Tudor on Gallagher & Spurs Squad vs Atletico 2026

Key Points

• Tottenham Hotspur interim head coach Igor Tudor has provided a five-player squad update ahead of the crucial UEFA Champions League last-16 second-leg clash against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, March 18, 2026, with Spurs trailing 5-2 from the first leg.
• Conor Gallagher, the £34m January signing from Atletico Madrid, is a major doubt due to illness; he missed the recent Liverpool draw after suffering from fever and not feeling well on matchday morning.
• Tudor expressed high regard for Gallagher despite his struggles, calling him “a thoughtful individual, a great person, and a talented player” with “exceptional skills in both attacking and defending” and leadership potential.​
• Gallagher has featured in all four of Tudor’s matches but failed to register goals, assists, shots, or key passes, winning only 41.1% of duels, contributing to criticisms amid Tudor’s precarious position.​
• Positive returns include Cristian Romero (back from suspension), Djed Spence (recovered from calf injury), and potentially others like Dominic Solanke, who scored in the first leg.
• Yves Bissouma is unavailable for the Champions League tie due to UEFA registration rules.​
• Long-term absentees include James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski; Radu Dragusin is a doubt.​
• The update comes after a 5-2 first-leg defeat at Atletico Madrid, where Tudor substituted goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky early after errors, and introduced Gallagher and Solanke at half-time.
• Tottenham face a three-goal deficit at home, with Tudor under pressure following poor domestic form and the heavy European loss.
• Gallagher joined Tottenham on a five-and-a-half-year deal after Aston Villa’s interest was rebuffed by Atletico.

Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) March 17, 2026 – Tottenham Hotspur interim head coach Igor Tudor has raised concerns over Conor Gallagher’s fitness in a comprehensive five-player squad update as the club prepares to host Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League last-16 second leg on Wednesday night, trailing 5-2 from the first leg.

What Concerns Has Igor Tudor Raised About Conor Gallagher?

Igor Tudor highlighted significant doubts surrounding Conor Gallagher’s availability for the pivotal Champions League fixture.

As reported by the Evening Standard, Gallagher was forced to miss Tottenham’s recent 1-1 draw at Liverpool after suffering from fever, with Tudor noting pre-match, “Conor has some fever. But probably he will be in,” though he ultimately did not feature as he “was not feeling good in the morning”.​

In a Sky Sports interview, Tudor reflected,

“This morning, Conor [Gallagher] says that he is not able to play so we need to change the players and positions,”

underscoring the last-minute disruption. Gallagher, who joined Tottenham from Atletico Madrid for £34m in January, had been expected to bring experience against his former club, but his illness has cast uncertainty over his role.

Despite recent underperformance, Tudor remains supportive. As quoted by football.london’s Alasdair Gold, Tudor described Gallagher as

“a thoughtful individual, a great person, and a talented player. I have a high regard for him. He possesses exceptional skills in both attacking and defending. His performance in training this week has been encouraging. He can provide the experience and quality we need, and he has the potential to be a leader”.​

Why Is Conor Gallagher Struggling Under Igor Tudor?

Gallagher’s form has drawn scrutiny since Tudor’s arrival. According to Tottenham Hotspur News analysis, the 26-year-old has played in all four of Tudor’s matches—starting the first two against Arsenal and Fulham before being benched for Crystal Palace and the first leg against Atletico—yet recorded no goals, assists, shots, or key passes, averaging 53 minutes per game.​

Per Sofascore data cited in the report, Gallagher completed 81% of passes but created no big chances, made just eight tackles, and won only 41.1% of duels, stats deemed “horrendous for a player of his quality” and linked to Tudor’s mounting pressure.

Spurs Web noted his half-time introduction in the 5-2 loss at Atletico, replacing Randal Kolo Muani alongside Dominic Solanke, but it failed to spark a comeback as Julian Alvarez quickly added a fifth.

Sky Sports News reported that Tottenham pursued Gallagher after Rodrigo Bentancur’s season-ending hamstring injury, with Aston Villa’s loan-bid-plus-option rejected by Atletico in favour of Spurs’ obligation-to-buy structure.

Which Players Are Returning for Tottenham Against Atletico Madrid?

Tudor confirmed several boosts in his official Tottenham Hotspur website update.

“Well, first XI, as you know, we never say, but the players who are in this position, you saw this morning in the training, so we are happy that Romero is back, Djed is back,”

he stated, referring to Cristian Romero’s return from a four-game Premier League suspension and Djed Spence’s recovery from a minor calf injury.​

Spurs Web detailed Romero’s availability after missing domestic games, while Spence trained with the first team at Hotspur Way. Dominic Solanke is also expected to feature prominently after scoring Tottenham’s late second in the first leg and partnering Richarlison effectively against Liverpool, earning praise from Roy Keane for providing a “significant advantage” up front.

Football.london reported a “huge triple injury boost,” though specifics aligned with Tudor’s comments on returns amid ongoing absences.​

Who Is Unavailable for Tottenham’s Champions League Tie?

UEFA rules exclude Yves Bissouma from the squad, as Tudor explained:

“Bissouma is not in [the squad] because of the rules of the Champions League”.

Long-term injuries sideline James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, with Radu Dragusin a doubt.

The Liverpool draw saw thirteen senior players unavailable, exacerbated by Gallagher’s withdrawal, forcing tactical adaptations that yielded a point via Richarlison’s stoppage-time equaliser. Football.london noted Tottenham’s persistent injury woes, with two fresh absences for Atletico but the three potential returns offering slim hope.

How Did Tottenham Fare in the First Leg Against Atletico Madrid?

Atletico Madrid inflicted a 5-2 defeat on Tottenham in the first leg at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. Spurs Web’s match report detailed Atletico’s dominance: Marcos Llorente, Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez (twice), and Robin Le Normand scored, with Pedro Porro and Dominic Solanke replying late for Spurs.​​

Igor Tudor’s bold choice to start 22-year-old Antonin Kinsky over Guglielmo Vicario backfired spectacularly; Kinsky was hooked after 17 minutes following two errors, as per Sky Sports’ Charlotte Marsh. Half-time changes saw Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani replaced by Solanke and Gallagher, but Alvarez struck soon after.

In his post-match press conference, covered by Tottenham’s official site and YouTube, Tudor addressed the media at the Metropolitano, defending his decisions amid the thrashing.​​

What Is Igor Tudor’s Position at Tottenham Amid the Pressure?

Tudor, appointed interim after previous turmoil, faces intense scrutiny. Spurs Web suggested Gallagher’s poor adaptation has contributed to Tudor’s “verge of the sack” status, with candidates like Roberto De Zerbi, Roy Keane, Jamie Redknapp, and Sean Dyche mentioned.​

The Mirror’s report urged an “emergency plan,” calling the Atletico display “shambolic” and Tudor’s tactics disoriented. Despite this, Tudor praised team spirit post-Liverpool, telling Sky Sports,

“Yes, it’s an incredible point we earned here, and we deserved it. We exhibited great team spirit. Kudos to the guys”.

Football.london captured Tudor’s tense exchange, dismissing bar-related queries with “‘Next question! We’re not in a bar'” when pressed on club issues.​

Can Tottenham Overturn the Deficit Against Atletico Madrid?

Hosting the second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs must win by four goals to advance. Predicted XIs from Spurs Web favour Vicario in goal, Romero partnering van de Ven (despite his red card concerns), Solanke up top, and energetic midfielders like Pape Matar Sarr.

Tudor emphasised returning players’ importance: “So the players are coming back, that’s important”. With Gallagher’s status unclear and injuries mounting, the tie represents a defining moment in Tottenham’s troubled campaign.

This update, drawn from Tudor’s press conference as previewed by football.london, sets the stage for a high-stakes night in North London.