Disappointment and disbelief engulfed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Thursday, as thousands of fans left their seats at halftime, a clear demonstration of desperation in the face of the looming threat of relegation. After a promising start against Crystal Palace, where they even took the lead, Igor Tudor’s team conceded three goals in just 12 minutes in the first half, culminating in a penalty awarded and a red card for Micky van de Ven. This bitter defeat keeps the Spurs as the only team in the Premier League without a win in 2026, extending their winless streak to 11 matches, the longest since 1935 when they went 15 games without a victory.
With only nine games remaining, the situation is alarming: the team is just one point above the relegation zone and risks losing its status in the Premier League for the first time in history. The thousands of empty seats in the stands speak for themselves, while the fans who remained until the final whistle expressed their discontent with deafening boos, signaling that the hope of survival is quickly fading.
“There was anxiety felt throughout the stadium,” commented Joe Cole, former winger for Chelsea and the England national team, on TNT Sports. “The performance was lackluster. There was no fight, no anger, and the fans felt that. It seems like they have given up. The fans are disappointed, disillusioned, and have lost faith.”
When Tudor was appointed interim manager last month, he assured that Tottenham would “100%” not be relegated. Now, it would take a great deal of courage to make such a claim. “Of course, I understand the fans [who leave]. It’s normal; they wanted more,” said the Croatian, who has lost all three games he has managed so far. “I need to choose the right players: who is on the boat and who is going to leave the boat.”
Tudor avoided commenting on his future after the final whistle, even as doubts grew over whether he would be able to finish the season at the helm of the team. Chris Cowlin, a Spurs fan, expressed his frustration to BBC Radio 5 Live: “I am speechless by what I saw tonight. We need fight, desire, and above all, points. This is the reality: Tottenham could be relegated. When we moved to this stadium in 2019, it was supposed to be a turning point, a springboard for success and for competing for titles. I have never known a time like this. We have gone through so many managers since moving to this stadium; six permanent managers and four interim ones. Tottenham is going around in circles without direction.”
Outside the stadium, supporters voiced their discontent, stating that the club is experiencing its “worst moment in history” and that “it is more likely to be relegated.” One fan blamed the team’s poor form on “too big egos” and accused the players of still living off the high of European success, heading towards relegation. Another compared the fighting spirit of teams like Nottingham Forest and West Ham with Tottenham’s apathy: “We don’t have any of that.”
Fans also criticized the club’s management, pointing to failures in the transfer market, such as the lack of goal-scoring options and the inability to cope with the many injuries affecting the team, which currently has nine players sidelined. Additionally, a lack of discipline has been a problem, with Cristian Romero serving the last match of a four-game suspension following a red card in February, and the card received by Van de Ven on Thursday resulting in a three-game suspension.
The appointment of Tudor, former coach of Juventus, has also faced criticism, as he had never managed in the Premier League before taking up the role. However, some fans defended him, arguing that each new appointment merely “masks the flaws.”
On New Year’s Day, Tottenham was in 12th place, 12 points above the relegation zone. However, the situation has dramatically worsened since Tudor’s appointment on February 13. The question everyone is asking now is: will Tottenham be able to avoid relegation? The future looks increasingly bleak for the Spurs.
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