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Igor Tudor has a lot of work to do before Tottenham Hotspur return to action at the weekend
Igor Tudor was spotted barking orders at his backline during the first half of the North London Derby, and Micky van de Ven's reaction spoke volumes about the current state of Tottenham Hotspur.
The interim head coach was visibly frustrated with his team for much of the tie, marching up and down his technical area. But one moment shortly before half-time, which was caught on camera by a fan in the stands, was particularly poignant.
During a break in play, Tudor urged his centre-backs to push up, shouting and gesticulating frantically from the sidelines. Although Van de Ven was in the frame of the shot, the Croatian appeared to be directing his discontent at Radu Dragusin.
Despite his best efforts to get the backline to step up, the Spurs defender ignored his instructions. Even Van de Ven, who was donning the captain's armband in the absence of Cristian Romero and in earshot of Tudor, failed to acknowledge his boss and relay the message.
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After realising that neither Dragusin nor the Netherlands international had taken his order on board, Tudor composed himself and applauded his players. The interim Tottenham boss eventually caught Van de Ven's attention and somewhat pulled him into position.
Spurs went on to lose the North London Derby, and Arsenal restored their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table. Speaking after the game, the Dutchman pointed the finger at Tudor, who decided to man-mark the Gunners across the park.
Van de Ven claimed that the decision didn't pay off, with Randal Kolo Muani losing Eberechi Eze for the opener and Viktor Gyokeres darting ahead of Joao Palhinha to put Arsenal ahead just two minutes after the restart.
"Arsenal were the better team," the centre-back conceded. "We were still in the game at 1-1, but after the second half, they scored straight away, and then it was really difficult.
"We could do the press a bit better. We pressed high, but Arsenal came out of it. It's something we need to work on. They were the better team today.
"It's a risk when you go man for man, and if one man is late, then you're going to be open, but when you win the ball high, there are so many options for us. But on the opposite, when they come out, it's a big risk."
Meanwhile, Tudor bemoaned his backline's lack of urgency to step up and press. The Croatian said: "Too much problems in this moment in time that this level of team will not punish you.
"Because you wanted to go to press high, but to press high from back you need to jump, so if you are late and don’t take the ball around there, also with the ball... so we prepare to press high but we didn’t take the ball.
"We need more time to be in a physical moment and physical situation that we can go strong and take the ball. Now we are not in that moment. Also, even with the ball, a lack of confidence is very evident in the team.
"We wanted and prepared to do the things but there is an opponent, but there is a reality today. I’m very sad and very angry and everything but in one way it is also good to understand where is our goal.
"What is the goal of this club? What is the goal of this team? What is this goal of this coach, these players, this staff? To become serious. Serious, not just a group of 20 players, and the medicine is you look in the mirror.
"Each of us look in the mirror and really try, really start to change the habits - working hard is the only way..."
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