William Troost-Ekong has offered Tottenham supporters an early glimpse into what life under new head coach Igor Tudor could look like, predicting a bold and direct style as the Croatian begins his first spell in English football.
Spurs moved swiftly to appoint Tudor on a short-term deal until the end of the season following the departure of Thomas Frank, whose eight-month tenure failed to justify significant summer investment.
With a crucial North London Derby against Arsenal looming, attention has quickly turned to how Tudor will stamp his authority on the squad.
Troost-Ekong, who played under Tudor at Udinese during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 Serie A campaigns, believes the 46-year-old will not shy away from radical change.
“We had him twice at Udinese,” Troost-Ekong told TalkSport. “He is a manager who likes to play a 3-5-2 or similar variations. He favors attacking football, a high defensive line, and a high press. He can be quite direct.”
Tudor’s previous work across Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Italy and France has earned him a reputation for intensity and strong leadership, traits Troost-Ekong says will quickly become evident in north London.
“He has a big personality – if they need someone to shake things up and get everyone going, he’s the right person,” he added. “He isn’t intimidated by anything and will try to run through every brick wall.”
The former Super Eagles captain expects tactical discipline and structural changes, particularly at the back. “Switching to a 3-5-2 would be the first step. You’ll see high pressing and exciting football—the kind that gets fans out of their seats.”
However, Troost-Ekong cautioned that such ambition carries risk. “There will be goals, but some will be conceded too, because playing a high line involves high risk.”
