Tottenham coach Igor Tudor admitted the club’s main focus remains climbing the Premier League table as his side prepares to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday.

The Croatian has endured a difficult start since taking charge, overseeing three defeats in his first three league games, leaving Spurs dangerously close to the relegation zone. Tottenham sit 16th in the table, just one point above the drop zone.

Despite the prestige of the Champions League tie against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid, Tudor insisted the club’s immediate priority is improving their domestic position.

“We must focus on ourselves. We’re playing against a team that has a story in this Champions League — they have experience and quality,” Tudor told reporters ahead of the first leg.

“We need to do our best, but also we need to grow. Our first aim is the Premier League; this should be said publicly, it’s a normal thing.

“This competition is something extra, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to pass through or go to the next round.”

Tottenham face a demanding schedule around the European tie. Between the two legs against Atletico, they travel to face Liverpool in the league before hosting Nottingham Forest — who sit just below them in 17th — in what could be a crucial relegation battle.

Tudor believes the shift in focus brought by a Champions League match could help lift a team that has lost five straight league games.

“Every game is important. We need to be focused on ourselves and growing as a team, so it can be an opportunity,” he said.

“A totally different mentality can be used in this kind of game, so maybe it can help us see which problems we have.

“I believe these kinds of matches can help us switch in the right way, but always with the focus on improving and doing things better.”

Tudor, who arrived less than a month ago to replace Thomas Frank, admitted that changing the team’s habits will take time.

“I see that the more time passes, the better the sessions are and the more quality there is in everything,” he said.

“Sometimes old habits take more time than expected to change. We, the staff, talk about this every day — how quickly we can make those changes.

“It’s not easy to change things you’ve been doing for months or even a year. But something is moving.”

Tottenham continue to deal with several injury issues, but Tudor confirmed that Djed Spence is available for selection and that the team will also welcome the return of centre-back Cristian Romero after suspension.

“I’m sure tomorrow he’ll be a leader like he always is,” Tudor said of the Argentine defender.