Sunday’s defeat to Nottingham Forest could hardly have gone any worse for Tottenham Hotspur. The hope was that Igor Tudor’s team had turned a corner. Encouraging performances against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid gave the impression of a side fighting for its life, but that illusion was shattered by the 3-0 loss to Forest.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 22: Head Coach Igor Tudor of Tottenham Hotspur before the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
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Seven games from the end of the season, Tottenham is just one point above the relegation zone. Spurs is still waiting for its first league win of 2026 and could be set for life in the Championship with most of the rivals around the North London outfit in the Premier League table in better form.
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Only last season, Tottenham ended its 17-year wait for a trophy by winning the Europa League, qualifying for the Champions League in the process. Now, the club is facing up to the genuine threat of relegation. Spurs’ situation is so perilous that it could appoint a third manager in just one season with Tudor under pressure. Reports state he could depart.
Injuries have been a major factor in Tottenham’s struggles. Countless key figures have missed long stretches of the season. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison, for example, have yet to start a single match in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign with the creativity of both players robbing Spurs of attacking invention.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 22: Tottenham Hotspur players look dejected during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 22, 2026 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Izzy Poles – AMA/Getty Images)
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Nonetheless, Tudor has complicated matters further. His system is confusing, as proven by the deployment of Micky Van de Ven as a left back and Pedro Porro as a right winger against Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Tudor made changes to his system at half time, but it was already too late with Spurs trailing 1-0 and chasing the game.
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Tottenham has serious problems. From top to bottom, the North London club needs a full reset. Its transfer strategy in recent years has been wayward with the series of managerial hiring and firings. Replacing Tudor won’t solve any of the fundamental issues, but it could help them get to 17th in the table by the time this season ends.
Spurs needs its best, most experienced players to step up for the final seven games of the season. The effort level in the damaging defeat to Nottingham Forest was far below the required level. Tottenham collapsed in the second half when supporters expected the team to demonstrate its readiness for the fight against relegation. Spurs’ season will be defined by what unfolds in the next few matches.