Igor Tudor delivered a blunt assessment of Tottenham's current state following their 4-1 home defeat to Arsenal in his first match as head coach. The North London derby humiliation left Spurs four points above the relegation zone and without a win in 2026, making them the only Premier League team yet to register three points this calendar year.

Tudor, who replaced Thomas Frank, remains confident about avoiding relegation but emphasized the need for fundamental changes. "I know the truth [about this team], now I saw the truth," he told Sky Sports. "Of course, I am confident [of survival]. I believe these are good players with bad habits." The Croatian coach highlighted issues with physicality, mental sharpness, and confidence that plagued his team against the league leaders.

With 11 games remaining to secure Premier League status, Tudor called for Tottenham to "become serious" and change their ingrained habits. "What is the goal of this club? What is the goal of this team? What is the goal of this coach, these players, this staff? To become serious," he stated. Tudor acknowledged Arsenal's superiority, noting they possessed "more power, more energy and they believe more," while emphasizing that three or four training sessions cannot fix deep-rooted issues.