Tottenham Hotspur announced in an official statement on Saturday the appointment of Croatian Igor Tudor as the team's interim manager until the end of the current season, in a move aimed at addressing the team's precarious position in the English Premier League standings.

This decisive decision by the Spurs management comes after the dismissal of Danish coach Thomas Frank last Wednesday, following a series of negative results that destabilized the team and led to its alarming decline to sixteenth place, where the gap between it and the relegation zone is now only five points, a situation that does not befit the history of the prestigious London club.

Rescue mission and extensive European expertise

Igor Tudor, 47, boasts extensive coaching experience in European football, having previously managed prominent clubs such as Juventus, Lazio, Udinese, and Verona in Italy, as well as Olympique Marseille in France, Galatasaray in Turkey, and Hajduk Split in Croatia. His most recent stint was with Juventus, where he was dismissed last October after a difficult period, despite having previously guided the team to a fourth-place finish in the 2024-2025 season and securing Champions League qualification following a series of impressive early results.

In his first statement after being appointed, Tudor expressed his enthusiasm for the task, saying: "It is an honor for me to join this club at such a crucial moment. I am aware of the responsibility I have taken on, and my objective is clear: to achieve greater consistency in our performances and to compete with conviction in every match." The Croatian coach affirmed his confidence in the squad, adding: "This group possesses great quality, and my job is to organize them, instill enthusiasm in them, and quickly improve our results.".

The interim coach's strategy and waiting for Pochettino

Tottenham's management strategy appears to be based on temporary solutions while they work towards a long-term project, a move similar to Manchester United's recent appointment of Michael Carrick. Reports indicate that the club's primary objective for next season is to bring back Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino, who is currently committed to the United States national team at the upcoming World Cup, making Tudor the ideal solution for this transitional phase.

The club had considered other options such as Edin Terzic and Marco Rose before settling on Tudor, who faces a fiery encounter in his first real test, as Tottenham hosts its traditional rival Arsenal (the leader) in the "North London Derby" on February 22, a match that could be key to restoring confidence or deepening the wounds.

Serbian goalkeeper Bredj Rajkovic, who plays for Al-Ittihad's first football team, made fiery statements that raised the level of challenge before the anticipated match that will bring his team together with Al-Hilal, in the top match of the twenty-third round of the Saudi Professional League, which is scheduled to be held at the "Kingdom Arena" stadium.

In media statements following his team's last match, Rajkovic delivered a direct and strongly worded message to their traditional rivals, emphasizing Al-Ittihad's mental and technical readiness. The Serbian goalkeeper said, "We are not afraid of Al-Hilal. We will go to their stadium to win and fight for every minute of the match. We are the champions from last season and we know how to handle these big games.".

This match holds immense importance, transcending its status as a mere three-pointer; it represents the "Saudi Arabian football classic," a fixture followed by a vast audience both locally and regionally. Historically, encounters between Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal have been pivotal in determining the league title race. Rajkovic's statements reflect Al-Ittihad's desire to prove themselves and demonstrate their ability to compete on the toughest pitches and against the strongest opponents.

Bridzic Rajkovic is considered one of the indispensable pillars of the squad under Portuguese coach Sergio Conceição, manager of Al-Ittihad. The goalkeeper has proven his worth recently through his crucial saves and leadership in the back line, making him the first-choice keeper for the Tigers and a key player in crucial matches.

Al-Ittihad enters this match with high morale after securing a valuable victory in the previous round against Al-Fayha, winning 2-1. This win restored balance to the team and gave the players a significant morale boost before heading to Riyadh to face Al-Hilal. The coaching staff, led by Conceição, aims to capitalize on this fighting spirit, which Rajković spoke about, to achieve a positive result that will strengthen the team's position in the Saudi Professional League standings.

It is worth noting that the Clasico matches between the two poles are always characterized by competitiveness and excitement, and the Kingdom Arena stadium is expected to witness a huge crowd, which adds additional pressure on the players, but Rajkovic’s words confirm that Al-Ittihad is determined to turn this pressure into an incentive to win.

Saudi and Asian football fans are eagerly awaiting the moment when global star Karim Benzema will make his debut for Al-Hilal in the continental competition. Questions have recently arisen about the date of his first appearance in the AFC Champions League. This heightened interest stems from the player's absence from recent training sessions and continental matches, fueling curiosity among sports fans about the reasons behind his absence and the actual timing of his return.

The reason for Benzema's absence and the date of his first appearance

Technical and administrative reports have revealed that the main reason behind Karim Benzema's absence from Al-Hilal's current group stage matches is due to Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regulations. These regulations prohibit a player from representing two different clubs in the same edition of the tournament during a single stage. Since Benzema has already participated in the AFC Champions League group stage (with his former club), his participation with Al-Hilal is legally postponed.

Therefore, it is definitively confirmed that Karim Benzema's participation with Al-Hilal will officially begin with the Round of 16 match , after the team secures qualification for the knockout stages. This is the legally permitted time to register new or transferred players in the Asian squads to continue their journey towards the title.

Al-Hilal and preparations for the crucial stages

Al-Hilal is enjoying a period of great stability, having secured a crucial victory in their last match against Al-Ettifaq with a score of 2-0 in the previous round of the Saudi Professional League. This win boosts the team's morale before entering the Asian Champions League knockout stages, where the club aims to continue its winning streak.

Al-Hilal's history in Asian championships

It's impossible to discuss the AFC Champions League without mentioning Al Hilal's illustrious history in the competition. Al Hilal is the most decorated club in Asia in terms of continental titles and possesses extensive experience in handling the pressures of knockout matches. Adding a name of Karim Benzema's caliber to their star-studded squad in the Round of 16 will be a tremendous boost to the team's chances of reclaiming the continental title, especially given the tournament's new "elite" format featuring the strongest clubs in Asia.

The importance of the AFC Champions League for elite players

The current edition of the AFC Champions League holds immense strategic importance, not only for Saudi clubs but also internationally. The winning team and those participating in the knockout stages are guaranteed substantial financial rewards and places in global tournaments such as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup. Therefore, preparing Al Hilal's attacking force with Benzema's participation in the knockout rounds is a crucial tactical move for competing for continental supremacy.