failed to steady the ship. The Croatian has now lost all three matches since taking charge, intensifying fears about the club’s direction during the final stretch of the season.

For Tudor, the situation may feel eerily familiar. During his time in charge of Marseille between 2022 and 2023, the 47-year-old oversaw a campaign that ultimately ended with a respectable third-place finish in Ligue 1. Despite that achievement, the environment around the club became increasingly toxic, and Tudor walked away after just one season, later explaining that the relentless pressure had left him mentally exhausted.

His tenure in southern France was overshadowed by constant tension between the manager and several members of the squad. Many players had reportedly grown close to former coach Jorge Sampaoli, who had stepped down due to disagreements with the club’s transfer policy. When Tudor arrived as Sampaoli’s replacement, the reaction inside the dressing room was far from welcoming, and early signs suggested the relationship between coach and players would be strained.

Pre-season reportedly became a flashpoint, with tensions quickly escalating into open conflict. Brazilian midfielder Gerson was said to have clashed with Tudor during a heated exchange and was subsequently removed from training sessions. On the same day, full-back Jordan Amavi was also banished from the first-team setup following a disagreement with the coach. Winger Cengiz Ünder reportedly challenged Tudor as well, though he was not expelled from the squad in the same manner.

Tudor’s uncompromising style was central to the unrest. The Croatian has long been known for demanding intense physical effort from his players, and he made it clear that hard work was non-negotiable. Explaining his philosophy at the time, Tudor stressed that players in his teams must run relentlessly, warning that those who failed to meet his expectations in training would face consequences after repeated warnings.

There were also unusual developments behind the scenes. Former Italian international Mauro Camoranesi joined Tudor’s coaching staff and was introduced to the squad as the manager’s “right arm.” However, his tenure lasted just a week before he abruptly left the role, adding another layer of chaos to an already unstable environment.

After Tudor eventually departed Marseille — before later having a short stint with Lazio — club president Pablo Longoria spoke publicly about the intense pressure the manager had faced. Longoria suggested that Tudor had been caught in the middle of internal battles at the club, with factions pushing for Sampaoli’s return while others wanted greater influence for the players. According to the president, the atmosphere during pre-season felt as tense as a decisive match late in the campaign, with outside pressure from fan groups further complicating matters.

Now at Tottenham, Tudor appears prepared to take a similarly firm approach if necessary. After the defeat to Palace, the Croatian hinted that he may soon make tough decisions about which players are prepared to fully commit to his methods. He insisted that despite the disappointing result, he had seen signs of progress and now needed to identify the players willing to follow his direction.

Using a nautical metaphor, Tudor suggested the team must move together in the same direction, making it clear that those who cannot adapt to the path he wants to take may be left behind.

The challenge facing Tottenham will not get any easier in the coming days. Spurs must first travel to Spain to face Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie. Shortly afterward, they return to domestic action with a daunting away trip to Liverpool, a fixture that could further test Tudor’s authority as he attempts to halt Tottenham’s alarming slide.