Igor Tudor chooses Premier League survival ahead of Atletico encounter in Champions League

Spurs travel to Spain sitting 16th in the table, just one point above the relegation zone, after losing all three league matches since Tudor replaced Thomas Frank. The Croatian admitted the domestic situation could not be ignored.

"Our first aim is the Premier League; this should be said publicly, it's a normal thing," Tudor told reporters. "This competition is something extra, but that doesn't mean we don't want to pass through, that we don't want to go to the next round."

Tottenham go into the tie on the back of five consecutive Premier League defeats, a run that has increased the pressure around the club. Tudor, however, believes facing Diego Simeone's experienced Atletico side could help his team reset mentally.

"We're playing against a team that has a story in this Champions League, they have experience, they have quality," he said. "We need to do our best in terms of that we need to grow.

"A totally different mentality aspect can be used in this kind of game. Maybe this can help us to see which problems we have."

Between the two European legs, Spurs face a daunting league trip to Liverpool, before hosting Nottingham Forest in what could prove a decisive clash near the bottom of the table.

Tudor admitted change would take time after less than a month in charge.

"Sometimes old habits take more time than expected to change," he said. "It's not easy to change the things you're doing for months or a year. Something is moving."

In terms of team news, Djed Spence was declared fit, while Cristian Romero returned from suspension. "I'm sure tomorrow he'll be a leader like he always is," Tudor added, underlining the importance of experience as Spurs attempt to steady their season.

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