Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O’Hara has led the chorus of calls for Tottenham interim manager Igor Tudor to be sacked after his side’s embarrassing Champions League display against Atletico Madrid.
Tottenham trails 5-2 after the first leg of the Round of 16 clash, but the scoring line is somewhat flattering for what was a disastrous night in Madrid on Wednesday (AEDT).
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The hosts scored four goals in the first 22 minutes and Tudor hooked off goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after just 17 minutes as the Czech endured a nightmare debut in Europe’s top competition.
The 22-year-old coughed up two goals courtesy of two absolute howlers with the ball at his feet.
He ended up leaving the pitch and heading down the dressing room in tears as the home fans mockingly applauded.
Kinsky had been given a show of faith by Tudor before kick off, named instead of first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario after the Italian stood in between the posts for five straight Premier League victories.
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Tottenham’s goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky leaves the pitch after being substituted during the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Tottenham in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)Source: APMicky van de VenSource: Getty ImagesA dejected Richarlison leaves the pitch.Source: Getty Images
But the Croatian gave his inexperienced goalkeeper the cold shoulder after pulling him from the pitch.
It was a moment that exemplified what has been an awful four game stretch for the relegation-threatened Spurs under Tudor.
They have conceded 14 goals in four defeats since Tudor was brought in to replace Thomas Frank.
For a club that has been a punching bag for football fans the world over for many years, they continue to find new ways to make themselves the bud of the joke and it has left the likes of O’Hara furious.
“I’m absolutely embarrassed to be a Spurs fan,” O’Hara said on TalkSport during the match.
“I’m embarrassed to be affiliated with this football club. It is nothing short of a disgrace. The manager is a fraud.
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“The manager needs to go, sack him at half time. It’s a disgraceful performance from the players.
“The tactics, unthinkable. To set up 3-4-3 against Atletico Madrid is embarrassing. We cannot play that formation.
“He said it’s about experimenting. You cannot experiment in the Champions League playing 3-4-3 and to pick Kinsky….
“Everyone’s saying all of a sudden they’re feeling sorry for this guy… he’s a professional football player. He’s a professional goalie. It’s his job. He can’t kick the ball.
“It’s their job to look through to wear the right footing. Put some studs on, you’re falling over the ball. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
O’Hara’s frustrations got worse as the first half went on.
The 39-year-old professional turned pundit was outraged as defender Mickey van de Ven could have been sent off for a careless challenge, which would have made matters a whole lot worse.
“I honestly cannot believe I’m sat here watching this garbage,” O’Hara said.
“Van de Ven should’ve been sent off. He doesn’t want to be out there. They give us a sympathy vote VAR by not sending Van de Ven off.
“This could be 9-0, and to be honest, I hope we get pumped because this manager has got to go and the only saving grace out of anything is that we get pumped tonight.
“The Tottenham board might do something for once and actually sack this guy because he is absolutely shocking. I could do a better job at managing this football club.
“They can’t even pass a ball. They cannot string two passes together. This club is absolutely gone. The players are absolutely gone.
“They don’t want to be there. They don’t want to play. for this manager. It is nothing short of a disaster. We are going down.
“This club is finished right now, and this is an absolute embarrassment to even watch.”
Tudor’s snub of Kinsky as he walked off was widely ridiculed, and it may just become the moment that officially dooms his spell in north London.
Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City winger Steve McManaman described Tudor’s inaction as “man management at its worst” on TNT Sports’ coverage.
While for BBC Radio 5 Live, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson accused the manager of only trying to look after himself.
“I wonder where Antonin Kinsky is now. Is he sat waiting for his teammates to come into the dressing room? What will his next conversation be with the manager?” he said.
“The problem is the attitude with Tottenham because that is terrible. Igor Tudor is making decisions to try and protect himself.”
Robinson added: “I am in shock. The lack of application from Tottenham is unbelievable.
“This has been a terrible first half and Igor Tudor looks like a lost man.”
Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell revealed just how poor Tudor’s start with Spurs has been.
He possesses an unwanted record, and suggested that Tottenham may be looking at a third manager this season as it tries to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
“Igor Tudor is the first Spurs manager to lose each of his first four games in charge. This evening went as bad as it possible could for him,” Boswell said.
“For a man with so little credit in the bank, that could prove fatal. Whatever those upstairs think, the tide has already turned for the Spurs fans.
“But where can they possibly turn now? Anfield next for whoever it is.”