AliousIgor Tudor has faced a challenging start to his tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, although the ongoing injury crisis at the club has done little to make his job easier.
Spurs have struggled with a long list of injuries this season, which has played a major role in their poor run of form in the Premier League, particularly since the beginning of the year. Key players such as Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur have all been sidelined with long-term injuries in 2026. Although Richarlison has recently returned, Tudor still lacks depth in several areas of the squad.
However, Tottenham received a welcome double boost on Monday ahead of their trip to face Atletico Madrid when defenders Djed Spence and Radu Dragusin were seen back in training. Dragusin had missed last week’s defeat to Crystal Palace with a knock, while Spence had been sidelined for two matches with a minor calf issue.
Tudor Provides Squad Update Before Atletico Clash
Heading into the UEFA Champions League encounter with Atletico Madrid, Tudor now has a few more defensive options available. Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are also back in contention.
Romero had missed Tottenham’s last four league matches due to suspension but is now eligible again. Meanwhile, Van de Ven—who was sent off during the defeat to Crystal Palace—can still feature in Europe, as his one-match ban only applies to domestic competitions.
Speaking ahead of the first leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie, Tudor admitted it was encouraging to finally have several regular defenders available again.
He explained that, for the first time since he took charge, the team could have their usual defensive options available. In his previous three matches, the coach had been forced to field players out of position due to absences. Tudor also described the clash as an exciting challenge, noting that the Champions League represents a completely different environment compared to the Premier League.
Defensive Returns Boost Tottenham
The availability of Romero, Dragusin and Spence represents a significant lift for Tudor, particularly because he prefers to use a back-three formation supported by wing-backs. Tottenham’s defence has struggled in recent months, largely due to injuries and a lack of consistency in selection.
Tudor remained tight-lipped about his starting lineup but expressed satisfaction at seeing several players return to training. He also confirmed that Yves Bissouma would not be available due to Champions League registration rules involving Souza.
Youngsters Archie Gray and Souza had operated as wing-backs during the match against Crystal Palace, but with Spence and Romero now back, it would not be surprising to see both players return straight to the starting lineup against Atletico Madrid. Tudor’s choices in midfield and attack, however, remain less certain.
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