The Athletic FC Podcast Is De Zerbi the man to save Spurs?
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Mar 30, 2026 
Dan Kilpatrick, an English football reporter on Tottenham’s managerial and club issues, and James Horncastle, a tactical and European football analyst, discuss Igor Tudor’s swift exit and Spurs’ pursuit of Roberto De Zerbi. They debate leadership accountability, dressing-room unrest, recruitment and whether De Zerbi’s style can rescue a struggling squad facing injury problems and a perilous run of fixtures.
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Tudor's Rapid Collapse Exposed Deeper Problems
- Igor Tudor lasted 44 days and seven games as Spurs manager, inheriting a squad already without a league win since December.
- His brief tenure produced one league point and accelerated a slide that left Spurs one point above relegation with seven games left.
Leadership Hesitation Fueled The Crisis
- The club's failure this season rests largely with decision-makers who delayed action and made poor hires like Tudor.
- James Horncastle says Johan Lange, Vinod Venkatesham and the board sat on their hands and bear responsibility.
Injury Mismanagement Deepened The Decline
- Injuries and medical/rehab decisions have left Spurs short of creative players, compounding tactical and managerial issues.
- James Horncastle highlighted recurring absences like Kulusevski, Madison and Kudus as critical to the collapse.