Igor Tudor plays down Champions League draw as Tottenham have ’11 finals’

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Tottenham Hotspur are bracing for Friday’s Champions League round of 16 draw, with Igor Tudor now addressing the challenge ahead as his side balances European ambition with domestic pressure.

Tottenham Hotspur are out of both domestic cup competitions, the Carabao and FA Cup, but remain in the Champions League this season.

In fact, while their domestic form has been poor, their performances in the Champions League have been near flawless, with Spurs finishing in the top five of the league phase.

Tottenham are now awaiting the round of 16 draw to discover whether they will face Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray as they continue their European campaign.

Tottenham boss Igor Tudor reacts to Champions League Round of 16 draw

Spurs boss Igor Tudor has now opened up about the upcoming draw and the wider challenge of competing in Europe with a stretched squad. He admits that his focus remains on the present moment.

Speaking in an interview with the official Tottenham channel, he said: “I do not think too much about the draw. If you ask me what I expect from the draw tomorrow, nothing changes for me. It is the moment we are in.

“We can also discuss what is said, but in other ways, it is a beautiful competition to play, everyone wants to play. So the problem is the lack of numbers of players, the amount of players we have in the team, that is the problem.

“Of course, if you need to play every three days with 10, 12, 13 players and then you get, you know, that is the problem. Not that we play Champions League or not.

“Also it is not only about spending physical energy but also mental energy, when every game for us in the league is a final. So not in our situation, but we discuss it.”

Spurs face balancing act between Champions League and Premier League

Tottenham find themselves in a difficult position this season, as they cannot afford to focus solely on the Champions League and ignore the Premier League, with plenty still on the line domestically.

Spurs are embroiled in a relegation battle and need to get wins on the board if they are to maintain their Premier League status next season.

Given how stretched the squad is, they cannot do what Ange Postecoglou did last term when he turned his attention to the Europa League – a decision that yielded a good result.

This term, making such a call could see Spurs relegated, leaving them in a tight spot.

• READ MORE: Igor Tudor addresses claims Micky van de Ven ignored him in Tottenham vs Arsenal